How To Clean Install Windows 10 And Format Drives

On Windows 10, a clean installation defines the process to wipe out the difficult drive and start from scratch with a new setup when the device is having problems. For case, this method can resolve memory, startup, shut down, apps, and operation issues. In addition, a fresh install tin improve battery life, and it'due south perhaps the best approach to eliminating viruses and other types of malware.

Information technology's too a expert solution to start fresh with a new copy of Windows 10 on a new estimator that may have come preloaded with bloatware, when yous're readying a device for safely decommission, or when replacing a hard bulldoze.

Furthermore, if y'all had the aforementioned setup for a long time, a clean installation is the better choice to upgrade to the latest version of Windows ten or upgrade from an older version (such as Windows 7 and Windows viii.i), minimizing the risks of issues during and after the process.

In this Windows 10 guide, nosotros'll walk you through the complete process to perform a clean installation, whether you lot want to upgrade to Windows 10 Oct 2022 Update, or you're about to make the leap to Windows viii.ane or Windows 7.

How to gear up computer for clean install of Windows x
How to create USB bootable media to clean install of Windows 10
How to perform clean install of Windows 10
How to consummate setup afterwards clean install of Windows 10

How to prepare figurer for clean install of Windows 10

Earlier proceeding with the clean installation of Windows ten, it's recommended to complete some essential tasks to minimize the chances of issues and data loss.

If you already have a backup of the device and files. Y'all have an activation central. The estimator is configured to outset from a USB flash drive, and non-essential peripherals are asunder. And so yous can skip this part and jump to bootable media creation and a clean install process.

Create fill-in

On Windows ten, the install procedure deletes everything on the hard drive, which means that bankroll upwardly the entire device (or at least your files) is crucial. Of course, that's unless y'all don't take anything of import y'all want to proceed.

Backup entire system

Y'all should create a temporary fill-in of the current installation to revert the settings or recover files if something goes wrong.

You can choose from many solutions, simply the easiest way to create a total fill-in is to use the legacy System Image Backup tool bachelor on Windows 10. The tool is besides available for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

Fill-in files to OneDrive

For backing up your documents, pictures, and other important files, you lot can upload the data to OneDrive or another cloud storage service.

If you employ OneDrive, you can too apply 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:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Fill-in.
Nether the "Back up files to OneDrive" section, click the Back up files option.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: This option is bachelor starting with version 2004 and higher releases. If yous have an older version, yous can nonetheless admission the settings, but they'll be available using the OneDrive icon in the taskbar.
(Optional) Click to clear the folder you don't want to fill-in in the cloud.
Click the Kickoff backup button.

Source: Windows Key

Once you lot complete the steps, OneDrive will backup the files on the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures user folders into the cloud and across devices.

Backup files to external storage

If y'all have a large number of files, then syncing them to the cloud tin take a long time and expensive. If this is the case, and so perhaps the best option would be making a copy of the files to an external USB hard drive.

To create a file fill-in manually, connect a drive with plenty storage, and use these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Type the following path in the address bar and press Enter:

%HOMEPATH%

Source: Windows Central
Click the Select All push button from the "Home" tab.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Copy to push button from the "Dwelling house" tab.
Select the Cull location option.
Select the destination location.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Copy push button.

Afterwards y'all complete the steps, echo the instructions to backup the remaining accounts (if applicable). In addition to making a copy of your files, it's besides a good idea to create a listing of the installed programs with their respective production keys (if applicative) to know the apps you may need to reinstall afterward the installation.

If you usually don't sync passwords and bookmarks with an online service, it'south at present a practiced fourth dimension to export your browser credentials and links as y'all'll need them afterward to admission your online services.

In case you don't have an external hard drive or ane without enough space, we recommend the Western Digital My Book Desktop because of its portability, capacity, and toll.

Bank check Windows ten activation

Later on Windows 10 has been activated, you no longer take to provide the product primal for hereafter installations on the same device. One time the new installation completes, the system will automatically reactivate equally before long equally it connects to the net.

To ostend if Windows ten is properly activated, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Activation.
Under the "Windows" section, confirm the activation. If the device has been properly activated, y'all'll see one of these messages:
- Windows is activated with a digital license: The installation has been activated, but it isn't linked to your Microsoft account.
- Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account: The installation has been activated, and the license is linked to your Microsoft account.
Source: Windows Central

Later you lot consummate the steps, if your electric current setup is activated, Windows x should automatically reactivate after the clean installation.

