When it comes to troubleshooting computer issues, sometimes the ultimate solution is to perform a clean installation of the operating system. In the case of Windows 10, this process is commonly known as reinstalling the OS, or more simply put, reinstalling Windows 10. There are several reasons why someone might need to reinstall Windows 10, such as a corrupt system, a virus or malware attack, or simply to start fresh with a clean slate. In this article, we will discuss step-by-step how to perform a clean installation of Windows 10, from backing up your files to completing the setup process.
Backing Up Your Files
Before you reinstall Windows 10, it’s important to back up any important data and files that you want to keep. This includes documents, photos, music, videos, and any other files that you have saved on your computer. There are several ways you can back up your files:
Using an External Hard Drive
One of the simplest ways to back up your files is to use an external hard drive. You can plug in the hard drive to your computer and manually copy and paste the files you want to save onto the hard drive. You can also use Windows’ built-in backup feature, which will automatically back up your files to the hard drive.
Using OneDrive or other Cloud Storage
Another way to back up your files is to use cloud storage such as Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. These services offer free storage space that you can use to store your files online. Once you have uploaded your files to the cloud, you can access them from any device with an internet connection.
Clean Installing Windows 10
Once you have backed up your files, you are ready to begin the process of reinstalling Windows 10. There are several ways to perform a clean install of Windows 10, but we will cover the most common method using the Windows 10 installation media:
Create Windows 10 Installation Media
The first step is to create a bootable USB flash drive or DVD with the Windows 10 installation media. To do this, you will need a blank USB flash drive with at least 4GB of storage space or a blank DVD. You will also need a working computer with an internet connection.
- Go to the Microsoft website and download the Media Creation Tool.
- Run the Media Creation Tool and select “Create installation media for another PC”.
- Select your preferred language, edition, and architecture.
- Choose “USB flash drive” or “ISO file” as the installation media.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to create the installation media.
Boot from Windows 10 Installation Media
Once you have created the installation media, you are ready to boot your computer from it:
- Insert the USB flash drive or DVD with the installation media into your computer.
- Restart your computer.
- Press the key that brings up your computer’s boot menu. This is typically F12 or Esc.
- Select the USB flash drive or DVD as the boot option.
- Press Enter to boot from the installation media.
Install Windows 10
Now that you have booted from the installation media, you are ready to install Windows 10:
- Select your language, time zone, and keyboard layout.
- Click “Install Now” to start the installation process.
- Enter your product key if prompted. If you don’t have a product key, you can skip this step and activate Windows 10 later.
- Read and accept the license terms.
- Select “Custom” installation.
- Select the partition where you want to install Windows 10. If you want to remove all partitions and start with a fresh hard drive, select “Drive options (advanced)” and then “Delete”.
- Click “Next” to start the installation process.
FAQ
What is the difference between a clean install and an upgrade install?
A clean install is when you install Windows on a computer that has never had an operating system installed, or when you completely wipe the hard drive and start fresh with a new installation. An upgrade install is when you install a new version of Windows over an existing installation. Upgrade installs can often result in slower performance, compatibility issues, and other problems. A clean install is recommended for the best performance and stability.
Do I need to reinstall drivers and software after performing a clean install?
Yes, you will need to reinstall drivers and software after performing a clean install. Drivers are software that allows your hardware to communicate with your operating system, and software is any program or application that you use on your computer. After reinstalling Windows, you will need to reinstall any drivers that are necessary for your hardware to function properly, such as graphics, audio, and network drivers. You will also need to reinstall any software that you use on your computer, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and games.
Video Tutorial
For a visual walkthrough of the clean installation process, check out this helpful video:
