What is a hard reset? What’s the difference between a factory reset and hard reset?įactory reset and hard reset describe the same process. Factory resetting, by comparison, ends with a fully setup-ready device and operating system - just without any user data. Disk formatting completely erases all content on a given partition and does not “replace” that data with anything - the disk is simply blank, and the device will no longer start up (boot).ĭisk formatting is the preferred method where data destruction is the primary desired outcome (e.g., a hard disk that is being erased because it is being recycled or transferred to another system). Does a factor reset do a disk format?įactory resetting a device is a very different process than a blanket disk format (wipe).įactory resetting targets specific, user-writeable partitions on a device and restores them to a “known good” state. The device then begins to reboot - loading, essentially, “stubs” meant to facilitate the initial setup process as if the device was shipping new from the factory. Those partitions are overwritten with known good “factory” versions of those components. While in this state, the device can erase (format) all user-writeable partitions (components of the operating system). Once a user has confirmed their desire to initiate a factory reset of a device, the device reboots into a low-level “recovery” state designed to repair a system with corrupt or misconfigured firmware or software. Most devices with a factory reset function follow a similar series of steps. How to factory reset Chrome OS (Chromebook or Chromebox) How to factory reset Windows 10 / Windows 11 Click “Erase All Content and Settings…” and follow the prompts.Tap “Erase and Content and settings” at the bottom of the screen and follow the prompts.Tap “Factory data reset” and follow the prompts.Tap “Erase all data (factory reset)” and follow the prompts.It’s important to make sure you actually perform a full factory reset, and not merely an app or user setting-only wipe, which could leave sensitive data on a device. Methods and exact names for factory resetting vary by manufacturer, operating system (and OS version), and device type. Otherwise, your best bet is to open the “Settings” application on your device and search for terms like “factory reset,” “wipe,” or “erase all content and settings.” To factory reset any smartphone, tablet, or laptop, you’ll want to look up documentation published by the device manufacturer. It’s best to think of a factory reset like a “clean slate”: All modifications and changes that have accrued as a result of user activity are swept away, but the “base layer” of the device’s software and firmware remains safely intact. Unlike merely uninstalling applications or erasing a user profile, a factory reset should return a device to a known good “factory” state - the configuration the device ships in when it is sent to a customer, requiring all initial setup tasks to be performed.Ī factory reset will preserve no cache, files, images, media, passwords, or other data a user may have saved or downloaded while using a device. A factory reset erases all user data and configuration settings on a device like a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
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