[Lifer999]

i did a factory reset on my hp laptop and now it seems to run even slower then before. i did a fresh reset erasing all programs and files, wanting to start fresh. now after reset the laptop runs even slower then before. why is that?

[Rsynced]

Maybe you should just wipe the drive completely and manually install windows instead of factory reset?

Factory reset is putting back any 3rd party bloatware that system originally came with.

[Charlie Sheen]

Has everything been updated post refresh?
Was any bloatware reinstalled after the refresh?
How long ago did you do the reset? Usually after a reformat the computer will run some background tasks for a while where it's indexing files, optimizing drives, and downloading updates.

[Rsynced]

I forgot to mention you can get your windows key using https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Just reinstall fresh windows using that key. You can dl your drivers beforehand to a usb.

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Has everything been updated post refresh?
Was any bloatware reinstalled after the refresh?
How long ago did you do the reset? Usually after a reformat the computer will run some background tasks for a while where it's indexing files, optimizing drives, and downloading updates.

Oh ya, it could be running windows update, that's a good point.

[Pr0m3th3us]

Why did you do the reset in the first place? Did you suspect malware? A reset doesnt get rid of malware....

check out this thread if you think you have malware.

https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=6292276

[Rsynced]

Why did you do the reset in the first place? Did you suspect malware? A reset doesnt get rid of malware....

check out this thread if you think you have malware.
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=6292275

So true, the malware can infect your recovery partition, so it will just put itself back on, if not even worsen the infection.

Just wipe all partitions using a bootable USB drive using GParted: https://gparted.org/livecd.php

[Lifer999]

Why did you do the reset in the first place? Did you suspect malware? A reset doesnt get rid of malware....

check out this thread if you think you have malware.
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=6292275

the main reason i decided to do the reset was because i was given this laptop from my mom who didnt use it anymore and i wanted to use this computer strictly for my cyber security courses i just started taking and only want to use this computer for homeowork and research. it wasnt running slow at all before the reset. it was acually pretty quick, but i thought if i did the reset and got rid of ay apps on here werent from the original factory windows 10 i wanted gone. i guess i didnt correctly resett it? thanks again for the reply

[Pr0m3th3us]

the main reason i decided to do the reset was because i was given this laptop from my mom who didnt use it anymore and i wanted to use this computer strictly for my cyber security courses i just started taking and only want to use this computer for homeowork and research. it wasnt running slow at all before the reset. it was acually pretty quick, but i thought if i did the reset and got rid of ay apps on here werent from the original factory windows 10 i wanted gone. i guess i didnt correctly resett it? thanks again for the reply

Well in that case is there anything you or your mom needs on it? If not, wipe that thing and reinstall windows.

[Tyr]

One thing I must add to this, as it seems you are already receiving some decent help here.

From what I have read (correct me if I missed a part of the thread; currently multitasking) your next move should be a full, clean installation of Windows using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool on a known-good USB stick. During setup, you should delete all partitions—especially the recovery and system reserved ones—to ensure total wipe of potentially compromised sectors. After that, flash the BIOS using HP’s official firmware to eliminate any lingering firmware-level threats and re-secure the system with updated UEFI, TPM, and Secure Boot settings.

Malware with deep persistence mechanisms can corrupt the Master File Table (MFT), obfuscate itself from standard detection tools, and in worst-case scenarios, escalate to the UEFI/BIOS level to maintain control even after a reinstall. That’s why performance degradation post-reset isn’t just about bloatware—it could also point to unresolved corruption or stealth-level infections.

If you need additional help with some more detailed steps behind carrying this out, please don't feel afraid to ask. A lot of what I said correlates mostly to rootkit and/or bootkit behavior but I tend to like to make other people aware of pieces of code that can remain dormant in sectors of your drive.

Keep us updated. I will add more to this when I am off the phone if I remember before the next reply.

[Bastille]

Hello,

Boot or rootkit are the only ones that can persist after a reset, but they are very rare. Did you reinstall the same OS ? Windows 11 can be greedy regarding resources. What's the configuration ? What OS did you install ?

If you think there is a virus feel free to ask for a check of your computer, take a look here : https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=6292275

[Tyr]

Hello,

Boot or rootkit are the only ones that can persist after a reset, but they are very rare. Did you reinstall the same OS ? Windows 11 can be greedy regarding resources. What's the configuration ? What OS did you install ?

If you think there is a virus feel free to ask for a check of your computer, take a look here : https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=6292275

Extremely rare and hopefully the worst case-scenario for him, yeah. I highly doubt it is anything of that nature but I always plan for the worst sometimes.

Anyway, keep us updated @OP.

[DramaKing]

I forgot to mention you can get your windows key using https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Just reinstall fresh windows using that key. You can dl your drivers beforehand to a usb.

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Oh ya, it could be running windows update, that's a good point.

User does not need a Windows key unless he's using a local account only.

[Lifer999]

Extremely rare and hopefully the worst case-scenario for him, yeah. I highly doubt it is anything of that nature but I always plan for the worst sometimes.

Anyway, keep us updated @OP.

for some reason that link wont open. i get a page with a list of about 6 reasons why it wont open and all reasons have nothing to do with me or my account

[Rsynced]

User does not need a Windows key unless he's using a local account only.

If you completely wipe the drives partitions and reinstall windows via media creator it will prompt for your windows key.

[DramaKing]

If you completely wipe the drives partitions and reinstall windows via media creator it will prompt for your windows key.

False. Only if using a local account or Windows 8.1 or earlier. I've installed Windows 1/11 a number of times and had it automatically activate.