How to Factory Reset or Reinstall Windows 7 without Disk

Method 1: Factory Reset Windows 7 without Disk (CD, DVD, USB)

If you need to factory reset or reinstall Windows 7 for your computer, this tutorial will help you a lot. It will show you how to factory reset Windows 7 or reinstall Windows 7 system without any disk: CD, DVD or USB. It is very easy! Just do this on desk of your Windows 7.

All you need to do is to download Windows 7 ISO image file from Microsoft official website. Then follow the steps bellow to easily reset your Windows 7 PC to factory settings, which will remove all files and settings from old system drive disk (C:\) but files on other drives will be kept fine. (So it is better to firstly backup your important files from C drive and find out all product keys of your software before you proceed).

Step 1: Download a Windows 7 ISO image file on the desk. (You can download it from Microsoft)

Step 2: Use WinRAR or 7ZIP program to open your downloaded Windows 7 ISO image file and then extract all installation files to a new folder on the desk. (Make sure that there is enough space in C:)

Step 3: Find out the “Setup” program and then double-click to launch it.

Step 4: Screen of install Windows will be opened. Just click “Install now”.

Step 5: It will ask you if get important updates for installation. Make sure that your computer remain connected to the internet, just select getting the latest updates and then click “Next”.

Step 6: It will firstly download the latest updates of Windows 7.

Step 7: Next, check “I accept the license terms” and then click “Next”.

Step 8: In the “Which type of installation do you want?” screen, select “Custom”.

Step 9: When it ask you where do you want to install Windows 7, Select C: and then click “Next”.

Note: The partition you selected might contain files from a previous Windows installation. If it does, these files and folders will be moved to a folder named “Windows.old”. You will be able to access the information in “Windows.old”, but you will not be able to use your previous version of Windows.

Step 10: Wait for the process of installation. This will take about half hour to complete the whole process automatically. You could take a cup of coffee!

Step 11: With several restarts, it will install features and updates and then completed installation.

Step 12: Now you need to setup a brand new Windows 7 before using it. Choose your region and language and then click “Next”.

Step 13: Choose a user name for your account and name your computer to distinguish it on the network. Then click “Next”.

Step 14: Enter a new password and password hint and then click “Next”. Please backup the password in a safe place.

Step 15: Enter your Windows 7 product key or just check “Automatically activate Windows when I’m online”. Then click “Next”.

Step 16: Select using recommended settings.

Step 17: Review your time and date settings. Then click “Next”.

Step 18: Select your computer’s current location.

Step 19: Wait for preparing your desktop. Then you will see a brand new Windows 7 on the computer.

Method 2: Reset/Restore Windows 7 to Factory Settings without Disk or Download Anything.

In some brands of laptop computer, (such as Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba) users can easily reset/recover Windows 7 to factory settings without disk or ISO image file.

These computer manufacturers are pre-installing Windows 7 OEM version without giving you the actual installation media to go with it. Instead, they create a hidden recovery partition for users to perform a factory reset. If your hard drive has such a recovery partition, you can then reset your Windows 7 to factory settings without needing any discs or external drives. Now just follow this guide to factory reset Windows 7 without disc or download anything.

Step 1: Open “Start” menu and then select “Control Panel”.

Step 2: In the control panel screen, select “System and Security”.

Step 3: Next, select “Backup and Restore”.

Step 4: In the Backup and Restore screen, select “Recover system settings or your computer”.

Step 5: Next, open “Advanced recovery methods” link.

Step 6: It will give you two options: “Restore files from a system image backup” and “Return Your Computer to Factory Condition“. Select “Return Your Computer to Factory Condition”.

Note: If your computer doesn’t have a recovery partition, then the factory reset option is not available and you’ll see the “Reinstall Windows (requires Windows installation disc)” option instead.

Step 7: Select to either create a Backup now, or to Skip it and continue the factory reset without backing up any of your current files.

Step 8: After that, follow the given instructions on the screen or “Steps 10-19” from Method 1 to install and setup a brand new Windows 7 system.

Method 3: Reset Windows 7 to Factory Settings if You Forgot Your Administrator Password.

When you forget your administrator password and locked out of Windows 7, you might think about resetting your Windows 7 to factory settings and then you are able to choose a new password for Windows 7 admin account. You also might need to factory reset Windows 7 on an old computer but you lost your admin password.

In both of the two situations, you will need help of a Windows installation disk if you want to factory reset or reinstall your Windows system. If you have a Windows installation disk in hand, just boot your computer from the disc and then follow the “Method 1” to re-install Windows 7. You also can use Windows Password Rescuer to easily remove Windows 7 admin password and then you can follow Method 1 to factory reset Windows 7.

Note: If you need to backup or copy all your files in the computer, you will need to reset the forgotten Windows 7 admin password firstly.