Many times, over time, our computer starts to not work as it should. It’s usually due to something we’ve downloaded or installed that’s giving us problems, but it’s difficult to guess what. Therefore, learning how to format a computer with Windows 11 can be very practical. Because the moment we notice that it’s running too slow or isn’t running as it used to, we can return our computer to exactly the way it was when we bought it.
The steps we must follow to make our Windows 11 computer look like new are the following:
- Go to the Start>Settings section .
- Find and select System .
- In the left menu, click Recovery .
- Go to the Reset this PC section and select Reset PC . You’ll then have two options: Keep my files, which will allow you to keep your personal files, and Remove everything, which will delete everything on your computer.
- If you choose to remove everything, you’ll have to choose between Download from the cloud , which downloads a clean version of Windows 11, or Local reinstall, which reinstalls the version you already have.
- Configure additional options , indicating whether you want to restore pre-installed applications or partition your hard drive.
- When you have selected all the formatting options , click Reset .
- A summary of all the settings you’ve specified will appear. If everything is correct, click Reset .
- Wait for the process to complete . This may take several minutes.
How to erase all traces of use from my Windows 11 computer
If you want to erase all traces of use from your Windows 11 computer, it’s best to follow the steps outlined in the previous section and perform a full format . Formatting a Windows 11 computer leaves it as it was when you first took it out of the box, leaving no trace of what was there before. To make everything disappear, it’s best to choose the Remove Everything option when resetting, so that all the files you may have stored while using it are formatted.
Another option is to use specialized advanced cleaning tools. Programs like DBAM or Eraser are completely free and have very interesting tools that can help you remove anything you have. However, these tools typically focus on clearing cache and temporary files. If you want to delete everything, formatting a Windows 11 computer is the only option.
If I format my computer, do I need a copy of Windows 11?
Many users wonder whether they need a copy of the operating system if they want to format a computer with Windows 11. This is especially true when, for whatever reason, they don’t have a copy on hand and are worried about losing their computer.
The truth is, it depends. If you want to reinstall Windows 11 from scratch, you’ll need a physical copy of Windows 11 or an ISO image that you can save to an installation device. Keep in mind that in this case, you’ll be installing an operating system from scratch, so you’ll need a physical device where you can access it.
However, if you want to return your Windows 11 computer to its factory state and Windows 11 came pre-installed when you purchased it, you won’t need to have it. If you follow the steps explained in the first section of this article, your computer will use the system it previously had installed, eliminating the need for a physical disk.
