Windows 11/10 Reset PC Not Working? Here's Your Ultimate Fix Guide

If you're having trouble resetting your Windows 11 PC, don't worry. Here are several methods to get your system back to working order.

How to Fix Windows 11/10 Reset Not Working?​

1. Run Startup Repair​

• Start your PC and press the power button as soon as the Windows logo appears.
• Keep pressing the power button to perform a hard shut.
• Repeat this step two more times to access the advanced startup environment.
• Choose Advanced options when the recovery screen appears.
• Click Troubleshoot -> Advanced options.
• Select Startup Repair from the Advanced options tab.

This tool will scan and diagnose your PC for any issues preventing it from functioning correctly. It’s an excellent first step for resolving reset problems.

2. Try Command Prompt​

• Type cmd in the search box, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
• Enter the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
  • SFC Command:
    sfc /scannow
    
    This command scans and repairs corrupted system files.
  • DISM Command:
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    
    This command can repair the Windows image if SFC does not fix the issue.
  • Rename System and Software Registry:
    cd %windir%\system32\config
    ren system system.001
    ren software software.001
    
    
  • Disable and Enable Reagent:
    reagentc /disable
    reagentc /enable
• Close Command Prompt and reboot the system.

Using these commands can help repair any underlying system file issues that prevent your PC from resetting effectively.

3. Use a System Restore Point​

• Press Windows+ R and enter rstrui. Press Enter.
  
• Click Next to proceed.
• Select the desired restore point and click Next.
  
• Click on Finish to confirm your selection.
  
• Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.
• After restoring your system, check if the problem is still there.

This method restores your system to a previous working state, which can resolve issues preventing the reset.

4. Restore from System Image Backup​

• Open the Start menu and select Settings.
• Navigate to System -> Recovery.
• In Advanced startup, click on Restart now.
• Select Troubleshoot from the recovery menu.
• Go to Advanced options -> See more recovery options.
• Select System Image Recovery.
• Choose your system image and follow the on-screen instructions.

Restoring from a system image backup will revert your system to a previous, stable state, which can bypass the reset error.

5. Recover from a Recovery Drive​

• Insert an empty USB flash drive (16GB recommended) into your computer.
• Open the Start menu, search for Recovery Drive, and select it.
• Follow the prompts to create the recovery drive.
• Connect the recovery drive to the computer.
• Restart to Advanced Startup Options.
• Select Use a Device and click on the USB drive to boot from it.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to recover the PC.

A recovery drive can help you bypass system issues by booting from an external source.

6. Fresh Install Windows​

• Insert the Windows installation media (USB or CD) and restart your computer.
• Press a specified key (usually F2 or F11) to boot into BIOS and modify the boot order to boot from the installation media.
• When the setup loads, click Install Now and follow the instructions to complete the process.

A fresh install of Windows will remove all existing issues by starting from scratch, but ensure you back up your data beforehand.

By following these methods, you should be able to resolve issues preventing your Windows 11 PC from resetting.