Factory reset

[MICHAELB1977]

Hi all

I own a HP Pavilion  M550-114a desktop computer running Windows 10 Home Edition.

I have had it since new but a bit slow.

I have deleted alot of stuff from it.

I want to do a full factory reset so it goes back to the way it was the first time I turned it on over 3 years ago.

I am in need of help doing a factory reset.

Can anyone explain it to me step by step.

Thanks for help in advance.

[WAWood]

@MICHAELB1977 

Don't know why you feel you need to do a Factory Reset -- but if it is to fix a SLOW PC, then DO NOT DO THIS! A really SLOW PC is nearly always caused by failing hardware -- which a factory reset will do NOTHING to fix.

Somehow, the Factory Reset has taken on the value of an Urban Legend that is a Miracle Cure for any ailing PC. Not only does it rarely fix the PC, if there is an underlying hardware issue with the PC, it will make matters WORSE by leaving the PC in an unusable state.

Even if there is NOT an underlying hardware issue, the reset puts Windows back to where it was weeks or months ago -- and this will then automatically launch hours or days of Windows Udpates that will bring your PC to a grinding halt, driving the processor up to 100% and the disk utilization to 100% as well. Both of these do NOTHING to speed up the PC.

So, you go from having a SLOW PC, to having NO PC. That's not an improvement.

To check for hard drive failing, if your PC is new enough to support UEFI, you can use these steps to test the hard drive: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00439024

If not, you have to follow these steps:
1) Press Esc key repeatedly, several times a second, while rebooting the laptop. Do NOT hold the key down, just press it over and over.
2) Eventually, you will see an HP Startup Menu
3) press the Function key for testing the hard drive (usually F2) and let it run.