Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system has replaced the failed Vista. And almost all users and IT experts unanimously claim that this is the best OS ever since unforgettable XP. However, there is an opinion that it is already hopelessly outdated, and the "top ten" is more in line with modern realities. This is true, but so far the lion's share of users sits on the "seven". And they are all happy.
Any OS tends to work unstably over time. And Windows 7 is no exception. Sometimes viruses are naughty. And it happens that incompetent users kill the system with their actions. Be that as it may, in the "seven" there is one extremely useful option that will help reset the system to factory settings. In the people it is called system rollback.
More about the option
So, the rollback of "Windows 7" to the factory settings is possible only on those devices that support this function. These include the vast majority of modern laptops and monoblocks. Classic PCs, unfortunately, lack this useful option. It should be noted that the rollback process directly depends on the device manufacturer, because the buttons can be completely different. But the result is always the same - a pristine operating system. It’s as if the car was just out of the store. It is worth considering that all user data will disappear. Therefore, if your files are dear to you, it will be easier to reinstall the system. So at least the files will remain intact. If this does not scare you, then we will move on.
Rollback Terms
It is worth mentioning that this procedure is available only for those laptops and monoblocks on which the system installed by the device manufacturer is still located. The fact is that during the installation, the company's specialists created a hidden partition on the hard disk with a backup (backup) of the operating system. In case of problems, you can restore the stock OS from this very copy. But if you reinstalled the system yourself, then it is likely that you demolished this section, marking up the hard drive for a new installation. Then this method is definitely not for you. In your case, only installing a new OS. If you still have a factory system installed, then everything is fine. So, how to return Windows 7 to factory settings? There are several ways to do this.
Using a dedicated key on the device
This reset method will be useful to those who do not have Windows boot at all. Many manufacturers of laptops and monoblocks equip their devices with special keys that are able to start system recovery from a backup. This can be either a specific button on the device’s keyboard or a separate dedicated component. It all depends on the laptop manufacturer. How to return Windows 7 to factory settings using a specific button? If you have a Lenovo ThinkPad, then somewhere on the side of the device there is a magic OneKey Rescue button. After clicking on it, system recovery will begin. Exactly the same picture in laptops of the B-series and other devices from Lenovo. The same button (but with a different name) is on Sony Vaio series laptops.
Using the device keyboard
This method is suitable for all other laptops (not Lenovo and not Sony). True, each has its own combination. So, for Dell products, the keyboard shortcut for restoring the OS is Ctrl and F11. But how to return Windows 7 to factory settings in laptops from Rover? These devices are quite rare and moody. But they also have their own save button. You just need to press and hold the Alt key until the recovery process begins. In principle, system recovery buttons are indicated in laptop instructions. You only need to read them carefully. Even devices released 5-7 years ago have this wonderful feature. And you can use it. But only if the original operating system is installed. No way without it.
Using the Windows system utility
How to reset Windows 7 to factory settings using OS features? There is also such an option in the arsenal of the system. The utility called "System Restore". But it is worth considering that it works only if this service has not been disabled (which is very popular in assemblies from "schoolchildren"). Go to the "Control Panel" and select the "Backup and Restore" item. Here you need to click on "Restore system settings or computer." Then you need to look at all the features of the utility and click on "Advanced recovery methods." Here will be the item "Return the computer to the state specified by the manufacturer." This is what we need.
After clicking on this item, the operating system will offer to back up user data. Must agree. After that, the system will reboot and the reset process will begin. It will take quite a long time, but at the exit the user will get a pristine OS. So, the program for factory settings "Windows 7" (rollback to them) is called "System Restore". It is necessary to remember this.
Restore factory settings before entering the OS
There is another option for rolling back the system. It can be started while the OS is loading. How to reset Windows 7 to factory settings without going into it? Easy peasy. It is enough to press the F8 key when loading the operating system. A familiar menu appears with the option to select a boot mode. There is the notorious "Safe Mode". But we do not need him. We need the item "Computer troubleshooting". After fully loading the recovery shell, you will be prompted to select the language, account, and recovery options. In the last paragraph, select Recovery Management and select the reboot item. After that, the system will not boot, but the reset process to the stock settings will begin. This is another answer to the question of how to upgrade Windows 7 to the factory settings.
It is worth noting that you need to use this method of forced reset only in the most extreme case. And there is no need to talk about the safety of user data. This method is designed for those cases when the OS does not boot and nothing helps. So be careful with this option. Do not abuse, for this is fraught with serious consequences.
Finally
So, we examined the possible answers to the question of how to restore the factory settings on Windows 7. As you can see, there are many ways. All of them help to achieve the desired result. But only some of them are able to save user data. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you use "System Restore" from under a running OS. However, if this is impossible for some reason, it is better to choose the option provided by the device manufacturer when choosing recovery tools. So it will be more reliable. Do not forget to backup your data. Now you know how to return Windows 7 to factory settings without losing data.