Most of your answers can be found here. If they're running out of space on the HD, I would consider upgrading the hard drive to a larger size so they don't have to do it all over again. Or, invest in a backup dsrive/nas/cloud storage to keep most of their files there to keep the OS hard drive free of more space.

If he just were to have his computer format his hard drive will he need a CD or will it just do it and then he'll have a clean drive with win 10 on it ????

It doesn't sound like such drastic action as reformatting the drive is needed. That would be like cleaning up a dirty kitchen counter with a blowtorch.

He needs competent help, whether from family/friends or commercially. Unless there's more to know, what you're describing should be easy to remedy.

To answer your question, if he really wants to wipe the slate clean, you can ,through Windows perform a factory reset. That would not require a recovery disc. But, if he reformatted his drive, he would need a recovery disc as reformatting strips everything and he’d be starting from a bare drive.

Like Elmer noted, its overkill and not necessary. It could be easier depending on what the issues are, but a good chance he’ll lose data, and will have to spend time re-configuring after a reset.

Where would he look for that factory reset on his computer ??? What would it be listed under? Thank you to all for your help .

Directions are in the link i sent you earlier, i think there’s even a video

Elmer,

What we don't know is how old this computer or what he's been doing with it. For folks that are middling tech savvy, a format and full re-install of the O/S is probably overkill but there are folks out there that have just mucked things up so badly that a starting over might be the most expeditious course of action. Of course, in six months or a year, they'll probably be back in the same place.

I've found that what gets people into trouble is...

1. Clicking too quickly. Slow and and read. If you don't understand, spend a few minutes and do a Google search.

2. Hoping to get things, that should cost money, for free, especially any that is copyright protected. While it's tempting to download a "free" movie, song or software, you're just asking for trouble.

3. Avoid silly screen savers and wallpaper software. How much time you actually spend looking at your wall paper? Screen savers were something needed in the time of CRT monitors, they are a waste today. If you want to see pictures of your grandchildren, Windows gives you plenty of options to do that.

4. Not using ad blocking software, Adblock Plus is the best in my opinion and available for all major browsers.

Sure, mike. I agree that not enough information has been presented to fully understand what's going on. That doesn't change my suggestion, based in large part on the words and tone used to describe the frustration and problems.

I still think the best approach is to find someone with more knowledge to take a look at this PC before anything is done. If you heard a person with limited mechanical experience or know-how say - "there's something wrong with my car, I've decided on my own that it needs a new engine, can you tell me where to buy one so I can put it in myself", would you continue down that road based on that? I wouldn't. Because of being skeptical about the assessment, I suspect that same person's suggested solution won't lead a fix but rather to more or continuing problems (as you suggest) without fixing the problem(s) or the causes.

Probably would help to know what model to see the specs. Not being able to uninstall programs seems like an odd problem. Mary

Elmer,

We may end up agreeing to disagree but I'm thinking that if the OP had someone to ask, he/she would have done it already. Obviously there are any number of paid solutions but given the cost of repairing a computer...

I'm not sure that reformatting the drive is akin to replacing an engine. The former doesn't cost much.

I'd probably suggest he replace his Hard Drive with a new faster SSD & get him one of these to put his old hard drive into. Then he can install windows fresh onto the new SSD with the windows 10 installer from a usb drive.

If the laptop has factory restore is that a good idea? I have a Lenovo Yoga laptop but haven't looked if it has that feature like my HP's did. Never had to do that on a computer but have always wondered about it. Mary

The factory restore would work too, though it would set it to how the computer was when you first bought it, so it would kill all of your Windows updates. Likely the same as a restore disc, but a restore disc may be updated where I don't believe the restore partition is.

@mikie_gw, be careful with the generic Win10 image as this is an OEM build and likely does not have a key on the device he can use to authorize. Usually the OEM Win10 disc will work on any pre-approved OEM device ID it reads from the system. At least that's how the IBM/Lenovo/Dell/HP computers have been that I've worked on.

Seems drastic to do any of that before figuring out the problem first. Mary

@Steve J.. The download from that link will install on oem with no key needed. It will automatically discover the embedded key. Should something not work as designed with the key the oem key is available with many of the key finders or a command;

wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

They change things with activation constantly, seemingly to try to make activation easier and easier with less chance of snafu's. But even with a snafu a verbal talk with windows support will get you activated, provided things are legit.

I dont think there are any OEM install disc's - unless you do purchase one from the computer manufacture.