Nosotros're all thankful that it'southward no longer the days where it seemed similar you had to re-install Windows every six months. At that place are still times, though, where we must go to the last resort. Sometimes, you only have to scrap information technology all and start all again.

When Should I Re-install Windows?

In that location are several things you tin do to fix pocket-size and major Windows problems. The Bank check Disk (CHKDSK) utility is dandy for fixing issues with the file system due to bad sectors on hard drives. Nosotros can prove you how to set up file system errors in Windows with CHKDSK.

The System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Paradigm Servicing and Direction (DISM) command line tools can find and fix a host of Windows issues.

SFC is great for finding and repairing arrangement files in Windows, whereas DISM can do a more thorough check and repair Windows using resources from Microsoft's Windows Update service. We have a whole article on how to use SFC and DISM. Endeavor these things first.

If that doesn't do it, and you lot're certain that the issue isn't a hardware issue, and then information technology might be time to start again. WARNING: we're talking about wiping away all your files and programs and starting once more. Make sure to dorsum up your files to an external bulldoze or to a cloud storage service.

Three Means to Practice a Clean Reinstall of Windows

There are three means yous can exercise a clean reinstall of Windows. We'll be focusing on Windows ten. If you're using Windows 8.i or earlier, the outset two are for you.

  1. Perform a Reset from Windows Settings.
  2. Reinstall by rebooting with installation media like a DVD or bootable USB drive.
  3. Reinstall from inside of Windows with installation media.

Reset this PC for a Clean Install

This should be your starting time pick when trying to completely wipe your computer and re-install Windows 10. It's simple, doesn't crave a DVD or USB drive, and doesn't even require you to enter your Windows license key.

In the Type here to search bar, start typing Settings. When the Settings utility is shown, click on that to outset information technology.

In the Settings window, curlicue downward and click on Update & Security.

In the Update & Settings window, on the left-side, click on Recovery. One time it's in the Recovery window, click on the Get Started button.

To wipe everything from your reckoner, click on the Remove everything option.

It may take a few minutes to get things ready. So, it will tell you that the electric current setting is to Only remove your files. This is quicker but less secure. We're going for a consummate wipe, so this isn't enough. Click on Change settings.

In this window, click on the Off button to get to the information erasure selection. Click Ostend.

After a few seconds, you'll see the Ready to reset this PC window. If you're sure yous want to do this, click on Reset.

It will prepare to do the reset. This office can take several minutes. During our test, it took about 15 minutes. And so the figurer restarts.

When the computer restarts, you'll meet the Windows logo and Please look. And then the screen may go blackness for a few minutes. Be patient.

The Windows logo will come back and under information technology will read Resetting this PC. It will start to count in per centum of completion. This can have several minutes to an hour or more depending on your PC. When information technology is complete, you can begin your Windows set up once again.

Reinstall Windows from DVD or Bootable USB Drive

Y'all'll need to have either the Windows DVD that came with your reckoner or y'all bought on its own, or a bootable USB bulldoze with Windows on it. Many laptop and computer makers take utilities built into their Windows installs to assistance you create these recovery drives.

If y'all didn't brand 1 when you got your computer, now'southward the time to do that. Using the manufacturer'south official Windows installation is the best fashion to go, as it will have all the hardware drivers specific to the make and model of your computer.

If that'south non an option, you can download an official ISO of Windows 10 using the Windows Media Cosmos Tool or just your web browser. We can also evidence you where to go Windows 8.i or 7 ISOs. You'll need to find your Windows Product Cardinal.

The Windows Media Creation tool will guide y'all through the creation of a bootable USB bulldoze or DVD. It's surprisingly simple, but information technology tin accept a while.

Next, you'll need to boot your figurer from the DVD or USB drive. You may need to access your computer's BIOS and change the boot club. Information technology'southward probable set to kicking from your hard drive outset. Reboot your PC and follow the steps beneath.

When your computer starts, you'll exist presented with the Windows installation wizard, which will walk yous through the process.

To do this in a mode that wipes the bulldoze, become until you get to the point where you'll be asked, Which type of installation do you want? At this point choose Custom: Install Windows only (avant-garde).

Y'all may be asked where yous would like to install Windows. Typically, it will be the Primary drive. Select that and click Side by side.

The installation will continue. Showtime, yous'll see a screen like the one beneath for several minutes. Then your computer will restart, and yous'll come across a blackness screen with a blue Windows icon. It volition go through several stages non requiring whatsoever input from you.

Somewhen, you'll see the blue install screen with a rotating circle and the words Just a moment… You're almost in that location. This will take several minutes and go through some more text.

Now, y'all'll be at the Windows set stage. Continue through this to get Windows ready up and you're ready to go.

Reinstall Windows from Your Install Media, from Within of Windows

This method is a last resort. The Reset this PC method is easier and quicker. That might non exist an option for y'all, and so let's go over how-to re-install Windows from inside of your current Windows installation. The one upside to this method is that yous should not have to enter your Windows product cardinal for information technology to piece of work.

Insert your Windows installation media. Navigate to information technology in File Explorer and open information technology. Then expect for your Windows installation media. Open it and look for the setup application and double-click on it.

The User Account Control (UAC) window will open up request if you want to all this app to make changes to this device. Click Aye.

A pocket-sized window will open showing the Windows logo and will proceed to say that it is preparing. It volition count percentage of readiness.

Next, the Windows 10 Setup window will open. It reads Install Windows x and that it will go online to get updates. If yous wanted, yous could click on Alter how Windows Setup downloads updates. For our purposes, click on the Side by side button.

It may quickly get through a few screens, like Getting updates, Restarting Windows x Setup, Checking your PC, We're getting a few things ready, and then stop on the Applicable notices and license terms screen. Feel free to read it and click on Have.

It may chop-chop go through a few more than screens such as Cull what to keep, Making sure you're ready to install, and and so information technology volition stay on Getting updates for several minutes counting the percentage done. This can have a while.

It volition then start Making sure your PC has enough space, and and then arrive at the Fix to install screen. It may say that information technology volition Keep personal files and apps. Just click on Change what to keep under that.

There will be three choices: Go along personal files and apps, Keep personal files just, and Nothing. If yous want a clean wipe, click on Nothing then click Next.

It will then quickly go through some of the screens like before, and so y'all'll see the big blue Installing Windows 10 screen. It warns that your PC will restart several times and that it volition accept a while. Subsequently some time, your computer will restart.

You'll see your login screen and the bulletin Getting Windows set up. Don't turn off your computer. That volition go on for several minutes. Your screen may go black. Be patient.

Somewhen, you'll go to a full blue screen reading Installing Windows 0% Don't turn off your PC. This will take a while. Your PC will restart several times. Aye, information technology does take a while. Our test run took well over an hour.

Finally, the estimator will restart, and you lot should be at your login window over again. Log in and proceed to ready Windows.

Welcome to Your Fresh Windows Install

Those are the 3 ways that y'all can install Windows in a way that completely wipes out everything on your computer. This is a new start. But remember, if you wanted to admission any of your old files you better have them backed up to a cloud service or on an external hard drive. Enjoy your fresh install of Windows.