How To Fix ‘There Was A Problem Resetting Your PC’ Error

By
Nolan Ryan
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There was a problem resetting your PC error: Every version of windows has an option of “Reset your PC“. This switches your windows to factory default settings. You can resolve these Errors very quickly by these options, i.e., resetting the PC.

Another method used for resolving the There was a problem resetting your PC error is reinstalling Windows. But resetting your PC is a more efficient and faster approach in fixing the errors rather than reinstalling the windows from scratch.

There Was A Problem Resetting Your PC Error

If you try to reboot your PC and some problem occurs then the error “There was a problem resetting your PC” happens. Any of the following reasons can be the reason for the error:

  • Your PC came with Windows 10 already installed and it was not an upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8.
  • The PC manufacturer enabled the compression to reduce disk space needed for the preinstalled applications.
  • You created a USB Recovery Drive.
  • You booted the PC to the USB recovery drive and then selected Troubleshooter > Reset this PC > Remove everything.

In the above conditions, the resetting of your PC may fail with the error message “There was a problem resetting your PC”, and you will not be able to boot into Windows. So here are some solutions to fix the error “There was a problem resetting your PC”.

Facing an error during a critical operation like resetting your PC can be frustrating. The “There Was A Problem Resetting Your PC” message is one such error that has bewildered many Windows users. This article explores the root causes of this issue and offers step-by-step solutions to remedy the situation.

Understanding the Error:

The “There was a problem resetting your PC” error typically appears when a user attempts to reset their Windows PC to its default settings. This feature is particularly useful for addressing system malfunctions or preparing the PC for a new user. However, encountering this error means that the reset process was interrupted or couldn’t be completed.

Causes of the “There Was A Problem Resetting Your PC” Error:

  1. Corrupt System Files: Damaged or missing system files can hinder the reset process.
  2. Disk Errors: Bad sectors or disk write issues can be a potential cause.
  3. Previous System Updates: Some Windows updates can affect the recovery environment, causing the error.
  4. Compromised Recovery Image: The built-in recovery image might be compromised or improperly configured.

Solution 1: Running the Startup/Automatic Repair

Step 1: Insert Windows 10 bootable installation DVD and then reboot your PC.

Step 2: When you will see “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD” then press any key to continue.

Step 3: Now select your language preference and click on Next.

Step 4: Tap on “Repair your computer” in the bottom left corner of the screen.

Step 5: In the heading, Choose an option, click on “Troubleshoot”. Now click on “Advanced options” in Troubleshoot.

Step 6: Click on “Automatic Repair” in Advanced options.

Step 7: Wait for some time until the Windows automatic repair completes and then reboot your PC. Check if the problem is solved or not.

Solution 2: Fixing the Boot Image and Rebuild BCD

Step 1: Follow till step 5 mentioned in the above method. After opening the Advanced options, click on the command prompt.

Step 2: Type the following commands in the command prompt and hit enter after each one.

bootrec.exe /FixMbr

bootrec.exe /FixBoot

bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

Step 3: If the above commands result in a failure then type the following commands in the command prompt:

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup

c:

cd boot

attrib bcd –s –h –r

ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old

bootrec /RebuildBcd

Step 4: Now exit the command prompt and reboot the Windows.

Step 5: Check that the issue is solved or not if it is not solved then continue.

Solution 3: Running the System File Checker (SFC) and Check Disk (CHKDSK)

Step 1: Open Command prompt by following the earlier mentioned steps.

Step 2: Write the following command in the Command Prompt:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows

chkdsk C: /f /r /x

Step 3: Execute the above command and then reboot your PC.

Step 4: Check that the There was a problem resetting your PC error is resolved or not if it is not solved then continue.

Solution 4: Performing a System Restore

Step 1: Put the Windows Installation media or any Recovery Drive/System Repair Disc and then select the language preference, and click next.

Step 2: Tap on “Repair your computer” option in the bottom left corner of the screen.

