hard reset
Complete system restart
A hard reset restores a device to its original factory settings, erasing all user data and customizations.
Unlike a soft reset (which simply restarts), a hard reset wipes the slate clean: I had to do a hard reset after the malware infection.
The term extends to any drastic return to baseline conditions: After the scandal, the company needed a hard reset on its culture.
Cycle power intentionally
- power cycleRestart by cutting electricity
- cold bootStarting from powered-off state
- shutdownCessation of operations
- power offCease electrical operation
turn off · boot up · reinitialize · initialize · refresh · warm boot · power button · unplug
Original device configuration
- wipeRub to clean
- eraseRemove recorded marks
- reformatChange layout or structure
- defaultPreset standard option
clean slate · fresh start · recovery mode · system restore · reinstall · rollback · unbrick · reflash
reboot
Cycle power intentionally
- power cycleRestart by cutting electricity
- cold bootStarting from powered-off state
- shutdownCessation of operations
power off · turn off · boot up · reinitialize · initialize · refresh · warm boot · power button · unplug
factory settings
Original device configuration
default · clean slate · fresh start · recovery mode · system restore · reinstall · rollback · unbrick · reflash · data loss
- renewalrenewal, reinvigoration, restart, reboot, fresh start
- idle gamesidle games, clicker games, tapping, passive income, upgrades
- tech fixesfix, reboot, repair, software patch, system update
- boot processboot sequence, bootloader, boot loader, BIOS, UEFI
- system diagnosticsdiagnostic mode, memory test, system scan, self-test, POST
- backupbackup copy, backup drive, backup plan, backup schedule, backup service
hard resetsoft reset
Restart preserving stored data
soft reboot · refresh · resume
hard resetsteady state
Unchanging system condition
sleep mode · standby · hibernation · idle state · suspend
hard, reset, harder, hardest, harden, hardened, hardening, hardness, hardly