Reset
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Android 16’s Factory Reset Protection Could Put Thieves Out of Business
In the past few years, Google has more than doubled down on privacy and security features on Android. From Find My Network (now Find Hub) to Scam Detection, Theft Lock, and Remote Lock, the new features give you a peace of mind. However, another super-important improvement Google brought in Android 15 was to the Factory Reset Protection. It prevents thieves…
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How to reset account password without recovery questions on Windows 11
To reset your Windows 11 password, boot your computer into WinRE and open Command Prompt, change “utilman.exe” to “cmd.exe,” enable the “Administrator” account, sign in with the local Administrator account, and reset your account password. UPDATED 4/18/2025: On a Windows 11 setup configured with a local account, at one point or another, you may lose access to the desktop for…
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I Always Make These 9 Changes When I Reset My Mac
Although it’s nice to start afresh with a new or newly reset Mac, there are several essential changes that I make every time. It’s good to have mainstays like the dock, trackpad gestures, and hot corners set up as you like (while disabling some of macOS more irritating features). These are the tweaks I make to help improve multitasking, reduce…
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How to troubleshoot and reset Windows Update – Computerworld
Figure 6: The filename is so long you need to open Properties to see it on the desktop. Ed Tittel / Foundry Cut and paste the filename into the command line, and then hit the Enter key to run it. That’s all there is to it. This batch file takes a while to run and involves checking and stopping WU services (bits,…
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Google finally pushes out full Chromecast fix for users who factory reset — here’s what to do
Google Chromecast users rejoice, there’s finally a way to get one of the best streaming devices back up and running, particularly for those who factory reset their model. The issues first cropped up several weeks ago, with users of 2nd generation Chromecast and assorted audio products incapable of authenticating their devices when trying to connect. Many users were plagued by…
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Why You Shouldn’t ‘Fix’ Your Older Chromecast With a Factory Reset, According to Google
A mysterious bug is affecting numerous older Chromecast devices, as per a lengthy thread on Reddit—specifically, the second-generation Chromecast and the Chromecast Audio, which both launched in September 2015. If you’ve been affected, hold off on trying a factory reset of your device. The bug has started appearing over the last 24 hours, rendering affected devices pretty much unusable. One…
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How to reset Windows 11 without losing your files
It seems that no matter what I do, my Windows 11 computers break down at some point. Whether it’s because of faulty drivers, corrupt system files, or malfunctioning apps, Windows 11 eventually starts to slow down or throw indecipherable errors. You might think the only solution is to perform a clean install of the operating system. What if I told…
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How to factory reset Windows 11 from boot if PC won’t boot
To reset a Windows 11 device when it doesn’t boot, start the computer in WinRE, open Advanced options > Troubleshoot, click “Reset this PC,” choose “Keep my files,” click “Just remove my files,” choose “Cloud download,” and click “Reset.” UPDATED 1/31/2025: If you’re having trouble with Windows 11, a factory reset can often be the solution, and you can even…
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How to factory reset Windows 11 removing everything
To factory reset Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery, click the “Reset PC” button, and select the “Remove everything” option. Select the “Local reinstall” or “Cloud download” options, and click the “Next” and “Reset” buttons. UPDATED 1/31/2025: If you’re considering resetting your Windows 11 PC, perhaps to decommission it, resolve persistent issues, enhance performance, or address battery and app…
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How to factory reset Windows 11 keeping files (2025)
To reset Windows 11 keeping files, open Settings > Recovery, click “Reset PC,” select “Keep my files,” and “Local reinstall.” Or open Settings > Recovery, click “Reset PC,” select “Keep my files,” and “Cloud download.” Or Start Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), then go to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, and select “Keep my files” and “Local reinstall.” UPDATED 1/29/2025: When…
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