On Windows 10, a clean installation is perhaps the best option to delete everything from the hard drive to start from scratch when your computer is having problems. Usually, this process can help to resolve performance, startup, and shut down issues as well as issues with memory and apps. Also, it's an effective method to delete viruses and virtually any kind of malware, and it can even help to improve battery life.
If you've been using the same setup for a long time, you can also use a clean installation to upgrade to a new version to minimize the risks of issues during and after the upgrade process caused by drivers or incompatible apps.
It's also the option that you should use to start fresh with a copy of Windows 10 on a hard drive placement, a new device that came loaded with bloatware, or clean up a computer that you're ready to giveaway.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the three-step process to prepare and perform a clean installation of the OS, whether you're upgrading to the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, or making the leap from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.
Although the process to start with a fresh copy of Windows 10 isn't complicated, it's recommended to perform several tasks before the installation to minimize the chances of issues and protect your data.
TUTORIAL- format, install, reinstall windows 8.1 pro 64 bit. How to install/format Windows 8.1. BACK UP ALL DATA FIRST! You should have a full version disk &. In order to perform a clean install of Windows 8, you'll select the Custom option. When you are prompted to choose where you want to install Windows, as shown in Figure G, you'll see a list of any partitions that are currently on your hard disk. As you can see in my example system there are actually four separate partitions.
The clean installation process will erase everything stored on the main hard drive, so it's a good idea to create a backup of all your files before proceeding.
You can do this in several ways. You can move your files to your OneDrive folder or cloud storage service that you prefer. You can use the backup option available on OneDrive to automatically sync your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with these steps:
Click the Settings option.
Click the Manage backup button.
Click the Start backup button.
These features include rooting/updating system, flash official update, root handset and more. Using Odin users has an ability to manually install update and firmware. Also most persons are using this tool for root your Samsung devices. Samsung flashing software download. This is a third party rooting application which has many features for your Android devices.
Or you can connect an external drive and manually make a copy of your account files using these steps:
Browse to the following path:
C:Users
Right-click your user folder and select the Copy option.
Once you complete the steps, you may need to repeat the instructions to backup the files for the remaining accounts (if applicable).
Also, make sure to note the installed applications and their product keys as necessary to reinstall them after the process.
If you're not already saving your passwords and bookmarks with an online service, it's now a good time to export your browser credentials and links.
Although the Windows 10 setup can detect and install most device drivers, you want to download at least the most important drivers ahead of time, such as for the graphics card, and Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter, in case they're not detected during the installation.
If you need assistance, you can use our guide on how to install device drivers on Windows 10.
Also, below you'll find a list of websites from the most popular computer manufacturers to download the latest device drivers.
While trying to upgrade a device already running Windows 10, the chances are that the new version will be compatible with the current hardware. If you're planning to upgrade an older computer running Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, it's recommended to make sure that your device meets the minimum requirements.
These are the minimum requirements to install the Windows 10 May 2019 Update and later releases:
You can use these instructions to learn the steps to check your device technical specifications to make sure that you can install Windows 10.
An internet connection is also recommended, but not a requirement to download and install updates.
When you're planning to upgrade to the latest feature update or start fresh with a clean copy of Windows 10, it's not necessary to re-enter the product key during the setup. The OS will activate again automatically after the installation using your internet connection.
However, Windows 10 will only re-activate if the previous installation was properly activated before the installation. Before you proceed with the clean installation process, you should verify that your device is activated using these steps:
Under the 'Windows' section, confirm that your computer is activated.
After you complete the steps, if your current setup is activated, then Windows 10 should re-activate automatically after the installation.
If you're about to install Windows 10 on a new computer, or you're trying to upgrade Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, you'll need to purchase a valid license from the Microsoft Store, Amazon, or another retailer.
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Windows is king of the OS castle and chances are, if you're reading Windows Central, you're probably doing it from a Windows PC. Windows 10 is the most dynamic version of Windows yet, with Microsoft's development focused on shipping new features and updates faster than any previous version of the OS.
Before you can start your computer with a USB bootable media to perform a clean installation of Windows 10, you may need to configure the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on your motherboard to change the boot order to boot from USB.
To change the boot order on BIOS-based systems, use these steps:
Set the boot order to start from the USB media with the Windows 10 installation files.
Once you complete the steps, your computer will be able to start from the USB bootable media.
If you're dealing with a UEFI, then the steps to change the boot order will also be different.
On Windows 10, to access the UEFI environment to configure your device to boot from USB, use these steps:
Under the 'Advanced Startup' section, click the Restart now button.
Click the Troubleshoot button.
Click on Advanced options.
Click the UEFI Firmware Settings option.
Click the Restart button.
Set the boot order to start from the USB media with the Windows 10 installation files.
After you complete the steps, your UEFI-based system running Windows 10 should be able to boot from USB.
On Windows 8.1, to access the UEFI environment to configure your device to boot from USB, use these steps:
Under the 'Advanced Startup' section, click the Restart now button.
Click the Troubleshoot option.
Click on Advanced options.
Click the UEFI Firmware Settings option.
Click the Restart button.
Set the boot order to start from the USB media with the Windows 10 installation files.
Once you complete the steps, the device should be able to start from the USB bootable to proceed with a clean installation of Windows 10.
Peripherals connected to your device usually cause problems during the installation process. As a result, it's recommended to disconnect non-essential peripherals, including removable storage and other USB and Bluetooth devices as well as printers, scanners, cameras, and others.
When performing a clean install of Windows 10, you only need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and an internet connection. After the process, you can always reconnect the peripherals again.
When performing a clean installation of Windows 10, you'll need a USB media, which you can create using the Media Creation Tool or third-party tools like Rufus.
