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50 percent of computer owners never back up their data, putting their information at risk. 40 percent of small to medium-sized businesses face a cyber-attack each year and 50 percent of them won't even realize it.

System recovery is one of the best ways to come back from an attack or other technical issue. The option is somewhat hidden, so not every user may realize how to use it.

Read our guide to find out what a system recovery on Windows 10 does and how to do it yourself.

System Recovery Guide

There are several options for getting your system files back, including recovery drives and reinstalling the operating system. A Windows system restore is one of the easiest and fastest ways.

Option 1: Open and Choose Recovery Settings

The first thing you'll need to do to complete a proper system recovery is open the windows system restore menu. Go to the Start menu and select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

Now that you've opened the recovery settings, choose Get Started under Reset this PC. You'll have to choose from a variety of options.

The first decision is to decide which of your files the Windows 10 system recovery will keep. If you choose Keep my files > Change settings > Preinstalled apps On, you'll restore apps the manufacturer installed, reinstall Windows 10, and keep your personal files. It removes any apps or drivers you installed and any changes you made to settings.

Keep my files > Change settings > Preinstalled causes all the same changes but also removes any manufacturer-installed apps.

Remove everything does what its name suggests. It reinstalls Windows 10 but removes all your personal files, apps, and setting changes. It also presents you with two more choices.

Data erasure On deletes all files on the drive. This option is best for a PC you plan to donate or sell. It makes sure that no one can access the files after the fact.

Data erasure Off deletes files and takes less time but is less secure.

Option 2: Reset your PC from the sign-in screen

Some technical issues are so severe that you can't even open settings to initiate a system recovery.

Pressing Windows and L should take you to the sign-in screen. From there, you can restart the PC with the Shift key and Power button.

Choose restart and you'll enter the Windows Recovery or WinRE environment. From there, pick Troubleshoot > Reset this PC from the Choose an option screen. The rest of the system restore steps are the same from there.

Downloading an ISO

If you can't get into Windows, you'll need to download an ISO first. Type Windows Update in the search bar to get the latest versions of all crucial software.

You'll need a blank DVD or USB drive with at least 5mB of space. Check that your new ISO uses the right system type, language, and edition. You may also need to update your version of Office 365.

The final step is to install the ISO onto your computer. Plug in the USB drive you downloaded the file onto and follow the installation instructions. 

What if System Recovery Doesn't Work?

A system recovery is one of the best ways to avoid downtime and a loss of business due to a broken network or device. It uses restore points to make your system function like it did in the past.

If all the methods you've tried to restore your system have failed, it may be time for a new machine. Check out our inventory of new and used computers and contact us today for more information.