Obtain Windows 10 genuine primal

When setting upwards Windows x on a new device that never had an Os, or you lot are upgrading from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, you will have purchase a valid license from the Microsoft Shop, Amazon, or another retailer.

Download essential drivers

Windows 10 does a good job detecting and installing most device drivers automatically. However, it's usually recommended to download at least the essential drivers before the procedure, such as for the network adapter and graphics card, every bit a precaution, in case the setup fails to add these drivers correctly, especially on custom PC builds.

Y'all can apply our guide to install device drivers on Windows x.

Here's a list of websites from the well-nigh popular manufacturers to download the latest device drivers.

Dell
HP
Lenovo
ASUS
Acer
Samsung
MSI

Confirm Windows 10 requirements

If the computer already has a Windows 10 setup, and then a future release volition likely see the minimum hardware requirements. However, if you lot're about to upgrade a computer running Windows 7 or Windows eight.1, you want to make sure that the device meets the minimum requirements.

Hither are the minimum requirements to install the Windows x Oct 2022 Update (and higher):

Processor: 1GHz or Arrangement on a Chip (SoC).
Memory: 1GB for 32-chip or 2GB for 64-bit.
Storage: 32GB for 64-bit or 32-flake.
Graphics menu: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver.
Display: 800x600.

You can use these instructions to bank check the device technical specifications to make sure you can practice a clean install of Windows 10.

Alter boot lodge on firmware

It's too important to make sure that the computer can boot from a USB flash drive. If this is not the example, you'll need to change the Bones Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on the motherboard.

Change boot guild using UEFI

On devices already running Windows 10 or Windows 8.one, you tin can admission the settings to change the kicking gild from inside the desktop surroundings.

UEFI settings on Windows x

To change the UEFI boot settings on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Recovery.
Under the "Advanced Startup" section, click the Restart now push button.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Troubleshoot push button.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click on Advanced options.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the UEFI Firmware Settings option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Restart button.

Source: Windows Central
While in the motherboard firmware settings, open up the Kick page.
Set the boot society to start from the USB wink drive with the Windows 10 installation files.

Source: Windows Central
Save the changes.

Afterward you consummate the steps, the reckoner should now be able to start from a USB bootable media.

UEFI settings on Windows 8.one

To change the UEFI boot settings on Windows eight.one, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update and recovery.
Click on Recovery.
Nether the "Advanced Startup" section, click the Restart now push button.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Troubleshoot option.

Source: Windows Central
Click on Advanced options.

Source: Windows Key
Click the UEFI Firmware Settings selection.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the Restart push button.

Source: Windows Central
While in the motherboard firmware settings, open the Kick folio.
Set the kicking order to starting time from the USB media with the Windows 10 installation files.

Source: Windows Central
Save the changes.

One time y'all complete the steps, the computer will commencement from a USB flash bulldoze to go on with the clean installation process.

UEFI settings on Windows 7

To change the UEFI boot settings on Windows 7, utilize these steps:

Showtime the estimator.
Equally soon equally it starts, press the F1, F2, F3, F10, or F12, the ESC, or Delete central to access the firmware.

Quick tip: You may need to check your manufacturer support website for more than specific steps to admission the firmware settings.
While in the motherboard firmware settings, open up the Boot page.
Set the boot guild to start from the USB media with the Windows 10 installation files.

After you complete the steps, you should exist able to kickoff the device using a bootable media.

Configure kicking guild using BIOS

If y'all're dealing with a legacy BIOS firmware, you lot tin alter the boot order with these steps:

First the computer.
Every bit shortly as the computer starts booting upwardly, press one of the function keys (F1, F2, F3, F10, or F12), the ESC, or Delete key.
While in the motherboard firmware settings, open up the Kick folio.
Set the kick order to beginning from the USB media with the Windows ten installation files.

Source: Windows Central
Salve the changes.

In one case you complete the steps, the device should be able to start from the USB wink bulldoze.

Disconnect non-essential peripherals

Connected peripherals ordinarily are the reason for issues during the Windows x installation process. If you take non-essential peripherals connected to the estimator (such as removable storage and other USB and Bluetooth devices as well as printers, scanners, cameras, and others), it'due south recommended to remove them.

