Cant Reset PC. Unable to perform a factory reset of Windows PC because it thinks it is running Windows to Go? When this happens, you will not be able to reset your computer the same way you would a typical installation.
What is Windows to Go?
Windows To Go is a feature that allows you to run Windows from a USB drive or other external storage device. This can be useful if you need to use Windows on a computer that you don't own or control, or if you want to have a portable version of Windows that you can take with you wherever you go.
My PC isn't running Windows to Go
What if your PC thinks it is running Windows to Go but it isn't? Sometimes a system can get confused into thinking it is running a portable version of Windows even though it is not. I've seen this happen in cases where an external USB drive with Windows on it was attached during particular updates and subsequent reboots. If this is the case, you may just need to change a registry setting to allow you to reset it.
Note: The following fix worked for me. However, I cannot guarantee it will work for you. Proceed entirely at your own risk.
Fixing this PC cant be reset because it is running Windows to Go
To fix "this PC cant be reset because it is running Windows to Go" issue, you need to remove the Portable Operating System registry value and try to perform a factory reset again. Here's how:
- Press the Windows + R keys (to open Windows Run Dialog)
- Type regedit and then click OK
- Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
- Delete the value: PortableOperatingSystem
- Now you can proceed to perform a factory reset.
Settings -> System -> Recovery -> Reset PC
