Is your laptop no longer working properly? Is it time to get a new one? If the answer is yes, then you might want to factory reset it. It is also known as data recovery or delivery status.
In simpler words, factory reset is the process in which your laptop is given a brand new operating system with all the updates, security functions, documents, downloads, and programs removed. It removes all the user-configured information on your laptop so that it can be returned to its original state. But how long does it take to factory reset a laptop?
Well, there is no exact answer to this question. Depending on your laptop’s system integration level, the process can take as little as 20 minutes to up to 3 hours. Even sometimes it can take a half or a full day. There are so many other factors that determine how fast the process will go.
In this article, I am going to discuss all the factors and give you a proper answer on the time required for a factory reset. Also, I will show you how to factory reset a laptop step-by-step without making any mistakes.
So, keep reading the article.
Performing a factory reset – also known as Restoring Operating System on your laptop will bring your laptop back into the condition as it came off the assembly line. During this process, any files and programs you have created yourself or installed will be deleted, as well drivers and settings will be reset to their original state.
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However, restoring a laptop’s settings may make sense for a number of reasons. One of the common reasons why laptop users reset their laptops is for removing unnecessary software, programs, and files. Because over time, your laptop accumulates unnecessary programs and files that you will no longer need. By resetting the laptop, you get a fresh start.
Another reason why you should reset your laptop’s data is to get rid of malware, as factory resetting removes all the files and programs. Also, if you are planning to sell your laptop then it is recommended to factory reset everything. It will delete all the settings and data in order to ensure that no private information is shared accidentally.
How to factory reset a laptop?
There are so many different ways to factory reset a laptop. Depending on the manufacture and the OS, the process differs. In this section, I will show you how to perform a factory reset on both Windows and Mac OS.
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N:B: Before you perform a factory reset in your laptop, make sure you backup all the necessary data online or to an external hard drive.
Factory Reset on windows
If you have a Windows laptop then follow the steps below.
1. Go to Settings.
2. Click on “Update & Security“.
3. Select “Recovery” from the left panel.
4. Under “Reset this PC“, click the Get Started button.
5. After that, you will have two choices: Keep my files and Remove everything. If you choose the “Keep my files” option then it won’t delete the files you have saved. And if you choose “Remove everything” then it will delete everything from your laptop.
6. Choose the option that is preferable to you and click on “Next“.
7. Then click on Reset to complete the process.
Factory Reset on MAC
No matter whether you have an iMac or MacBook, resetting the laptop is not so complicated. Follow the steps below in order to reset the device:
1. First of all, make sure you are logged out of all your Apple accounts and store all the necessary data to an external drive or a cloud.
2. After you have saved all the important data, restart the device.
3. Then, during the restart process, press and hold Command + R until you see the Apple logo.
4. Click on “Disk Utility” and choose your hard drive.
5. You can now erase your hard drive by selecting Erase. Then close the window.
6. Select Re-install Mac and then click on Continue.
7. Restart your laptop once it’s finished. This will restore it to its previous state before the factory reset.
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The factory resetting process is quite simpler on Mac than Windows. If you have backed up your data then now you can reinstall them back over to your laptop.
How long does it take to factory reset a laptop?
When you reset the laptop back to factory settings, all the unnecessary data is cleared out of the laptop, making it perform better than it did when it was new. However, most people seem to ask a common question that how long does it take to factory reset a laptop.
Unfortunately, there is not a single answer to this question. Depending on your operating system, processor speed, RAM, and storage type, it can take from 30 minutes to 3 hours. If you have a powerful and robust laptop then performing a factory reset won’t take more than 40-60 minutes. On the other hand, an older laptop whose configurations are weak could take anywhere from 2-3 hours.
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Also, in some rare cases, the resetting process can take a full day. So, now you should know that there are so many different factors that determine how fast the process will conduct. It even depends on how many programs and software you have installed on your laptop. It will take longer if there are more programs on your laptop.
Does factory reset deletes everything on the laptop?
Yes, a factory reset completely wipes out the hard drive of your laptop and puts everything back into its original state. Even the bloatware installed by the manufacturer gets removed.
Also, you should know that you cannot even interrupt the process once it has started, as interrupting it will result in your laptop being left in an unstable state. It can create bugs in your laptop and make all the applications including the operating system unstable.
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Therefore, it is better to store all your necessary documents and files before performing a factory reset. You can backup data with the built-in Windows tool or with a third-party app. Also, you can use an external hard drive in order to store all the important files.
Will resetting your laptop make it faster?
The short answer to this question is yes, factory reset will improve your laptop’s performance. It works because a factory reset erases all the programs, software, and data on your laptop and puts all the settings back to their previous stage.
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After a factory reset, you will be able to run your laptop as it was originally configured once all the apps and programs you downloaded and saved have been removed. Also as a part of the factory reset, malicious programs, and resources-intensive apps will be deleted, making your laptop faster.
Although it is true that resetting your laptop to factory settings can make it faster, but generally people wouldn’t do this unless it’s absolutely necessary. But I recommend you perform a factory reset if you are not attached to the programs and files on the laptop.
Conclusion
So, it should be now clear to you that depending on certain factors, the time required for factory reset changes. It can take up to 3 hours or an entire day if the laptop is old or the specification is not so good. While on the other hand, a new and powerful laptop will require not more than 40-60 minutes for the process.
Also, the amount of information stored on the laptop greatly affects the time it takes to factory reset. If you have stored so many files on your laptop then it will increase the time required for resetting a laptop. Also, modern laptops are pre-loaded with SSDs, which reduces the time required to perform a factory reset to a few minutes.
We hope you found this article helpful in answering your question about how long it takes to reset your laptop. I recommend you to read our other articles regarding laptops. Hopefully, you will find them helpful also.
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