Windows 10 has a great reputation for being a stable operating system. However, you’ll find that it can still suffer from bugs with drivers, software, system failures, and BSODs (Blue Screen of Death).

If troubleshooting your PC does not fix your issues, resetting your PC is your best bet. Despite that, you might still face an error message that reads, “There was an error resetting your PC.” Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon issue, and many users face it occasionally. Here’s how to fix it.

How to Fix the “There Was an Error Resetting Your PC” Error

This issue could arise when you’re trying to reset your Windows 10 PC. The problem isn't always your fault. Many other reasons could have led to this issue. However, you can fix this issue in a few steps. Below are some solutions that can help fix the “There was a problem resetting your PC” error.

1. Run the System File Checker

Windows has a built-in system file checker that lets you scan for corrupted files using the command-line utility. This tool scans your PC for possible corrupted files and attempts to fix them. To run the System File Checker tool on your Windows PC, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Start button, and search for Command Prompt or PowerShell. The search bar won't appear until you begin typing the command after clicking Start.
  2. From the right side of the Start screen, click on the Run on Administrator.
  3. In the Command Prompt or PowerShell windows, type the following command and press Enter:
            sfc /scannow
        
  4. Once the command executes, wait for the process to be completed. Now restart your PC.
  5. Once restarted, try to reset your PC now. It should work!
System File Checker tool in Windows 10

2. Disable and Re-enable REAgentC.exe

REAgentC is a Microsoft tool that ships with Windows. It helps configure a Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) boot image and a push-button reset recovery image. An administrator can use these tools to check for recovery options and customizations.

When Windows fail to boot, it runs the Windows RE boot image to find possible solutions to the problem. However, if your PC doesn’t reset, it’s best to disable and re-enable this configuration once to see if it solves your issue. To do so, follow these instructions:

  1. Click the Start button, and start searching for Command Prompt or PowerShell.
  2. From the right side of the Start screen, click on Run on Administrator.
    REAgentC command in Windows 10
  3. In the Command Prompt or PowerShell windows, type the following command and press Enter:
            reagentc /disable
        
  4. Once the previous command is executed, type the following command and press Enter:
            reagentc /enable
        
  5. Once done, restart your computer and try to continue with the Reset process. It should work now.

3. Use System Restore

System Restore is a built-in Windows tool. It creates a backup of both your system files and Windows Registry settings and saves them as a Restore Point, which can be used as a backup later.

The System Restore window

You can use System Restore to send your PC back to an earlier point, which may solve your issue. This method only works if your computer made a System Restore point in the past, but PCs are designed to create them automatically these days. As such, there's a good chance you have some already set up and ready to use.

To restore the previous version of Windows, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Start button, and search for “System Restore.” From the results, click on the Create a Restore Point option.
  2. In the new dialog box, head over to the System Protection tab.
  3. Under the System Restore tab, click on the System Restore Button.
  4. If it doesn’t have the option enabled, it means there is no System Restore Point available.
  5. In the next window, click Next, and choose your preferred System Restore Point.
  6. Next, you’ll see the System Restore Wizard window. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed further.
  7. After the system restore tool finishes up, try to reset your PC, and you should be able to reset now.

Related: System Restore Not Working on Windows? Tips and Fixes to Try

4. Refresh Windows Using Windows Defender

Microsoft provides Fresh Start as an option to give a new start to your Windows 10 PC. You can access the feature under the Windows Defender settings. If you have the “There was a problem resetting your PC" error, you can try this option.

Windows defender settings

To use the Fresh Start feature, follow these steps below:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 10 by using the Win + I shortcut key or from the Start menu.
  2. Navigate to Update and Security > Windows Security, and open up Windows Security.
  3. From the new window, head over to the Device Performance and Health menu and find the Fresh Start section.
  4. Click Additional Information and select the Get Started option. Follow the on-screen instructions, and you’re good to go.

Related: Ways to Make Windows 10 Faster and Improve Performance

5. Run the Startup Repair Tool

Windows comes with a built-in Startup Repair Tool. This tool allows you to check for any problems and corruption if the PC isn’t booting up properly. It also provides you access to tools like Command Prompt if you're struggling to boot into Windows. Surprisingly, the Startup Repair tool can also troubleshoot issues you’re facing when resetting the PC.

windows 10 startup repair

There are two methods to access Startup Repair—with an installation disk and without an installation disk. Assuming that you don't have an installation disk, we’ll show you how to access Startup Repair without one.

To access Startup Repair on Windows, follow the instructions below:

  1. While holding the Shift key, open the Start menu on your Windows PC and click on the Power button.
  2. Hold the Shift key on your keyboard again and click on the Restart option.
  3. Once your PC begins to restart, you can release the Shift key.
  4. Your PC will restart into Recovery mode. Click on the Troubleshoot option from the list of options.
  5. Click on Advanced Options > Startup Repair from the list.
  6. It’ll ask for your account selection if there are multiple accounts. You’ll need to choose an administrator account to continue. If you’re already an administrator, enter the password and continue.
  7. Click Continue, and wait for Startup Repair to complete its operation.
  8. Once done, restart your computer, and try to reset it. It should reset now.

“There Was a Problem Resetting Your PC” Is Now Fixed

The above methods should fix your issue of “There was an error resetting your PC” easily. When resetting your PC, make sure to take a backup of the data to avoid any data corruption or lost files.

Windows is a great operating system. However, errors like this might scare users sometimes. You can note the error code or stop code and perform a Google search to know more about the issue and troubleshooting tips to fix it.