How to Wipe a Dell Laptop

How to Reset a Dell Laptop From Windows Settings

One way to reset a Dell laptop is through the Settings app. This method is ideal if you're already logged in to Windows, maybe because you're backing up your files before the reset.

Windows 11 Steps

Here's how this works in Windows 11:

1. Open Settings from the Start menu or by pressing Win+i.

2. Select System from the left, then Recovery from the right.

3. Select Reset PC.

4. Choose Keep my files.

5. Pick how you want to reinstall Windows: Cloud download or Local reinstall.

6. Complete any subsequent on-screen directions to complete the reset procedure.

Windows 10 Steps

Although Windows 10 looks a little different, the steps for resetting your Dell PC are basically the same.

1. Search for reset from the Start menu and select Reset this PC when you see that option in the results.

2. Under Reset this PC, select Get started.

3. Select Remove everything to wipe the Dell laptop clean and reinstall Windows. This step is the nuclear option, as it removes your files, all custom settings, and any apps your PC manufacturer installed.

   Alternatively, select Keep my files to reinstall Windows and keep your personal files, like videos, documents, images, desktop items, etc.

   If your Windows came with pre-installed Dell apps, these manufacturer apps will be restored.  

4. When asked how to download the OS, select Cloud download if you're connected to the internet. Cloud download is helpful if your local copy of Windows is corrupted.

   Otherwise, choose Local reinstall to reinstall Windows from your device. This option makes for a faster installation and doesn't require an active internet connection.

5. Select Change settings for additional options.

   By default, Reset this PC will remove your files but doesn't securely erase them. It also only deletes data from the drive where you have Windows installed.

6. Toggle on the switch for Clean data? to have Windows wipe everything on the drive securely and reduce the chances of data recovery. This process will take time but will make any sensitive data unrecoverable. It's not necessary if you don't plan to give away your laptop.

7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process. It can take an hour or more, and your computer will restart a few times before it's all finished.

How to Reset a Dell Laptop From the ASO Menu

Another way to reset your laptop is through the Advanced Start Options menu. This works from outside of Windows, but otherwise will perform the same function of wiping your computer.

1. Access the Advanced Startup Options menu. There are a few ways to get there, all detailed in that guide, but the easiest way is to hold Shift while pressing the Restart option from the Start menu or lock screen.

2. Select Troubleshoot on the first screen.

3. Select Reset this PC.

4. Choose either Keep my files or Remove everything.

5. Pick how Windows should be reinstalled. We recommend choosing Cloud download, but if your computer's files are corrupt or you don't have a stable internet connection, Local reinstall works fine, too.

6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process. This takes some time, and your computer will restart.

What Is a Factory Reset?

Wiping a Dell laptop is the final troubleshooting solution when things go wrong with Windows. It's also a recommended step when you want to give away your old laptop.

A factory reset restores a PC to the same state it was in when it rolled out of the manufacturer’s assembly line. Almost all electronic devices have this capability, and you can't undo it once you start. A Windows factory reset will wipe your Dell laptop of all installed programs and files, so if you don't want to lose all your data, it's best to back up your files first.

Windows will work like new once all the updates are in place. But there are two points to consider:

• A factory reset alone won’t solve all performance issues since some problems are hardware related.
• A factory reset will wipe data from the hard drive, but this data may still be recoverable with data recovery software.

How Do I Delete Everything Off My Dell Laptop?

The above methods help you keep your operating system intact while giving you the choice of a clean Windows installation. There may be situations, however, where you would want to delete Windows. Maybe there's sensitive data on your Dell PC, and you want to make it unrecoverable before you sell the laptop or scrap it. Also, wiping the hard drive clean might be one of the options to remove ransomware from your compromised PC. 

You can wipe your hard drive with the help of native and third-party specialized tools. This is extreme and will delete everything from your laptop, making it virtually impossible for any file recovery program to reconstruct the data. The formatting methods don't depend on the make or model of the Windows laptop you own.