Is your computer displaying "There was a problem resetting your PC?" Don't let it stop you in your tracks as there are several ways to troubleshoot this error.

But before we dive into a step-by-step explanation of each method, let’s have a quick peek into what causes the “There was a problem resetting your PC” to pop up on your Windows 10 system in the first place.

Why Does It Say “There Was a Problem Resetting Your PC”?

Windows 10 is, by far, a great improvement over its predecessors in terms of various metrics like security, UI, speed, applications, and much more. Though, Windows 10 errors and security issues can still stop your work in its tracks. In its defense, Microsoft releases new updates to take care of them.

One such issue is the common error message of "There was a problem resetting your PC. No changes were made."

windows problem resetting your-PC

In other words, the error will not let you reset your Windows 10. The top causes of the “There was a problem resetting your PC” on Windows 10 systems are:

  • A corrupt file preventing Windows 10 from resetting
  • Deletion of important files due to an abrupt shutdown
  • Compression was enabled by your PC manufacturer
  • Windows 10 came pre-installed in your system.

Regardless of the cause, by the end of this article, you’ll be able to reset your Windows 10 system once again. Let's get started.

Top Methods to Fix “There Was a Problem Resetting Your PC” Error

Follow one of these methods if you are unable to reset Windows 10. One of these error fixes will take care of the PC resetting problem for good:

1. Use the System File Checker

The System File Checker scan is the first method you can use to try and fix the resetting problem.

The System File Checker is a free tool created by Microsft to help you find and recover corrupted files in Windows 10. It's a default Windows troubleshooting utility.

You have to run the System File Checker through the Windows Command Prompt sfc /scan command.

Follow the steps below to open the Command Prompt and get started:

  1. Type command prompt in the Windows search bar, take the cursor on the top result and click on Run as administrator.
    open command prompt
  2. Type the sfc /scannow command as shown below and hit ENTER.
    sfc command execution to fix speakers that are not working
    Reboot your PC after the command has been executed and try to reset the Windows 10 again. You should be able to reset your Windows 10 now.

Related: Windows Command Prompt (CMD) Commands You Must Know

2. Return to a Stable System With a System Restore Point

If you are still getting the “There was a problem resetting your PC. No changes were made.” error, then you can try to resolve it with a System Restore.

System Restore is another Windows tool designed to repair damaged software and files. It works by taking a "snapshot" of your Windows files and system files. It can take your system back to a healthy state after any file corruption.

In other words, System Restore takes your PC (and its files and settings) to a previous point in time where everything was working, and fixes various kinds of errors in the process. Here are the methods that you need to follow to do just that:

  1. Type system restore in Windows search bar on the taskbar and click on Create a Restore Point.
  2. In the System Protection tab, click on System Restore.
    click on system restore
  3. In the next dialog box, click on Next.
  4. Choose the desired restore point and click on Next.

After you are done with the restore, reboot your PC. The error should be resolved and you should able to log into your desktop.

3. Disable REAgentC.exe

If you are still unable to reset Windows 10, then try this method. You'll have to use Command Prompt again for it. By disabling REAgentC.exe, you will be able to fix the Windows 10 "There was a problem resetting your PC" error.

REAgentC.exe is an executable file in Windows that can be used to configure the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)--- a collection of tools that can be used to resolve common Windows problems. When your system fails during normal boot up, it will try to turn to the Windows Recovery Environment. Temporarily disabling it may help your computer reset.

To get started, open the Command Prompt as administrator again, as shown in the first method. Now, run these commands on the command line as shown in the images:

  • reagentc /disable
  • reagentc /enable
run reagentc command

After executing these commands, reboot your system and then try to reset your PC once again.

4. Rename the System and Software Registry Hive

To do this, run the Command Prompt as administrator once again. In Command Prompt type the following commands:

  1. Type cd %windir%\system32\config and press ENTER.
  2. Then type ren system system.001 and hit ENTER.
  3. At last, type ren software software.001 and hit ENTER, once again.
  4. Lastly, type exit to close the command prompt. Now restart your PC and give resetting another try. You should not see the error message now.

5. Run the Startup Repair

If none of these methods have worked so far, and you are unable to reset Windows 10 till now, then the last solution that we are left with is to use the Windows Startup Repair feature.

To perform this repair, you’ll need to have a bootable DVD or USB drive with the Windows 10 installer.

If you have that ready, use the steps below:

  1. Insert the USB or DVD in your PC and restart the system.
  2. When the computer boots from the USB or DVD, choose Troubleshoot
    start repair boot up
  3. Now, click on Advanced Options.
  4. Next, click on Startup Repair.
  5. Select your account.
  6. Type your account password.
  7. Click on Continue to start the repair process.

The Windows Repair tool will soon find, scan, and repair all the issues with your Windows 10 software.

After the scanning and fixing are done, restart your computer and check again if you're still facing the "There was a problem resetting your PC" error.

Get Rid of This Windows 10 Error for Good

Windows 10 is an excellent addition to the Windows family of Operating Systems. But you should never neglect the security or maintenance of your Windows 10 Operating System. Windows Stop Codes and the error messages themselves offer all the clues to the problems under the hood.