In Windows 8 you can easily restore your PC to default factory settings or revert to a known good configuration using the “Reset Your PC” and “Refresh Your PC” features. It’s like the Windows 7 system restore feature – only much better.
Tip: As of right now the Windows 8 developer version allows you to easily reset and refresh your Windows 8 PC. This might change in the final version of Windows 8, but here’s how you would do it.
Refresh Your Windows 8 PC (Go Back To Known Configuration
1. Step Open the Control Panel
2. Step Go to option General
3. Step You can revert to a known state by refreshing your PC without affecting any of your files. Click on Getting Started below Refresh your PC without affecting your files
Text reads:
- Your file and personalization settings won’t change
- Your PC settings will be restore to their default
- Apps from Windows Store will be kept. All other apps will be removed
Important: All your Metro apps will be kept. Malware etc will be scanned for and removed, but other apps will be lost for good.
Reset Your Windows 8 PC To Factory Default
If you sell your PC, you might want to reset your PC first, removing everything and resetting the configuration.
1. Step Repeat steps 1 – 2 above
2. Step You can now easily revert to the factory default, basically resetting your PC. Click on “Getting Started” below the option Reset your PC and start over
Text reads:
- Your personal files and apps will be removed
- Your PC settings will be restored to their default
We’ll keep you posted on this and let you know how this feature will change in Windows 8 beta, Windows 8 RTM and the final version.