Step 3: Choose Troubleshoot and then Advanced Options.

Step 4: At last tap on the “System Restore” and follow the instructions which are written onscreen to complete restore.

Step 5: Reboot your PC and see if the There was a problem resetting your PC problem is solved or not.

Solution 5. Renaming the System and Software Registry Hives

Step 1: Open the command prompt by following the instructions in solution 1.

Step 2: Write the following command in command prompt and then hit enter:

cd %windir%\system32\config

ren system system.001

ren software software.001

Step 3: Execute the above command and then close the command prompt. It would take you to the Windows Recovery Environment screen.

Step 4: Tap on the Continue option to boot your Windows and reboot your PC. See that the issue There was a problem resetting your PC is solved or not.

Solution 6: Recovery from Drive

Please note that this method may delete all your personal files, so follow this if you are sure.

Step 1: Insert the USB recovery drive in the computer and then reboot your PC.

Step 2: When you will see the message “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD” on the screen then press any key to continue.

Step 3: Select the language preference and tap next. Click on Repair your computer in the bottom left corner of the screen.

Step 4: In the heading Choose an option click on Troubleshoot.

Step 5: In the Troubleshoot screen, tap on the advanced option.

Step 6: Now click on “Recovery from drive” or “System Image Recovery” whichever you can see.

Step 7: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore and then reboot your PC. See that the There was a problem resetting your PC error is resolved or not.

Solution 7: Recovering the PC Using Recovery USB

Step 1: Insert the USB recovery drive to the computer.

Step 2: Open the command prompt by following the instructions in solution 1.

Step 3: Write notepad in command prompt and hit enter.

Step 4: Inside notepad click File and then tap on open.

Step 5: You will see the drop-down next to the file name click on it and then select All Files in it. Find your USB drive letter which you use to boot into the Windows.

Step 6: After knowing the drive letter, write it in command prompt and press Enter.

Step 7: Now write Setup and tap enter.

Step 8: Your Windows Installation setup is going to open by now. Follow the instructions mentioned onscreen to reinstall windows again.

Solution 8: Repair Install Windows 10

If anyone of the methods mentioned above has not worked for you, then be sure that your HDD is okay. The reason for the error “There was a problem resetting your PC” may be the operating system or the binary-coded decimal (BCD) information on HDD was somehow erased.

Why Did My PC Factory Reset Fail?

Factory resets can fail due to various reasons, including:

  • A lack of necessary files for the reset process.
  • A corrupted hard drive or system partition.
  • Interference from third-party software or malware.
  • System inconsistencies caused by interrupted updates or changes in system configuration.

How Can I Force My PC to Reset?

If the traditional reset method isn’t working, consider these alternatives:

  1. Use a Windows Installation Disc or USB:
    • Boot your PC from the installation media.
    • Select “Repair your computer” and navigate to “Troubleshoot” > “Reset this PC.”
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.
  2. Utilize the System Restore Point:
    • Boot into the Advanced Startup options.
    • Choose “System Restore” and select a restore point before the issue began.
    • Proceed with the restoration process.
  3. Fresh Start Option (Available on Windows 10):
    • Navigate to Windows Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
    • Under “More recovery options,” select “Learn how to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows.”
    • This method keeps some personal files but removes third-party apps.
  4. Use Command Prompt:
    • Boot into Advanced Startup and select “Command Prompt.”
    • Input cd %windir%\system32\config and press Enter.
    • Then type ren system system.001 and ren software software.001 and press Enter.
    • Reboot and attempt the reset again.

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Conclusion

I hope that the error “There was a problem resetting your PC” is resolved by now. The “There was a problem resetting your PC” error can be a tough nut to crack, but with the right knowledge and approach, it’s manageable.

By understanding its causes and using alternative methods, users can effectively overcome this challenge and give their PC the fresh start it needs. Regular backups and maintaining system health can also help in preventing such errors in the future.