How to Factory Reset your PC to Remove Malware (2024)

Performing a factory reset on your computer is one method to start fresh if the system is heavily infected with malware.

If done correctly, it will remove everything from your hard drive and revert back to a clean state, much like the day it was purchased.

However, there are some obvious downsides to this, such as data loss. Moreover, malware is always evolving and even a factory reset is not guaranteed to get rid of all malware remnants.

Let’s take a closer look at what a factory reset does, how it can help with malware, and the drawbacks of doing so.

What is a Factory Reset?

A factory reset on a Windows computer refers to the process of clearing your hard drive of personal files and third-party software, and reinstalling Windows. That means all native programs go back to their original state and all user settings are reset.

Because personal files are deleted and system files are replaced with fresh copies, most malware is removed.

A fresh start not only helps with malware but can also improve system performance.

How do I perform a Factory Reset on Windows?

On Windows 10

1. Click the Start button and select Settings
2. Go to Update & Security.
3. Select Recovery, then click the Reset this PC link to get started.
4. While there is an option to Keep My Files, you should click Remove Everythingto perform a factory reset because malware could be embedded within these files. However, if you’re sure certain files are clean, you may wish to back them up to removable storage.
5. Next, select the Fresh Startoption and follow the onscreen prompts.

Doing a full factory reset on a Windows 10 PC is simple thanks to the recovery area.

On Windows 11

1. Click the Start button and select Settings.
2. Go to Systemand access the Recovery option.
3. Select Reset This PC, and choose not to keep your files.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts and wait for the process to complete.

Does a Factory Reset remove all malware and viruses?

While a factory reset does a good job of removing most malware and viruses, it is not 100% effective. That’s because some sophisticated threats called rootkits and bootkits can infect your motherboard and the startup process.

The malware gets right into the firmware, which remains even when the hard drive is wiped, and Windows is reinstalled. Viruses can then spread to the fresh version of Windows as soon as you boot up.

To remove these, you will still have to use a good antivirus program that can detect and remove hidden threats.

Remember to update to the latest definitions, or else the scan may miss new and emerging threats.

Secondary Drives

Performing a factory reset of Windows usually only applies to your main hard drive where Windows is installed. Most often the C: Drive.

Secondary hard drives, external drives, and removable media can still contain malware, and this can spread back to your main hard drive after resetting.

To ensure everything is removed, you must delete the files on all of these other storage devices. It is also wise to reformat each drive and storage device to ensure all data is removed.

Use Fortect to repair Windows

A factory reset should be a last resort to remove malware and is not necessary in most cases. As long as you have a good antivirus program, you can combine this with Fortect to repair Windows and replace damaged system files.

1. Perform a full system scan with a reputable antivirus program and remove all malware.
2. Download and Install Fortect on your computer.
3. Scan with Fortect to detect malware damage and other Windows problems.
4. Click Start Repair (after product activation) to fix your system.

This dual approach ensures malware is removed and the damage caused is repaired. Instead of replacing all system files with a factory reset, Fortect only replaces damaged or missing files.

This way you get to keep all of your personal files, user settings, and other data.

Fortect also detects potentially unwanted programs (PUP), which your antivirus may have overlooked. These are programs that have the capacity to modify Windows and other programs.

This doesn’t mean they are malware, but if you do not recognize the program, it’s a good idea to delete it.

Conclusion

Reinstalling Windows and effectively doing a factory reset can get rid of malware, but it’s not without its drawbacks. You will lose data and settings, and it still might solve the problem.