If you are solving a problem in Windows and it really doesn't come out of it, someone might recommend formatting your PC and reinstalling it all over again but there is a distinctly simpler and more effective method. Provided that it is still possible to start the computer, you can in fact create a new user, transfer the folders of documents and images and start again without having to reinstall anything, also keeping the programs.
The procedure described in this article can be used to reset Windows without formatting and without losing data when there are persistent and apparently unsolvable problems, even after trying the procedures described in the general guide to solve any type of error on Windows .
READ ALSO: Deleting Account or User Profile in Windows is another way to reset everything and solve problems.
Also, before doing what is described in this article, always better to make sure that you have a backup of your data.
This step is fundamental because the error is always around the corner with computers and the only important thing that needs to be ensured is the stored data, which must never be lost.
1) The creation of a new user account is done in the following way.
In Windows 7 Open the Windows Control Panel and then go to the user accounts section where you can add, delete and manage users who can access the computer.
In Windows 8.1 instead you have to open the Start screen, move the cursor to the right side of the screen, enter the settings and then press where it is written Change PC settings and go to the Account section.
In Windows 10 open the Settings from the Start menu and go to the Account section.
On Windows 10 and 8, when creating a new account, you must choose the non-Microsoft one, by clicking on the last option at the bottom of the page and without putting the Email address.
Microsoft is a little insistent on wanting the user to use or create an online account, only in this case we don't need it.
Then click the central option of the local account .
The new account will only have standard user permissions.
If you want this user to be an administrator, go to the account management page, from the Control Panel in both Windows 7 and Windows 8, go to Manage another account and change the change account type option by choosing administrator .
You can also create a new user from the command prompt using the command:
net user "name" "password" / add
After creating the new user you can restart your PC and log in from it.
The PC will seem as if just installed, without formatting anything, new new, without errors and without more problems .
READ ALSO: Create and manage user accounts on Windows
2) Transfer of user account files from old to new
After creating the new account, it is necessary to make it the same as the previous account and, therefore, to transfer all the program settings and the various personal files that have not been deleted, only are not available.
Without using programs to transfer files and programs from one PC to another, being the same PC, just make a manual copy and paste .
First, make sure that hidden files and folders are displayed to find out the AppData folder, often hidden from view.
To do this, open the folder options from the Control Panel or from the menu at the top above each open folder and, in the View section, remove the " Hide protected system files " option.
Then open the folder C: / Users or Users, open the folder with the name of the old user, select and copy everything.
Then open the new User folder and paste everything overwriting the existing folders.
This will take some time because the files can be many.
If you wish, you could take the opportunity to delete some videos, images, music or documents.
Before doing this transfer, it would also be advisable to do a thorough antivirus scan in order to be sure not to restore viruses or malware on the new account.
3) Change the username
At this point the old user's folder can be deleted.
This can be done manually or by removing the user from the user management of the Control Panel .
Once removed, you can change the name of the account and put it as the previous one.
If the problem has not yet been resolved with the new account, see how to restore and reinstall Windows without losing the data .
If you want to be calm in the future, you can prevent any malware and problems with a protected account in Windows 8 and 7 .
