Leaked: Windows 8 "system reset" screenshot

[Emil]

A screenshot showing off a "Restore to original factory settings" feature in Windows 8 has leaked. The feature was rumored earlier this month and was described as allowing the user to reset the system to factory settings in just two minutes.

The leaked screenshot, courtesy of Win7China, plainly shows such an option below the already-available System Restore feature in Windows. If you can't see the screenshot, there's a "Open system reset" button to the right of the following description:

Restore to original factory settings
Remove all programs you've installed and restore default Windows settings. You can choose to keep your user accounts and personal files.

We seriously doubt the reset process will take two minutes on your typical hardware configuration. It should take significantly longer to remove all installed software and return Windows to its default settings.

Such a feature could be very useful for those times that you want to reinstall the operating system for your friend or family member. Even if it doesn't take just two minutes, it will certainly be faster than reinstalling the whole operating system.

It's not clear whether the feature will require the original Windows 8 disc, and given how early we are in the development cycle, if it will even be included. That being said, if it does what it claims to, we hope Microsoft won't scrap it.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/42995-leaked-windows-8-system-reset-screenshot.html

 

[Xclusiveitalian]

Doesn't sound like a new feature expect the 2 min part, so unless it can do it in 2 min it's not even worth mentioning. As of right now Windows 8 is nothing special and not worth $10 they better come up with something interesting especially if they think of charging people more than $10 for it lol

 

[yRaz]

xclusiveitalian said:
Doesn't sound like a new feature expect the 2 min part, so unless it can do it in 2 min it's not even worth mentioning. As of right now Windows 8 is nothing special and not worth $10 they better come up with something interesting especially if they think of charging people more than $10 for it lol

DirectX 12

 

[Jurassic4096]

Gotta love the cheapskates. ^^^

 

[TorturedChaos]

Well I think its a pretty slick idea.

Such a feature could be very useful for those times that you want to reinstall the operating system for your friend or family member

I don't even want to think about how much time I have spent doing that in my life. If I could do it with a few buttons AND keep all their documents and desktop settings. Holy crap that would be nice!!!

 

[Lurker101]

We're getting a "leak" every other week now.

 

[Jurassic4096]

^^^reminds me of...

"Screw XBOX Live! If they think i'm gonna pay $60 a YEAR to play ALL my Live Enabled XBOX games that i pay $60 EACH for to play ONLINE with REAL PEOPLE 24/7, they have another thing coming!"

 

[nismo91]

no surprise. i read the 'reset' function last year when some Windows 8 powerpoint slides were leaked. 2 minutes was a bit ridiculous though.

 

[Guest]

Mmm, allow the user to reset it or the MS overlord?

What!? you removed all that bloatware and spam the factory shipped with your new PC, we can't have that!

 

[gwailo247]

It only stands to reason that as time progresses, various things formerly relegated to computer "gurus" will become automated.

 

[Lokalaskurar]

Guest said:
Mmm, allow the user to reset it or the MS overlord?

Well...

Jeff "Joker" Moreau said:

-"I had to spend all day computing pi because somebody plugged in the overlord!"

Maybe I'll stick to Windows 7 a little while longer

 

[Guest]

2 minutes if you have an SSD.

 

[yukka]

I like the sound of that. Only problem is the different places that PC applications put their different personal files etc. I find it hard to trust that "export documents and settings" etc etc can ever be 100% reliable on a PC. There are too many programs doing it their own way.

I will watch how this feature develops.

As for people being too cheap to buy it etc, I definately wanted to get away from Vista to Windows 7 but I am quite happy with the OS now. There will have to be some amazing new features for it to be worth my while upgrading and I really hope that my work place doesnt decide to upgrade to the latest greatest OS again as we are still working out the kinks caused by App-V and Windows 7 let alone moving to 8.

 

[Benny26]

Lots of times i cudda done with that button in the past...

 

[Guest]

OEMs like HP, and Dell supply factory reset functions on both Partition and Disc, but to have this function direct from Windows will be interesting if implemented.

 

[Guest]

but this seems to be different. You can keep user's data and setting, maybe data. OEM's reset means you have to format the partition and install a fresh-new windows

 

[Guest]

Dang there goes my extra income...shhhhh...maybe if people don't know...just us techs...it can make our life easier and yet still make the $$ :

 

[NeoFryBoy]

yRaz said:
DirectX 12

Will that allow the display of holograms? No? Then, eh.

 

[Guest]

I think Microsoft marketing is better stay with the number 7 which saves them from the vista disaster.

 

[Guest]

Bah!! They want you to pay money for an operating system thats prone to viruses, spyware, malware and adware?

800 MB of RAM just to run Win 7? really? GTFO!! and then we are asked to run anti? virus ""protection"" that only serves to consume more RAM....bah!!

NO!!

I have the perfect operating system and its Linux flavors of Ubuntu,Ubuntu Mint, Kubuntu or Medibuntu, etc.
I downloaded Ubuntu for free and it runs perfect with no viruses, malware or crapware.

Ubuntu 235 MB of RAM versus Win 7 800 MB of RAM plus antivirus 200 MB of RAM.....bah!!!

Every new laptop or netbook that we buy the first thing we do is erase all that Microsoft junk!

i.e. Windows 7 and installing printer HP photosmart C4795 takes 35 minutes!!!! to install!! just to print one document!

Erased Windows 7 and installed Ubuntu 10.

Ubuntu 10 and printer HP photosmart C4795 install time:

54 SECONDS!!!!! as it was power up printer ,plug in usb cable and open up document and press PRINT!!!
54 SECONDS!!!!


On my laptops, netbooks and any servers:
Bye, bye, Microsoft

 

[Guest]

"Bye Bye Microsoft"

Only too right!

I am fed up after years of having to reinstall Windows every 6 months, Viruses, Hogged resourses, BSOD's, Upgrade cycle, etc

Made the switch to Ubuntu 2 years ago and have never looked back (and never will) Printing is really as easy as mentioned above.

"Computers are like air conditioners, they work well until you start opening windows! "

 

[Guest]

What exactly WAS the point of your "Bye Bye Microsoft" comment?

If you don't care about Windows, why exactly did you bother to read this news and comment?

I use both Windows and Fedora on my laptop, but there's no way I'll be dumping Windows, as I like them _both_. Agreed Windows has problems, but so what? I like the large variety of software I get to choose from.


"Windows 7 and installing printer HP photosmart C4795 takes 35 minutes!!!! "
--Impossible. Unless you're using some ancient computer, where you need to use a CD with drivers for installing.It barely takes a minute on mine.


"I am fed up after years of having to reinstall Windows every 6 months, Viruses, Hogged resourses, BSOD's, Upgrade cycle, etc"
Someone should avoid surfing shady porn sites, and installing every alternate "free smileys\zwinky toolbar" he comes across.

If you wisely install and keep uninstalling programs you know you won't be using any more, windows works fine.

 

[Guest]

Ahh... the 'ol Linux v windows war again. I love it!
Myself I use both Unbuntu & Win 7... why? ... well unbuntu is good... in fact it does nearly everything I want!
Unfortunately when I want to watch downloaded movies on my TV or 'grap' MP3 content from the likes of U-tube... Unbuntu rather lets me down... So it back to good 'ol Windows then.
'Course one day Linux may have it all... & when that day comes... I'll gladly dump Mr Gates!!