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Windows 8 and newer versions have a "Windows Reset" feature that reinstalls windows. The question is, does it perform the same kind of clean install that you would achieve with a MSFT .iso, or does it perform a clean install from OEM media, thus keeping all of the crapware?

For example, given the Lenovo Superfish affair, will performing a Windows Reset yield a completely clean PC, or will it remove all of your files and apps but keep the crapware?

s_a
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  • The image used by the `Reset` can be modified to restore the device to a default configuration determined by the OEM. How the `Reset` feature works exactly is well documented on Microsoft's website. – Ramhound Feb 19 '15 at 13:40
  • Maybe it is well documented, but in the pages for end users MSFT doesn't specify this (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc). So I had to ask. And so, in this case, probably reset will keep the crapware. Thanks. – s_a Feb 19 '15 at 13:42
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    It depends. If `Lenovo` updated the image to include the software then it would. `Reset` replaces all system files and personal files will be lost when used. It does not use the exact same image as a Windows 8.1 installation .ISO would use though. – Ramhound Feb 19 '15 at 13:44
  • At any rate, we can't trust it (or any other OEM's install image). Thus a clean install is preferable. – s_a Feb 19 '15 at 13:55
  • Yet another reason to never buy a pre-installed machine. Thanks for the heads-up. – Tetsujin Feb 19 '15 at 15:09

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