To create a Windows 10 setup media using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool, connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and then use these steps:
Under the 'Create Windows 10 installation media' section, click the Download tool now button to save the file on your device.
Select the Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC option.
Select the correct language, architecture, and edition of Windows 10.
Quick tip: If you plan to install Windows 10 on multiple computers running the 32-bit or 64-bit architecture, then use the 'Architecture' drop-down menu and select the Both option.
Select the USB flash drive option.
Select the flash drive from the list.
Once you complete the steps, the Media Creation Tool will download the required files and create a bootable media that you can use to start your device and install Windows 10.
If the Media Creation Tool isn't working, you can use the Rufus tool to create an installation media.
In the case that you don't have a Windows 10 ISO file, you can also use Rufus to download the ISO and create the bootable USB flash media.
To begin, connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and then use these steps:
Under the 'Download' section, click the latest release of the tool to save the file on your device.
Under the 'Boot selection' section, click the down arrow button next to the 'Select' option on the right and click the Download button.
Click the Download button.
Click the Save button.
Use the 'Target system' drop-down menu to select the UEFI (non CSM) option.
After you complete the steps, Rufus will run the script to download the ISO file, and it'll create the bootable media to perform a clean install of Windows 10.
Once you performed the recommended preparations and created the USB bootable media, then you can proceed with the steps to do a clean installation of Windows 10.
Warning: This is a friendly reminder that this process will erase everything on your computer. It's always recommended to make a temporary full backup of your PC before proceeding.
To do a clean installation of Windows 10, connect the bootable media, and use these steps:
On the 'Windows Setup,' click the Next button.
Click the Install now button.
Type the product key if this is the first Windows 10 install. If you're reinstalling the OS, you can click the I don't have a product key option to continue (assuming that your device was already activated).
(If applicable) Select the edition of Windows 10. (This selection has to match the edition your product key activates.)
Select the I accept the license terms option to continue.
Click on the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option.
Select the partition with the current installation of Windows (usually 'Drive 0'), and click the Delete button.
Quick tip: If 'Drive 0' has multiple partitions, you can select and delete each of the partitions to allow the setup to use the entire drive for the installation. Windows 10 will create the required partitions automatically during the process. It's not necessary to delete the partitions on secondary drives.
Click the Yes button.
Select the empty drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).
Once you complete the steps, the setup will proceed with the fresh installation of Windows 10 on your computer.
After the installation is complete, you'll need to go through the out-of-box experience to create a new account and configure your environment.
In this guide, we're following the out-of-box experience available with version 1903 (May 2019 Update), but depending on the release that you're installing, the steps may be slightly different.
To complete the OOBE on Windows 10, use these steps:
Select your Region.
Select your keyboard layout.
Click the Skip button. (Unless you need to add a second keyboard layout.)
Click the Set up for personal use option.
Type your Microsoft account information.
Type your Microsoft account password. Or if you already use your phone to sign in to Microsoft services, you can click the Use the Microsoft Authenticator app instead option.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create your new four-digit sign-in PIN. (If you want to create a complex PIN, you can check the Include letters and symbols option.)
Quick tip: If you want to continue using a traditional password, click the Cancel button to skip the process.
(Optional) If you wish to enable Timeline to access your activity history across devices, click the Yes button. Otherwise, click the No button. Using this option, you'll still be able to access your activities, but it'll only show four days of worth activities, and they won't sync across devices.
(Optional) You can type your phone number and then click the Send button to link your phone with your computer. If you want to skip this option, click the Do it later button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
(Optional) Click the Next button to set up OneDrive. If you use another cloud service or you're not interested in uploading your files to the cloud, click the Only save files to this PC option in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Click the Accept button to allow Microsoft to collect personal information to make Cortana more personal. If you're not interested in this feature, click the Decline button to continue.
Click the Accept button.
After you complete the steps, the settings you selected will apply to the installation, and the desktop should now appear.
Once the installation is complete, you want to make sure that the Windows 10 is properly activated, the latest updates are installed, and you want to ensure that every device was correctly recognized.
To confirm that Windows 10 activated successfully, use these steps:
If Windows 10 activated successfully, you'll see one of the following messages:
In the case that Windows 10 didn't activate, you can use the Activation Troubleshooter to resolve the issue.
To make sure that your device has the latest security and maintenance patches, use these steps:
Click the Check for updates button.
If there's an update available, it'll download and install automatically.
To confirm that the hardware and peripheral drivers were correctly detected, use these steps:
Confirm that none of the devices have a yellow or red mark, and make sure nothing is listed as unknown.
In the case that one or multiple devices have problems, make sure to download and install the latest drivers from your computer manufacturer's support website.
You can use this guide to install device drivers on Windows 10.
Additional post installation tasks, include downloading and installing apps, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera to browse the web.
If you use Spotify or iTunes to listen to tunes while working on your computer, you can download these apps and other from Microsoft Store. Nikon coolpix l100 instruction manual.
Also, it's now a good time to download and install the suite of Office apps to start working with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and managing your emails with Outlook.
Finally, if you created a backup of your files, you can now reconnect the external drive to restore your files to your account folders. (You can quickly open your account folders using the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut, using this path %HOMEPATH%, and clicking the OK button.)
If you backed up your files using OneDrive, the files should already be available through the OneDrive folder.
While you can start a fresh installation of Windows 10 using the Media Creation tool, using this approach has its limitations, and there are more chances of running into issues. If you want to make sure that you're performing a true clean installation, using the bootable media is the recommended option.
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
Hi, I'm Mauro Huculak, Windows Central's help and how-to guru. I wrote the post you're reading now, and I know the Windows OS inside and out. But I'm also a bit of a hardware geek. These are some of the affordable gadgets on my desk today.
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