When preparing to exercise a clean install of Windows 10, you simply need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and an internet connectedness. After the setup, you tin reconnect the peripherals (one at a time) to make certain they don't cause any issues.

How to create USB for clean install of Windows 10

On Windows 10, you lot volition demand a USB bootable media to perform a clean installation, which you lot tin hands create using many tools, including the Microsoft Media Cosmos Tool and Rufus.

Create Windows 10 USB with Media Creation Tool

To create an installation media using the Media Creation Tool, connect a USB flash drive of at to the lowest degree 8GB of infinite, and utilize these steps:

Open Windows 10 download folio.
Under the "Create Windows 10 installation media" section, click the Download tool now button to save the file on the device.
Double-click the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the Take button to agree to the terms.
Select the Create installation media (USB flash bulldoze, DVD, or ISO file) for some other PC option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Adjacent push.
(Optional) Articulate the Utilize the recommended options for this PC option.
Select the correct language, compages, and edition of Windows 10.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If you programme to install Windows ten on several devices running the 32-bit or 64-bit architecture, use the "Compages" drop-down menu and select the Both pick.
Click the Adjacent button.
Select the USB wink drive choice.

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Adjacent push
Select the USB flash drive (or click the "Refresh drive list" option to make it available).

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Next push button.
Click the Finish button.

Once you consummate the steps, the tool will download the files and create an installer with the latest installation files, which you tin and then apply to outset the device and configure a fresh re-create of Windows 10.

Create Windows 10 USB with Rufus

Alternatively, you can use the Rufus tool to create an installation media for devices with motherboards featuring UEFI or BIOS firmware.

Rufus is a tool bachelor for free with many options to aid y'all create a bootable media of Windows ten faster. All the same, it's of import to remember that information technology'due south a third-political party option, which Microsoft does non support, so use information technology at your own gamble.

To create a Windows 10 USB installer with Rufus, connect a USB wink drive of at least 8GB of space, and then use these steps:

Open Rufus download page.
Under the "Download" section, click the link to save the latest release on your device.

Source: Windows Central
Double-click the Rufus-ten.xx.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the Settings button (tertiary push button from the left) at the bottom of the folio.

Source: Windows Primal
Under the "Settings" section, employ the Check for updates drop-down card and select the Daily option.

Source: Windows Key

Quick tip: These steps are necessary to enable the option to use the tool to download the ISO file of Windows 10.
Click the Close push.
Shut the Rufus tool.
Relaunch the Rufus tool.
Under the "Device" section, use the drib-down bill of fare to select the USB wink drive.
Under the "Boot selection" section, click the down pointer button on the right and select the Download pick.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If you already have an ISO file, click the Select push button, select the Windows ten ISO file, and go on with step No. 24.
Click the Download push button.
Use the "Version" drop-down card and select the Windows 10 option.
Click the Continue button.
Select the 20H2 (Build 19042.xxx - xxxx.xx) selection to download the Windows 10 October 2022 Update.
Click the Go along button.
Use the "Edition" drop-down menu and select the Windows 10 Home/Pro selection.
Click the Continue push.
Use the "Language" drop-downward menu and select your installation language.

Quick tip: If y'all're in the United States, select the "English" pick, not "English International."
Click the Keep button.
Use the "Architecture" driblet-down bill of fare and select the 32-scrap or 64-fleck (recommended).
Click the Download push.

Source: Windows Key
Select a folder location to download the ISO file.
Click the Save push.
Apply the "Image option" drop-downwardly carte to select the Standard Windows installation option.
Use the "Segmentation scheme" drop-down menu to select the GPT selection.
Use the "Target system" drib-downwards menu to select the UEFI (non CSM) option.

Source: Windows Central

Quick note: If the calculator includes a legacy BIOS, select the MBR option for partitioning scheme and BIOS (or UEFI-CSM) option target system.
Nether the "Show Advanced drive properties" section, don't alter the default settings.
Under the "Volume characterization" field, enter a descriptive name for the drive — for example, "win10_usb."
Nether the "File arrangement" and "Cluster size" section, don't change the default settings.
Click the Prove advanced format options button.
Select the Quick format and Create extended label and icon files options.
Click the Start push button.
Click the OK push button to confirm.
Click the Close push.

After you lot 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 make clean install of Windows 10

The installation process of Windows 10 has ii main parts, including the setup and out-of-box feel (OOBE). In the setup procedure, that's where yous 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 phase where y'all'll configure your settings, such equally region, network, account, privacy, and other settings.

