How to Factory Reset Windows 7 without Recovery Partition

You can learn why factory reset Windows 7 and how to factory reset Windows 7 without recovery partition as well as how to backup system before resetting. Scroll down to know more details.

by Clytze Published on December 17, 2024

By Clytze Updated on September 14, 2024

Share this:

Why Factory Reset Windows 7?

A factory reset is a feature that restores the device to its original system state by deleting all the information stored on the device. So, why do you need to reset your Windows computer to factory settings? This article summarizes several common reasons for you. Please read on.

  • Avoid privacy disclosure: When you need to sell or transfer your computer to someone else, resetting your Windows computer can avoid privacy disclosure. This is because ordinary deletion or formatting is likely to be easily recovered by data recovery software.
  • Undo changes to the system: If your computer encounters a problem that needs to be fixed, but making changes to the system causes trouble, you can undo the changes to the system by resetting your computer.
  • Free up space to get better performance: If your computer is seriously lagging due to too much stored data, you can reset your Windows computer to get better performance and improve the running speed of your computer.

After understanding the reasons, you can keep reading to find out how to factory reset Windows 7 without recovery partition.

Backup System before Resetting Windows 7

Although resetting Windows computer can solve some problems, it will also erase all the data on your computer and cannot be recovered. Therefore, before you learn how to factory reset Windows 7 professionally and safely, to better protect your data, it is recommended that you backup your system in advance with the free backup software AOMEI Backupper Standard.

This way, even if you reset your computer, you will not lose your original data and you can use this previously created system backup for a quick restore when you need i

Different backup paths: It supports various backup destination paths, so you can backup Windows 7 to external hard drive, HDD, SSD, USB flash drive, NAS, cloud disk and network location, etc.
Multiple Operating Systems: This freeware not only supports Windows 7, but also supports multiple Windows PC operating systems, such as Windows 11/10/8.1/8/XP/Vista, etc.
Simple and easy to understand: This software has a very simple interface and easy-to-understand operation instructions, so even if you are a novice, you can easily complete the entire backup process.

Next, you can download and install this software. Then follow the graphic tutorial below. If you are a Windows Server user, you can choose AOMEI Backupper Server.

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 1. Open the software and click Backup > System Backup.

Step 2. It will select system partition and boot-related partitions automatically. And you just need to select a destination.

Step 3. Click Start Backup to backup the Windows 7 system.

Notes:

  • Options: It allows you to write comments, select the compression level for your system backup or set email notifications.
  • Schedule Backup: You can set the frequency of your Windows 7 backup, such as Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event trigger and USB plug in. The professional version supports the last two features.
  • Backup Scheme: You can select different backup methods. And you can upgrade to the Pro version to enjoy the differential backup method which can easily restore your scheduled backup. After the upgrade, you can also enable automatic backup cleanup feature to save disk space. 

How to Factory Reset Windows 7 without Recovery Partition

After you have backed up your Windows 7 system, you can start learning how to factory reset Windows 7 without recovery partition by following the graphic tutorial below. You can try to perform a Windows 7 factory reset by Command Prompt in safe mode. Below are the specific steps.

Step 1. Turn off your computer and make sure everything except for the monitor, keyboard and mouse is disconnected to the computer which you want to revert to factory settings.

Step 2. Click the Start button and turn on it again.

Step 3. When the computer logo appears on the screen, you need to press and hold the F8 key to open the Advanced Boot Options menu.

Step 4. Go ahead to choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt and press Enter key.

Step 5. You can then log in as a local user or the Administrator.

Step 6. When Command Prompt appears, type the following command and press Enter.

rstrui.exe

Step 7. Select Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition check box and click Next.

Step 8. After the restore operation is complete, click Finish to restart the computer.

Step 9. Restore any data or programs you want from backup files.

Summary

This article shows why you should factory reset Windows system and how to factory reset Windows 7 without recovery partition. Since factory setting Windows will cause all the important data on your computer to be erased, it is recommended that you use the free backup software AOMEI Backupper Standard to backup Windows 7 in advance before resetting your computer. This way, even if anything goes wrong, you can use this system backup to restore it quickly without losing any data.

Besides, its Universal Restore feature allows you to restore your system backup to a computer with different hardware. This software also offers System Clone, Disk Clone, Create Bootable Media, Mirror Sync and many other features to protect your computer in all aspects. You can download this software to explore more features.

Clytze · Editor
Clytze, an editor at AOMEI Technology, is passionate about safeguarding your digital world. She dedicates her expertise to empower users like you in data security and recovery. She firmly believes that everyone should have the tools and knowledge to protect their digital assets through computer backup, seamless disk cloning, and efficient file synchronization. Clytze is your trusted guide on the journey to data safety.