Is your laptop acting up or showing signs of malware? You might consider factory resetting your Lenovo laptop if you’re experiencing slowdowns or random crashes, and this post will provide step-by-step instructions on how to do so.
Factory resetting a Lenovo laptop is quite simple. It’s also one of the most important things to do if you’re selling your laptop or giving it away because it protects you from having someone access and use your personal information.
Lenovo has two options when it comes to resetting your device: keep the files or remove them. Additionally, Lenovo offers a hidden partition called OneKey Recovery System which contains recovery software for users who need assistance recovering their hardware.
Why Factory Reset your Lenovo Laptop?
The Lenovo factory reset is a quick and easy way to get back on track. We’ll show you how it’s done, but first, let’s talk about why you might need this in the first place.
There are many reasons that could cause a laptop to act up, for example:
- You want to sell the computer and don’t want personal information on it anymore.
- You’re traveling internationally with the computer and need to change settings before landing in another country.
- Your computer has been infected by malware and needs some serious help cleaning itself out.
Whatever the reason may be, we’ve got you covered! Let’s take a look at how to reset your laptop.
Factory Reset Without Deleting Personal Files
Your computer will run like new after a factory reset, but your data (documents, pictures, music, etc.) will remain intact. This is the easiest way to do a reset and doesn’t require any special skills.
Step 1: Select Settings > Update & Security from the Start menu.
Step 2: From the Recovery menu, select Get Started under Reset this PC.
Step 3: To save your documents, choose Keep my files.
Step 4: The system readies your machine for a reset as you see the message: This won’t take long on screen.
Step 5: After that, you’ll be asked to review the changes, which include uninstalling all programs you’ve installed, resetting the computer to factory settings, and reinstalling Windows.
Step 6: To confirm and begin the procedure, click Reset.
Factory Reset to Erase All Data
This method will erase everything in one go. It’s a good option if you’re selling your laptop and want to protect yourself from identity theft. Here’s how to do that:
Step 1: Select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery from the Windows Start menu.
Step 2: In the Reset menu, select Get Started under Remove everything and reinstall Windows.
Step 3: If you intend to keep your computer, choose Just delete my files. This approach is the speedier of the two, but it may be less secure if you’ll be handing up your laptop.
Step 4: If you want to delete all apps and custom settings, choose Remove everything > Remove files. This option will clear out your laptop or computer for further use after donation.
Step 5: You will then be prompted to review your changes before you reset. Click Reset to start the process.
Step 6: Your computer restarts in a few minutes as it begins its file removal process.
Factory Reset with Lenovo OneKey Recovery System
Your Lenovo laptop, particularly in IdeaPad has a separate partition for recovery software called OneKey Recovery. It’s designed to help you with recovering the hard drive, have multiple operating systems installed, or need to restore your original factory image.
To factory reset with OneKey Recovery System, first, you need to make sure it’s installed on your computer. If this feature is present and activated, it should be possible for you to reset the laptop to its original factory settings using OneKey Recovery System.
Step 1: Access OneKey Recovery System either through clicking its icon in Windows or pressing the NOVO button outside Windows (when your laptop is turned off).
Step 2: From the OneKey Recovery menu, select Restore From Initial Backup then click Next.
Step 3: To restore the laptop to its factory default state, click Start and select Yes at each request.
The OneKey Recovery software starts its factory reset process which could take some time to finish depending on your laptop’s specs. After the factory reset process is complete, it will reboot on its own.
Not all Lenovo laptops come with the OneKey Recovery feature. If your laptop doesn’t support it or if you no longer have a recovery partition on your hard drive for whatever reason, just do the other methods for resetting your laptop.
Tips in Factory Resetting your Laptop
- Before starting factory reset on your Lenovo laptop, ensure that it is plugged into a power source as this is a long process that can take up to an hour.
- If you want to speed up the process, disconnect your computer from the internet and other external peripherals. This is to avoid any data conflicts or interruption during the reset.
- After you have done a factory reset, prepare an original Windows installation disk. It’s usually located in the laptop box with its user manual. You can use it for installing Windows in case you need it.
- Before resetting your Mac, it’s a good idea to manually back up all of your files. If you don’t have a backup system set up yet, consider using cloud storage or an external hard drive as part of the process.
- Lenovo provides a wide variety of services and support for their laptops all over the world. They have a special section on their site about how to reset your laptop or computer if you get stuck during the process.
Conclusion
Factory resetting your laptop is a way of restarting its software and erasing all the data on it to make it like new. It’s certainly not an option you should take lightly, but sometimes you may have no choice.
You can reset your laptop or computer from the Windows 10 operating system, but you also have other options like the OneKey Recovery System that’s available in some machines. If neither of these works for you, it is always best to consult a professional for help as factory resetting your laptop might pose to be a tougher task.
