There was a problem resetting your PC [Full Guide]
- Windows 10 can be reset and bring it to its default state. However, there are instances when resetting your Windows 10 computer is impossible task and you get the message: There Was A Problem Resetting Your PC. No Changes Were Made. See the solutions in the article below.
- There is no bad time to perform a registry clean. Our top12 registry cleaners might give you a pretty good idea of the software needed for that opperation.
- If you came across any system errors, you will find a solution in our System Errors hub.
- We wrote xtensively about Windows 10 errors so check out our Windows 10 errors hub for a solution.
Windows 10 offers users the possibility to reset their systems and bring the OS to its default state.
By doing so, you can eliminate various bugs that may prevent their computers from working properly.
However, there are instances when resetting your Windows 10 computer turns into an impossible task due to the error message: There Was A Problem Resetting Your PC. No Changes Were Made.
In this article, we’re going to show you how to fix this error.
There was a problem resetting your PC message can prevent you from restoring Windows 10 to the original state.
This can be a big problem, and speaking of Windows issues, here are some similar problems that users reported:
- There was a problem resetting your PC no changes were made Windows 10, Windows 8 – This issue can affect both Windows 10 and Windows 8. Even if you don’t use Windows 10, you should be able to apply most of our solutions to Windows 8 as well.
- There was a problem refreshing your PC, no changes were made – This is just a variation of this error message. If you encounter it, try running SFC and DISM scan and check if that solves the problem.
- Can’t reset PC Windows 10 – This is a variation of the original error that you can encounter. If you notice this problem, try performing System Restore and check if that helps.
- There was a problem resetting your PC Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro 2, HP Stream, Dell, Lenovo – Sometimes this error message can appear on your laptop. It seems that all laptop brands can be affected by this problem, and in order to fix it, you might have to run DISM and SFC scans outside of Windows.
- There was a problem resetting your laptop, computer – This issue can affect any device, both laptop and desktop. If you have this problem, be sure to try some of our solutions and check if that works for you.
How can I fix There was a problem resetting your PC error?
Solution 1 — Perform a system file check
According to users, this issue can often occur due to corrupted files. However, you can fix this problem by performing a simple SFC scan. To do that, you just need to follow these steps:
- Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Now select Command Prompt (Admin) from the list. If this option isn’t available, you can also use PowerShell (Admin).
- When Command Prompt opens, enter sfc /scannow.
- SFC scan will now start. This process can take up to 20 minutes so don’t interrupt it.
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If SFC scan doesn’t solve the issue, or if you can’t run SFC, you might have to use DISM scan.
To do that, just start Command Prompt as administrator and run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command.
Keep in mind that DISM scan can take more than 20 minutes, so don’t interrupt it.
Once the DISM scan is finished, check if the problem still persists. If it does, repeat the SFC scan again
If you still can’t reset Windows 10, type the following commands and hit Enter after each:
- cd %windir%system32config
- ren system system.001
- ren software software.001
This guide will help you become an expert in performing DISM scans!
Solution 2 — Use a boot-up CD or USB stick
- Get the Windows 10 install files from the Microsoft website to create a boot-up CD or USB stick. For a step-by-step guide, check out our article on how to create a bootable USB Stick with Windows 10.
- Plug the USB stick in or insert the CD and then choose Reset.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the reset.
Solution 3 — Use a system restore point
If you keep getting There was a problem resetting your PC message, you might be able to solve it by performing a System Restore.
In case you’re not familiar, System Restore is a feature that allows you to restore your PC to a previous state and fix many issues in the process.
Using System Restore is rather simple, and you can restore your PC by doing the following:
- Press Windows Key + S and enter system restore. Choose Create a restore point from the menu.
- System Properties window will now appear. Click on System Restore.
- Once System Restore window opens, click Next.
- If available, check Show more restore points options. Now select the desired restore point and click Next.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.
Once your system is restored, the issue should be completely resolved.
If no restore points are available, go to the Control Panel, search for Recovery, select Recovery, go to Configure System Restore and then select Configure and Turn on system protection to enable this option.
Solution 4 – Disable ragentc
According to users, you might be able to fix There was a problem resetting your PC message simply by temporarily disabling reagentc. To do that, just follow these steps:
- Start Command Prompt as administrator.
- Now run the following commands:
- reagentc /disable
- reagentc /enable
After running these commands, try to reset your PC again.
FAQ: Learn more about resetting problems
- How do I restore my computer to factory settings from command prompt?
Editor’s Note: This article continues on the next page with additional solutions to fix computer reset issues. If you want to read more on how to reset your PC safely, check out our collection of guides.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in February 2017 and was revamped and updated in August 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.