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A clean installation of Windows 10 is the process of erasing the hardware and setting up a new fresh copy of the platform when a computer has a problem. For example, you can resolve performance, memory, startup, shut down, and apps issues using this method. Also, it's perhaps the best approach to remove viruses and other types of malware, and it can help to improve battery life. In addition, it's an excellent solution to remove preloaded bloatware (unnecessary preloaded software) from Windows 10. You can use this method to decommission a computer without giving away your data. Or you can set up a new installation after replacing the hard drive. Furthermore, if you had the same setup for some time, a clean installation is the recommended option to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10 or upgrade from an older version (such as Windows 7 and Windows 8.1), minimizing the risks of problems during and after the process. In this Windows 10 guide, we will walk you through the complete process to perform a clean installation.
How to prepare computer for clean install of Windows 10As you prepare to proceed with a clean installation of Windows 10, it's recommended to complete some essential tasks to minimize issues and potential data loss. If you already have a backup of the computer and files. You have an activation product key. The device can start from a USB flash drive, and non-essential peripherals are disconnected, then you can skip this part and jump to the bootable media creation and a clean install process. Create backupThe install process of Windows 10 deletes everything on the drive, which means that backing up the entire device (or at least your files) is a crucial step unless you don't have anything important you want to keep. Back up entire system You should create a temporary backup to revert the settings or recover files if something goes wrong during the installation. You can choose many different solutions, but the easiest way to create a full backup is to use the legacy System Image Backup tool available on Windows 10. It's a deprecated feature, but it continues to work. The tool is also available for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. Back up files to OneDrive If you need to back up your documents, pictures, and other important files, you can upload the data to OneDrive or another cloud storage service. In case you use OneDrive, you can also use the backup settings page to sync your profile folders, including Documents, Pictures, and Desktop, to the cloud automatically. To configure OneDrive backup on Windows 10, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, OneDrive will back up the files on the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures user folders in the cloud. Back up files to external storage If you have a lot of data, syncing the files to the cloud can be expensive and take a long time, and the available space may not even be enough. If this is the case, perhaps the best option would be to copy the files to an external USB hard drive. To create a file backup manually, connect an external drive with enough storage space to your Windows 10 computer, and use these steps:
After you complete the steps, repeat the instructions to back up the remaining accounts (as necessary). In addition to copying your files, it's also a good idea to create a list of the installed programs with their respective product keys (if applicable) to know the apps to reinstall after the installation. If you usually don't sync passwords and bookmarks with an online service, now's a good time to export your browser credentials and links as you'll need them later to access your online services. In case you don't have an external hard drive or one without enough space, we recommend the Western Digital Elements Desktop Hard Drive because of its portability, capacity, and price.
(opens in new tab) Western Digital Elements Desktop Hard Drive Bulk storage If you're in the market for an external drive to store file backups, look no further than the Western Digital Elements Desktop Hard Drive. Get up to 18TB of storage and connect with USB-A 3.0 for fast file transfers. Check Windows 10 activationAlthough after activating Windows 10, you no longer have to provide a product key for reinstallation in the same computer. Once the new installation completes, the system will automatically reactivate when it connects to the internet. To confirm whether Windows 10 is properly activated, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, Windows 10 should automatically reactivate after the clean installation if your current setup is activated. Obtain Windows 10 genuine keyIf you have to set up an installation on a computer that never had an activated version of Windows 10, or you plan to upgrade from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, you will have to purchase a valid license from the Microsoft Store (opens in new tab), Amazon, or another retailer. Download essential driversWindows 10 can detect and install most drivers automatically. However, it's usually recommended to download at least the essential drivers before the process (such as for the network adapter and graphics card), as a precaution, in case the setup fails to add these drivers correctly, especially on custom computer builds. You can use our guide to install device drivers on Windows 10. Here's a list of the most popular manufacturers to download the latest device drivers:
Confirm Windows 10 requirementsIf the device already has Windows 10, the following major update most likely will meet the minimum hardware requirements. However, if you're about to upgrade a computer running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you want to check that the device meets the minimum requirements. Here are the minimum requirements to install the Windows 10 November 2021 Update (and higher):
You can use these instructions to check the device technical specifications to confirm you can do a clean install of Windows 10. Change boot order on firmwareIt's also important to make sure that the computer can boot from a USB flash drive. If this is not the case, you'll need to change the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on the motherboard. Change boot order using UEFI On computers already running Windows 10 or 8.1, you can access the settings to change the boot order within the desktop interface. UEFI settings on Windows 10 To change the UEFI settings on Windows 10, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the computer should now be able to start from a USB bootable media. UEFI settings on Windows 8.1 To change the UEFI settings on Windows 8.1, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the device will start from a USB flash drive to proceed with the installation process. UEFI settings on Windows 7 To change the UEFI settings on Windows 7, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, you should be able to start the device using a bootable media. Configure boot order using BIOS If you have a legacy BIOS firmware, you can change the boot order with these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the computer can now start from the USB flash drive to upgrade to Windows 10. Disconnect non-essential peripherals Typically, peripherals are among the most common reason for problems during a Windows 10 installation. If