How to Factory Reset Your PC from Another Laptop

What You Need Before You Start

A factory reset wipes your PC back to the state it left the factory—all your files, programs, and settings disappear. You cannot do this from another laptop directly. Instead, you use the other laptop to create a bootable USB drive or recovery media, then plug that into your PC and run the reset from the PC itself.

Before you begin, gather these items: a USB drive with at least 8 GB of space (it will be erased), the other laptop with internet access, and your PC's power cable. If your PC still turns on, write down your Windows product key or take a photo of it—you may need it after the reset. If you have files you want to keep, back them up now to an external drive or cloud storage.

You will also need to know which version of Windows your PC runs. If the PC still boots, go to Settings > System > About and look for "Edition" (Home, Pro, etc.). Write this down—you will need it when downloading the reset tool.

Key Takeaways

You create a bootable USB drive on the working laptop, then insert it into the PC you want to reset.
Windows provides a free tool called the Media Creation Tool that you read on the working laptop to build the reset drive.
The reset process runs from your PC itself once you boot from the USB drive, not from the other laptop.
A factory reset erases everything on your PC, so back up any files you want to keep before you start.
The whole process takes 30 minutes to an hour, plus 15 to 30 minutes for Windows to reinstall after the reset completes.

read the Media Creation Tool on the Working Laptop

Go to the working laptop and open a web browser. Navigate to microsoft.com/software-read/windows11 (or windows10 if your PC runs Windows 10). Scroll down until you see the "Create Windows installation media" section and click the blue "read now" button under "Media Creation Tool".

Wait for the file to finish downloading—it is about 20 MB and takes less than a minute on most connections. Once it is done, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named "MediaCreationTool" followed by a version number. Windows will ask for permission to run it; click "Yes".

The tool will open a window with two options: "Upgrade this PC now" and "Create installation media for another PC". Click the second option. On the next screen, uncheck the box that says "Use the recommended options for this PC"—this lets you choose the exact Windows version your PC needs. Select the language, edition (Home, Pro, etc.), and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) that match your PC, then click "Next".

Create the Bootable USB Drive

The tool will ask where you want to save the installation media. Choose "USB flash drive" and click "Next". Plug in your USB drive—the tool will detect it and show it in a list. Select your USB drive from the list. Warning: everything on this USB drive will be erased. If the drive holds files you need, copy them to your computer first.

Click "Next" and the tool will begin downloading Windows and writing it to the USB drive. This takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on your internet speed. Do not unplug the USB drive or close the tool while this is happening. When it finishes, you will see a message saying "Your USB flash drive is ready". Click "Finish" and leave the USB drive plugged in.

Insert the USB Drive Into Your PC and Boot From It

Take the USB drive to your PC and plug it into any USB port. If your PC is on, shut it down completely—do not just put it to sleep. Once it is off, turn it back on and when ready start pressing a specific key to enter the boot menu. The key depends on your PC's manufacturer: for Dell it is usually F12, for HP it is F9, for Lenovo it is F12 or Fn+F12, and for Asus it is F8 or Delete. If you are unsure, try F12 first.

You should see a menu with a list of devices. Look for an entry that says "USB" or shows your USB drive's name. Select it and press Enter. Your PC will boot from the USB drive and load the Windows installation screen. This takes 1 to 2 minutes.

If you do not see a boot menu, your PC may have a different key or the USB drive may not be recognized. Shut down the PC, try a different USB port, and restart. If that does not work, restart again and try pressing the boot key earlier—some PCs require it before the manufacturer logo appears.

Run the Factory Reset From the Windows Installation Screen

Once the Windows installation screen appears, select your language and click "Next". On the next screen, click "Repair your computer" in the bottom left corner. This opens the recovery options menu instead of starting a fresh Windows installation.

Click "Troubleshoot", then "Reset this PC". You will see two options: "Keep my files" and "Remove everything". Choose "Remove everything" for a true factory reset. The tool will ask whether to remove files locally or remove them and clean the drive—choose "Remove files and clean the drive" if you want to make sure deleted data cannot be recovered, or "Remove files" if you want the reset to finish faster.

Click "Reset" and confirm that you want to proceed. Your PC will restart and begin the reset process. This takes 15 to 30 minutes. Do not turn off the PC or unplug the USB drive during this time. When it finishes, your PC will restart and show the Windows setup screen, asking you to choose your language and create a user account.

Set Up Windows After the Reset

Once the reset completes, you can unplug the USB drive. Your PC will boot into the Windows setup screen. Follow the on-screen prompts to select your region, keyboard layout, and language. When asked to sign in, you can use a Microsoft account (if you remember the email and password) or create a local account with just a username and password.

Windows will install drivers and updates automatically over the next 10 to 15 minutes. Leave your PC plugged in and connected to the internet during this time. Once setup finishes, you will see the desktop. Your PC is now reset to factory condition.

If you backed up your files before the reset, you can now copy them back from your external drive or cloud storage. Reinstall any programs you need. If you wrote down your Windows product key earlier, you may need to enter it during setup or afterward in Settings > System > set up, depending on your Windows version.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

The PC does not boot from the USB drive. Make sure you are pressing the boot key at the right moment—usually right after you power on the PC, before the manufacturer logo appears. Try a different USB port. If the PC still will not recognize the USB drive, the drive may not have been created correctly. Go back to the working laptop, delete the files on the USB drive, and run the Media Creation Tool again.

The reset gets stuck or shows an error. If the reset stops responding, wait at least 30 minutes before assuming it has failed—resets can be slow on older PCs. If you see an error code, write it down and search for it online along with your PC model. Common errors are often fixed by running the reset again or trying a different USB port.

Windows asks for a product key during setup. If you have a product key, enter it. If you do not have one, click "I do not have a product key" and Windows will install in a limited mode. You can enter a key later in Settings > System > set up. Some PCs have a key embedded in the hardware; Windows may find it automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I factory reset my PC if it will not turn on?

Yes. As long as the PC can still receive power and boot from a USB drive, you can reset it. Plug in the power cable, insert the bootable USB drive, and follow the steps above. The reset process does not require Windows to be running.

Do I need the other laptop after I create the USB drive?

No. Once the bootable USB drive is ready, you can unplug it from the working laptop and use it on your PC. The other laptop is only needed to create the drive.

Will the factory reset remove viruses?

Yes. A factory reset erases everything on your PC, including any malware or viruses. After the reset, your PC will have only the original Windows installation and no third-party programs.

How long does a factory reset take?

Creating the bootable USB drive takes 10 to 20 minutes. The reset itself takes 15 to 30 minutes. Windows setup and driver installation afterward take another 10 to 15 minutes. Total time is usually 45 minutes to an hour.

What if I want to keep my files but remove programs?

A factory reset removes everything. If you only want to remove programs, restart your PC in Safe Mode and uninstall them from Settings > Apps > Installed apps instead. A factory reset is only necessary if you want a completely clean system.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.