Preparing to reset my computer - I have removed my personal stuff - what else do i need deal with?

Hi - I've got a one year old Acer Aspire E15 (E5-576G-5762) - I'm dealing with a painfully slow computer and have determined - with advice from here - that I need to reset my computer. I think there may be something in there that is slowing things down and causing crashes. I have backed up my personal stuff - mostly pictures and passwords. But, what else do I need to have before I reset? Like MS Office (how do I reload it? I need passwords or something?) Windows? Not sure what else I need to get up and running after the reset. I'm afraid to copy stuff from the old computer because of bringing over whatever is affecting the computer right now - or is there a safe way to do that? Very much appreciate any advice.

Accepted answers

JackE

I suggest that before you reset that you first uninstall, not just disable, all non-Microsoft antivirus scanners like McAfee, Norton, AVG, Malwarebytes, Avast, etc. Then press WIN+R. Then enter 'mrt'. Then follow directions to let Microsoft's malicious software removal tool do its thing on the whole drive. This may take up to 8 hours or so to complete. So do it just before bedtime.

Jack E/NJ

All comments

JackE

I suggest that before you reset that you first uninstall, not just disable, all non-Microsoft antivirus scanners like McAfee, Norton, AVG, Malwarebytes, Avast, etc. Then press WIN+R. Then enter 'mrt'. Then follow directions to let Microsoft's malicious software removal tool do its thing on the whole drive. This may take up to 8 hours or so to complete. So do it just before bedtime.

Jack E/NJ

RJ27

JackE said:

I suggest that before you reset that you first uninstall, not just disable, all non-Microsoft antivirus scanners like McAfee, Norton, AVG, Malwarebytes, Avast, etc. Then press WIN+R. Then enter 'mrt'. Then follow directions to let Microsoft's malicious software removal tool do its thing on the whole drive. This may take up to 8 hours or so to complete. So do it just before bedtime. Jack E/NJ

Thanks Jack - so are you suggesting I do this instead of doing a complete reset?? The core problem is that my computer gets extremely slow and delayed, it makes a whirring sound like it's always computing, crashes, and then I have to manually turn it off so that I can turn it on again. I don't know if it is a physical hardware problem or software. Would this process help address that?

JackE

>>>so are you suggesting I do this instead of doing a complete reset?>>>

No. I'm suggesting that you try this BEFORE doing a complete reset. Jack E/NJ

StevenGen

RJ27 you should make sure if its the software or the hardware? To me and seeing that you have backed up all your personal data, I would firstly do a clean install of Win-10 with a format of the disk drive, that is the best and easiest way of fixing a slowness of a PC if it is its software and if there isn't any hardware problems with your PC?

RJ27

JackE said:

>>>so are you suggesting I do this instead of doing a complete reset?>>>

No. I'm suggesting that you try this BEFORE doing a complete reset. Jack E/NJ

OK. So, I do it and then see how the computer works, right? And if needed do the reset? And if not needed, just skip it?

This is my first time doing this - so not clear on how to proceed.

Thanks.

RJ27

StevenGen said:

RJ27 you should make sure if its the software or the hardware? To me and seeing that you have backed up all your personal data, I would firstly do a clean install of Win-10 with a format of the disk drive, that is the best and easiest way of fixing a slowness of a PC if it is its software and if there isn't any hardware problems with your PC?

Thanks. So, is that different from a 'reset'? how would I do that? It came with the computer. Much appreciated.

RJ27

So, I ran the "Microsoft's malicious software removal tool" and it was all clean. Now ready for the next step. Based on recommendations above, I either 'RESET' the computer (It looks like I can do that while in Safe Mode under System Settings). Is that the same as "a clean install of Win-10 with a format of the disk drive"?

RJ27

So I tried to run the "Reset this PC" and got a response: "Could not find the recovery environment - insert your windows installation or recovery media and restart your pc with the media."

But I dont have the disks or anything the computer originally came with.

Thoughts?

JackE

I suggest that you first try an ALT+F10 cold boot reset. Shut the machine completely off by pressing and hold the power button for about 5 seconds. Then press & hold the F2 key, Then press the power button to turn the machine back on. The BIOS menu should appear. In the BIOS menu Main tab, make sure the F12 boot menu and D2D recovery options are turned on. Then press F10 to save settings and exit. Then shut the machine off again. Then press and hold the ALT+F10 keys. Then turn the machine on while still holding the keys. A recovery screen should appear as in the video below. Choose the option for a remove everything factory reset. This will return your machine to a factory fresh state. Immediately after the reset is complete, open ControlPanel. Search 'restore point'. Click 'create a restore point' in left pane. In the box that pops up make sure SystemProtection is turned on. Jack E/NJ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpzLJRAZldA

RJ27

So, I followed those steps.
I flipped on the F12 boot menu and D2D recovery options.
I followed the steps and got into the recovery screen (mine only has Continue, Troubleshoot and Turn off your PC.)
But here, my screen is different. I don't have a RESET THIS PC button - I just have "Advanced Options"
- Startup Repair
- Command Prompt
- Install Updates
- UEFI Firmware Settings
- System Restore
- System Image Recovery

So same problem as above.

JackE

What does system restore yield? Jack E/NJ

RJ27

JackE said:

What does system restore yield? Jack E/NJ

I found a way to get to reset - through the command prompt and typing - reagentc / enable - and did the full reset. and got MS Office back on and running. And within an hour it crashed as soon as it went to sleep. Plus the whirring sound - which I assume is processing - was the same as before. So, I still have the question is it still something in the software (like do I need to restore windows from a disk) or is it hardware?

JackE

>>>>But here, my screen is different. >>>>

Hold on! Did you buy this system as a new machine or a refurb or something similar? Can you still get to the command prompt when its booted? If yes, go to the elevated command prompt. Enter 'wmic os get serialnumber'. Do you see OEM anywhere in the serial number output? Jack E/NJ

RJ27

New - I bought it last April 2019 from Amazon. So I am just out of warranty. Switching to another computer to go to command prompt.

RJ27

Yes I see AAOEM after the serial number

JackE

On the E5-576G-5762?? Not from another computer. Jack E/NJ

RJ27

yes the E5-576G-5762.

RJ27

BTW, my computer sounds like it is racing again. I went into my task manager and this is what I see - seems to be burning alot of CPU for not alot of activity going on here - I only have a few programs open - a few outlook pages and word and web.