For those that use Windows and mess things up enough to warrant a re-install or for those that are done with their PC and want to donate it to another family member or friend, Microsoft has included features within Windows 8 to help you. The two features “Reset your PC” and “Refresh your PC” are shortcuts to reinstalling Windows and either deleting all your old files and programs or keep everything but reinstall Windows in case of a mishap. There are many times when I could have used this with previous operating systems. It’s definitely going to be a lifesaver!

As we began planning for Windows 8, we asked ourselves: “Wouldn’t it be great if you could just push a button and everything is fixed?” We really wanted to focus on the concept of “push button”, which translated into a design goal that represents a simple to use, predictable, and fast solution. We also wanted to build on the process many people already use today when they need to start over: back up your data, reinstall Windows and apps, and restore your data. The strength of this approach is that you start over from a truly clean state, but you still get to keep the things you care about. With that as the basis of the solution, our goal was to make the process much more streamlined, less time-consuming, and more accessible to a broad set of customers.

Our solution in Windows 8 consists of two related features:

Reset your PC – Remove all personal data, apps, and settings from the PC, and reinstall Windows.

Refresh your PC – Keep all personal data, Metro style apps, and important settings from the PC, and reinstall Windows.