you have non-essential peripherals connected to the computer (such as removable storage and other USB and Bluetooth devices, printers, scanners, cameras, and others), it's recommended to disconnect them. You only need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and internet connection. After the setup, you can reconnect the peripherals (one at a time) to ensure they don't cause any issues. How to create USB for clean install of Windows 10You will need a USB bootable media to perform a clean installation of Windows 10. You can easily create one using many tools, including the Microsoft Media Creation Tool and Rufus. To create an installation media using the Media Creation Tool, connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the tool will download the files and create an installer with the latest installation files, which you can then use to start the device and configure a fresh copy of Windows 10. Create Windows 10 USB with RufusAlternatively, the Rufus tool can help you create an installation media for computers with UEFI or BIOS firmware. Rufus is a free tool with many options to help you create a bootable media of Windows 10 faster. However, it's important to remember that it's a third-party option, which Microsoft does not support. As a result, use it at your own risk. To create a Windows 10 USB installer with Rufus, connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and then use these steps:
After you complete the steps, Rufus will download the ISO file from the Microsoft servers, and it'll create the bootable media to perform a clean install of Windows 10. How to perform clean install of Windows 10The installation process of Windows 10 has two main parts, including the setup and out-of-box experience (OOBE). In the setup process, that's where you will select some of the basic settings, and you'll find the options to erase the hard drive, configure the partitions, and clean install Windows 10. The out-of-box experience happens after the setup is complete, and it's the stage where you'll configure your settings, such as region, network, account, privacy, and other settings. Windows 10 clean install processAfter the preparation, you can proceed with the clean installation of Windows 10. Warning: This is another friendly reminder that this process will erase everything on the computer. Before proceeding, it's always recommended to make a temporary full backup of your PC. To do a clean installation of Windows 10, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the setup will install a fresh copy of Windows 10 on the device. If you plan to decommission the computer, you do not need to continue with the out-of-box experience. If this is an upgrade, continue with the instructions below. Windows 10 out-of-box experienceAfter the setup, you have to continue with the out-of-box experience to configure your preferences and create a new account. To complete the OOBE on Windows 10, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the settings will apply to the clean installation of Windows 10, and you should be able to see the default desktop experience. How to complete setup after installation of Windows 10Once the installation is complete, it's also good to check that Windows 10 isn't missing any critical updates or drivers and is properly activated. Install updates To download and install the latest updates, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, any available updates will automatically download and install. Also, a restart may be required to complete the update process. Check missing drivers To determine whether drivers are missing on Windows 10, use these steps:
If some hardware has problems, you may need to manually install the latest drivers from your computer manufacturer's support website. You can use this guide to install device drivers on Windows 10. Install missing drivers On Windows 10, drivers can also be part of the optional updates. If the computer doesn't have all the required drivers, you may be able to download them from Windows Update. To download missing drivers on Windows 10, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install the missing drivers automatically. Confirm activation To confirm Windows 10 was activated correctly, use these steps:
In case Windows 10 didn't activate, the device will try to reactivate at a later time. If you're still having issues after a couple of days, you can use the Activation Troubleshooter to activate. Reinstall apps It's now time to reinstall the apps, including your preferred web browser, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera to browse the web. If you use Spotify (opens in new tab) or iTunes (opens in new tab) to listen to tunes while working or surfing the internet, you can download these apps and others from the Microsoft Store. Also, it's now a good time to download and install the Microsoft Office apps (opens in new tab) to start working with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and managing your emails with Outlook. Restore files from backup The last thing left to do is to restore your documents from backup. If you previously configured file backup with OneDrive, the data should already be available inside the OneDrive folder, but if the app didn't configure automatically, you can use this guide. If you have a backup of your files on an external drive, reconnect the storage to restore the data into the default folders (Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc.). To restore files from backup on Windows 10, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the files will restore to the new location. Although you can start a clean installation using the Media Creation Tool without a USB media and even the "Reset this PC" option from the recovery settings, these methods have their limitations and do not always work as expected. The bootable media is the alternative if you want the best possible clean installation method. More Windows resourcesFor more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community. Under what circumstances should you choose a clean Windows installation?However, there are some situations where a clean install is necessary. For example, a clean install is preferable when a new user is assigned to a computer (e.g., because the previous owner sold it to a new owner), and also when the OS is installed on a new hard drive.
When would you perform a clean install of an operating system?Another good reason to perform a clean install is if you purchase a new computer. Before you add files from your old computer, install new programs, or make any setting changes, you can perform a clean install of the OS to get rid of the bloatware that was installed in the factory.
What is a clean installation?A clean install refers to the installation of a software package where the previous version is completely deleted. The alternative to a clean install is an upgrade, where portions of the original software remain and are not removed.
When would you want to do a clean install versus an upgrade?The clean install method gives you more control over the upgrade process. You can make adjustments to drives and partitions when upgrading with installation media. Users can also manually back up and restore the folders and files that they need to migrate to Windows 10 instead of migrating everything.
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