windows 10 format

[onemanarmy720]

I used to have windows 8.1 before windows 10 came out, and i got the free upgrade when it did, and have had it for over 18 months. If i format my PC will it go back to windows 8.1 or stay windows 10? thanks.

[Electronics Wizardy]

If you format the drive, there will be no os. When you install it you pick what os you install

[WkdPaul]

The thread was moved to the Windows section.

[Windows7ge]

Simplified answer. To format the drive means all data will be erased (not entirely true but for now that's how I'll state it) when formatting the drive there is no reverting to a previous OS. You'll be left with an empty hard drive that will require a completely new OS installation.

[onemanarmy720]

1 minute ago, Windows7ge said:

Simplified answer. To format the drive means all data will be erased (not entirely true but for now that's how I'll state it) when formatting the drive there is no reverting to a previous OS. You'll be left with an empty hard drive that will require a completely new OS installation.

what if I just reset all my files in windows settings and bring it back to a clean windows copy.

[Windows7ge]

2 minutes ago, onemanarmy720 said:

what if I just reset all my files in windows settings and bring it back to a clean windows copy.

That should do it though I've personally never trusted how well windows reset utility works. If I need to wipe user data off a machine and start clean I always do a full format of the hard drive and manually reinstall the OS. It's not hard to do but it requires a bit more knowledge than the average computer user so if your objective is the same then the windows reset utility is your best option.