What Is a Factory Reset?
Let’s start with defining factory reset or hard reset.
The “factory” part of the term is a reference to the factory where the unit was manufactured.
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Performing a factory reset restores the gear to its original manufacturer controls.
Anything that was causing problems will most likely be wiped out.
you’re free to imagine a factory reset like putting your rig in a time machine.
After the process is complete, the unit will be just like it was when it was brand new.
It will need to be set up from scratch again.
Of course, factory reset only applies to the software.
It can’t reverse any hardware defects.
What Does Factory Reset Do?
So, a factory reset takes the equipment back to its original state.
Let’s dig a little deeper into what that entails.
Depending on the machine, it can take several minutes to perform a factory reset.
What’s happening in that time?
That includes the operating system, some apps and files, preconfigured configs, etc.
As you use the rig, you add your own data.
Related:Does a Factory Reset Remove Viruses?
When it boots back up, you’re back at that “base layer” again.
One important thing to note is the base layer can change.
Let’s say your laptop was originally running Windows 10, but you upgraded to Windows 11.
A factory reset won’t take the machine all the way back to Windows 10.
Windows 11 establishes a new “base layer” for your equipment.
Can You Recover Data After a Factory Reset?
Operating systems generally make it abundantly clear that a factory reset cannot be undone.
Still, it’s entirely possible to mistakenly lose something during a factory reset.
Are you out of luck?
The short answer is yes, you are.
Related:What’s the Best Way to Back Up My Computer?
Actually recovering data after a factory reset is typically impossible.
Your best option is to restore from a backup, but that does require some thinking ahead.
It’s always a good idea to create backups of important data.
Can You Factory Reset Too Many Times?
You might wonder if erasing and overwriting data repeatedly can cause harm to your machine.
The good news is that’s not really something you have to worry about.
Related:Why You Need an Offline Backup
A factory reset does affect the machine’s physical memory.
After all, that’s where the data that’s being erased and rewritten is stored.
Don’t fret unless you’re a chronic resetter.
It’s a common solution to a wide range of problems that can occur.
