Complete factory reset

Question

I started a reset on my pc and checked all the options to remove everything on all drives and clean all drives but after it restarted the vga light on my motherboard turned on and is staying on and there’s no output to the monitor is this normal I have 2 2tb hard drives and 2 2tb ssds

Answer 1

Hi,

This is not normal if you only performed a factory reset and did not make any changes to the hardware. How long has the monitor been showing no output?

If you already followed the recommendations provided by the AI assistance above and the issue still persists, it could mean that your recovery image is corrupted. I recommend performing a clean installation of Windows instead. This will completely wipe your system and help resolve more advanced issues.

Find an empty USB drive with at least 8 GB of space and a working computer, then follow the steps below:

1. Click this link: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

Under Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO), Click on "Download tool now."

2. Run the tool, create a bootable USB drive or ISO file, and deselect the 'Use the recommended options for this PC' box to choose the correct language and edition.

Once the process is done:

1. Connect the installation media to your PC.
2. Start your PC and press any key to continue. Click Next > Click Install Now.
3. When the Windows Setup starts, follow the on-screen instructions.

Note: If prompted for a product key, click 'I do not have a product key' and then click Next.

Make sure you install the same edition of Windows 11 (Home or Pro) that you previously had installed to avoid activation issues.

For a step-by-step guide with illustrations, click the link below and scroll down to the 'Steps to reinstall Windows with media' section, then expand the 'Clean install' option:

https://support.microsoft.com/windows/reinstall-windows-with-the-installation-media-d8369486-3e33-7d9c-dccc-859e2b022fc7

Answer 2

It seems that your PC is experiencing an issue after attempting a complete factory reset. The VGA light on the motherboard indicates that there may be a problem with the graphics card or the display output. This is not typical behavior after a reset, especially if you have selected options to remove everything and clean all drives.

Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check Connections: Ensure that all cables connecting your monitor to the graphics card are secure.
2. Test with Another Monitor: If possible, connect your PC to a different monitor to rule out a monitor issue.
3. Remove and Reseat Components: Power down your PC, unplug it, and then remove and reseat the graphics card and RAM. Sometimes, loose connections can cause these types of problems.
4. Boot into Safe Mode: If you can, try booting into Safe Mode to see if the system can start with minimal drivers.
5. BIOS/UEFI Settings: Check your BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure that the correct graphics output is selected (integrated vs. dedicated graphics).

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider further diagnostics or professional assistance to determine if there is a hardware failure.

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References:

• Resetting a desktop device
• Push-button reset features