Hardware devices like home network routers, modems, smartphone, and other devices also have factory settings.

Need to back-up and remove all personal data because you plan on selling the computer or giving it away.

Want to remove all old software and programs and get it back to how it was when you first purchased it.

Serious data corruption or other serious error that cannot be resolved.

If you've lost your restore disc, only your computer manufacturer can provide a replacement. Today, many newer computers no longer use restore discs and instead have a hidden partition on the hard drive to restore factory settings. Restoring a computer to its factory settings often requires a restore disc, included with or made from software included with the computer. A factory reset is often performed before a computer is sold to help resolve any software issues or eliminate the previous user's profile and personal data. Restoring a computer back to its factory settings means everything is erased from the hard drive and replaced by the original software, drivers, and operating system. Alternatively called a factory reset or factory restore, a computer's factory settings are the settings the computer had when it was first purchased.

How to factory reset pc