So, I designed and built around 100 task specific, touch-screen, 8U computers between 2005 and 2011. I, along with one partner, supported these machines that landed throughout the country with people that didn't know much about computers, that typically needed them to perform in front of audiences on a regular basis. We often got calls from the "site" and they were totally frantic and could barely string words together, let alone give good descriptions and take good direction. So, here are the things I learned from that and all other assistance I have ever provided anyone with computers. (I'm sure some will disagree with me, but here goes.)
1) Don't waste any time trying to track down a one time issue unless it is something that is forensic / going to cause an issue on a network of computers. The example above rarely came to that, except in a few cases. Trying to figure out why the computer isn't running correctly, except maybe for a recently installed driver or something, almost always takes longer than reinstalling the OS. Especially now with Windows 10 reset.
2) Keep your data in a secure location off your computer or in a back-up somewhere so you can completely wipe your computer with ease. Keep a private / secure document somewhere with all the links to the software you use and your username and passwords for those sites. And finally, keep some form of the hard copy of the operating system disks you got (if you did) in a safe location as well. You may never need them, but if you start completely from scratch, they can save your behind and probably $100 in the process.
3) Learn about / invest in a system that backs up your data in a separate location away from where you usually store your computer. This saves you from catastrophic data loss from fire and flood and sometimes from larger natural disasters. If you store it on hard drives and it is really critical, keep 2 drives updated at all times or use RAID 1 (see #4).
4) If your information is really vital at all times and all revisions, then learn about raid 1 systems and use them. If you want it to be backed up really well, think about a Raid 1 NAS.
DON'T THINK THAT BACKING UP AND UTILIZING RAID ARE THE SAME THING, THEY AREN'T. One is meant to protect you from nature/theft/vandalism, etc., the other one will protect you from mean time failure. To be completely safe you should back up and RAID at the same time.
The way I protected my clients was to use a RAID 1 data drive and 2 separate cloned system drives in the same computer. I also made sure that any program data was stored in the Data drives. If everything went to pot, I had all the software and system set up so we could simply swap the ATA (and later SATA) drive cables and turn the system back on and roll.
Then they would send it back in, I'd reinstall Windows and their software (which I had completely documented for them when I sent it out), clone the system drive and send it back to them. It worked for many years. These are task specific and I told my clients NOT to put them on the Internet, some have listened, others haven't, but those that have, have computers that lasted a long time. I am pretty sure I have one unit out there that I built in 2005 and still has the first version of XP I put on it, I would bet it has never been updated. If they want to use any of the nicer newer software, it would NEVER work. ha!
There's my $.02. Good luck with your situation. You know my opinion. Reset it.
