Windows 10 Creators Update: new System Reset option

Microsoft plans to improve the built-in system reset options of the Windows 10 operating system with the release of the Creators Update.

System reset is a feature of Windows 10 that users may invoke from Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC, during Advanced Startup, and by running the command systemreset -cleanpc directly.

The current version of System Reset gives you two options. You may "remove everything" and start fresh, or select "keep my files". The former removes everything including personal files, the latter will preserve personal files but remove anything else.

The two options have been taken directly from Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system which features the same options.

Windows 10 Creators Update: System Reset change

The two main options have not changed in the latest Windows 10 Insider Build. In fact, if you run System Reset from the interface, you will still get the same two options that you can pick from.

If you do run the systemreset -cleanpc command however, for instance by typing it in the start menu, the run dialog box (Windows-R), or the command line, you will get only one option.

That option is new, and called "clean up and update this PC". The screenshot above shows the new option's prompt when you run the command.

This feature cleans all apps from your PC, except those that came with Windows, and then updates your PC to the latest version of Windows. All of your personal files and data will be kept.

This process could take 20 minutes or longer depending on your PC.

You are probably wondering how this differs from the current options. Both options that are currently available reset the PC to its factory default state.

This new option seems to do that as well initially, but it will also download and install updates that are available for the PC to bring it up to date by installing the latest patches for the system.

So basically, what the new option does is update the PC to the latest version after the reset.

The new option is not yet integrated into the system reset selection menu. Since Microsoft did not advertise or list the new option under the changes list of the recent build, it could mean that the feature is not yet ready for that.

The new option could replace the current "keep my files" option completely, or be added as another option. 

Closing Words

I found the system reset feature never that useful, as it failed to work properly in the past every now and then. I prefer to create backups instead and restore those when the need arises.

Now You: Did you use System Reset in the past?