Factory Restore V Factory Reset V System Recovery

I'm having multiple issues with my HP Pavilion g6 laptop-(4yrs old)-----I've done a little research and want to "wipe it clean to the day I bought it"---what's the difference in the three? I've already saved my personal files externally, so I've nothing to lose on it. I realize it's a several step process--recommend any links? thanks much

 

Factory Restore is to the state it was when you first got it.
You will then need to run 4 years worth of Windows Updates bit by bit - don't be tempted to allow Windows to update them all in one go. Choose them in block of say 10, chronologically, restarting the system carefully each time.

 

Have you tried to fix things with: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/tweaking_com_windows_repair_portable.html ?

 

StruldBrug; downloaded link you provided----I have no idea what to do---after I opened, I don't know what to run, etc.,---sorry, but not educated on this---thanks in advance for patience

 

first off, thank you for taking the time to provide me with step by step help; did exactly as you recommended----still having problems---the most important to me is the inability to play windows media player---can't use my dvd player---shows "your computer is running low on memory, quit other programs and try again"-----I don't know what's "running"

 

ok, can you provide me with a link or help to do properly?

 

You just go into recovery options as you did on post #1 and choose Factory Restore. It will format the hard drive and reinstall to the state it was in when you bought it.
However, 'System Recovery' uses SYSTEM RESTORE and is dependent on their being working restore points prior to the problem/s arising. If there are no such restore points then it wont work.
As you said there is nothing vital saved on the system, you have the option of using an SR point, and if it doesn't work go to Factory Recovery.

 

You didn't say what Operating System, you have, but I'll assume Windows 7. What concerns me is you might have a lot of
programs automatically starting after booting up the computer and maybe much auto updating by them, as well. I don't autorun
anything that isn't security related ... mainly just my realtime Antivirus program and my firewall. I do all manual updating, except
Windows. I don't even run a browser until I'm ready to go online.

click start>run, type Msconfig in the box and OK ... click the startup tab and uncheck all boxes that aren't security related,
then OK. Restart the computer to see if things run a bit better.

A handier tool, which can be used is the "startup" feature in CCleaner. http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/ccleaner_slim.html
I recommend you use its "cleaner" function periodically to remove unneeded junk files. The default settings are sufficient to do
this without removing things you would regret. Also, periodically run a defrag like
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/glarysoft_disk_speedup.html

You should at least run "Windows Memory Diagnostic" in the link, PLODR gave you above.

Check you aren't running more than just one realtime Anti-Virus program. I run Microsoft Security Essentials, MSE, and regularly
scan for malware with the free version of Malware Bytes http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/malwarebytes_anti_malware.html
There are many other good programs, too and you should do a regular scan to make sure your system is clean. Review
Chaslang's post here http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php?threads/how-to-protect-yourself-from-malware.44525/

I only run applications as I need them; e.g. browser, players, etc. As a general rule, I go to their options/tools and turn off
any auto-updating. Then just update manually, when I think it needs it, especially if I see a new version in the MajorGeeks
Home listing. I do have Windows Update check for updates, but to let me choose to download and install. You may want to curb
the unnecessary WIN10 update stuff with this: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/gwx_control_panel.html

Let us know how any of this turns out for you. I hope some of it helps because its quicker than a factory restore. Good luck