Windows laptop: factory reset and system restore guide
Before you take your laptop to a repair shop or buy a new one, try a few simple steps. We start with the gentlest ones and leave the factory reset for last.
- Most common cause
- an overloaded system, drivers or missing updates
- Time
- 30 minutes to 2 hours
- Repair shop, if nothing helps
- 200–540 zł for installing the system
Warning: a factory reset and reinstalling Windows delete data from the drive. Back up your documents, photos and passwords to an external drive or the cloud. The laptop must be plugged into its charger during the reset. Don't turn it off while it runs.
Step by step
Do a hard restart
Hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the laptop turns off. Unplug the charger and all USB devices, wait a minute and turn it on again.
Check for updates
Go to Settings → Windows Update and install everything, including driver updates. Also check the laptop manufacturer's website for new drivers and BIOS.
Start in Safe Mode
Hold Shift and click Restart. Then choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings. If the laptop runs smoothly in Safe Mode, remove recently installed programs and drivers.
Check system files and memory
Open Command Prompt as administrator and type sfc /scannow. Then run Windows Memory Diagnostic. Also check that the laptop isn't overheating and the fan isn't clogged with dust.
Use System Restore
Type “Create a restore point” in Windows search, choose System Restore and roll your computer back to a date when it worked well. Your files stay, but programs installed after that date will disappear.
Reset this PC and keep your files
Go to Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC and choose “Keep my files”. The path may differ in older versions of Windows. Your programs will be removed and the system reinstalled.
Warning: full factory reset
Warning: the “Remove everything” option deletes all data from the drive. Back up first. Only then choose Reset this PC → Remove everything and follow the on-screen instructions.
- The laptop won't start even to the recovery screen.
- It still freezes or shows a blue screen after the reset.
- You hear knocking or grinding from the drive, or the drive is very slow even after reinstalling.
- The laptop shuts down suddenly and is very hot.
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Installing the system with a data backup | 200–540 zł |
| Cleaning the fan and replacing thermal paste | 160–410 zł |
| Replacing the drive with an SSD, including installation | 340–820 zł |
| RAM upgrade | 200–540 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
Restarting, updating and resetting cost 0 zł and often make a laptop smooth again. If a slow drive is the problem, switching to an SSD is usually worth it even in a laptop that's a few years old. For a very old device with several faults, use the calculator to see whether a new one would be a better choice.
Check if repairing your laptop is worth it
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Open the calculator →FAQ
Does a factory reset delete my files?
The “Keep my files” option doesn't delete them, but it removes your programs. “Remove everything” also deletes your files, so make a backup.
How long does a Windows reset take?
Usually 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the drive. The laptop must be plugged in.
My laptop is slow. Will a reset help?
Often yes, especially if the system is cluttered with programs. If the drive is an old HDD, switching to an SSD will make a bigger difference.