Windows 10 clean install process

Once you lot went through the preparation instructions, the clean install of Windows 10 is actually a straightforward process.

Warning: This is another friendly reminder that this process will erase everything on the computer. Information technology's always recommended to make a temporary full backup of your PC before proceeding.

To practise a clean installation of Windows 10, employ these steps:

Beginning the device with Windows ten USB media.
On prompt, printing any key to boot from the device.
On the "Windows Setup," click the Next push button.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If your language, time and currency, and keyboard are different from the default selections, make sure to select the correct settings earlier continuing.
Click the Install now button.

Source: Windows Central
If you're doing a reinstallation, click the I don't accept a product central selection to go on (assuming that your device was already activated). Otherwise, in the case that this is your first time installing Windows 10, enter the product central.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Side by side button.
Select the edition of Windows 10 (If applicable).

Source: Windows Central

Quick note: This selection must match the edition that the production key activates. If you don't select the correct edition, Windows 10 won't actuate, and y'all'll have to redo the entire procedure i more time.
Click the Next button.
Select the I take the license terms option to go on.
Click the Next button.
Click the Custom: Install Windows simply (Advanced) option to continue with a clean installation.

Source: Windows Central
Select the partition with the current installation (unremarkably "Drive 0"), and click the Delete button.

Quick tip: If "Drive 0" has multiple partitions, yous have to select and delete each partitioning to allow the setup to employ the entire difficult drive for the new clean installation. The Windows 10 setup will create the required partitions automatically during the procedure. Also, it'southward non necessary to delete the partitions on secondary drives.
Click the Aye push button.

Source: Windows Central
Select the empty drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the Next button.

Once you complete the steps, the setup volition install a fresh copy of Windows ten on the computer.

If you plan to decommission the device, you tin can stop now and let the new owner complete the out-of-box experience. However, in the case that you're upgrading your arrangement, then continue with the instructions below.

Windows 10 out-of-box experience

After the setup, you have to continue with the out-of-box experience to configure your preferences and create a new business relationship.

This guide follows the out-of-box experience available with the Windows 10 October 2022 Update. However, depending on the release you are installing, the steps may be slightly different.

To complete the OOBE on Windows 10, utilize these steps:

Select your Region option.

Source: Windows Key
Click the Yes push.
Select your keyboard layout option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button (unless you demand to add a 2nd keyboard layout).

Quick notation: If yous're not using a wired network connection, you lot'll have to sign in to the wireless network.
Select the Set up for personal utilize option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account data to create an account.

Source: Windows Fundamental

Quick note: The recommended process is to utilize a Microsoft account. However, if you want to use a traditional local account, you lot'll need to click the Offline business relationship choice from the bottom-left corner and so continue with the on-screen directions.
Click the Next push button.
Confirm your account password.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN push.

Source: Windows Central
Create a four-digit Windows Hello PIN.

Source: Windows Primal

Quick tip: If you want to continue using a traditional countersign, click the Cancel push button to skip the process.
Select your privacy settings (and don't forget to whorl downward the folio to review all the available settings).
Click the Accept button.

Source: Windows Primal
(Optional) Yous can provide your phone number and then click the Send button to link your phone with your device. If you desire to skip this option, click the Do it later push in the screen'due south bottom-left corner.

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Click the Next button to allow OneDrive to backup the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to the cloud. If y'all use another cloud service or prefer not to upload files to the cloud, click the Only salvage files to this PC option in the screen's bottom-left corner.

Source: Windows Central
Click the No, thanks push to skip the Microsoft 365 setup (as necessary).

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If you have an Office product key, you can click the I have a production fundamental option, then the apps volition install automatically on your device.
(Optional) Check the Let Cortana respond to "Hey Cortana" option to employ the assistance hands-costless.
Click the Take push to allow Microsoft to collect personal information to make Cortana more personal. If you're non interested in the digital assistant, click the Non now button to continue.

Source: Windows Cardinal

Later on you complete the steps, the new settings will utilise to the clean installation of Windows 10, and you should be able to run across the default desktop experience.

How to complete setup after install of Windows x

After the installation, information technology's also a good idea to bank check that Windows ten isn't missing any critical updates or drivers and properly activated.

Install updates

To check for updates on Windows ten, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Check for updates button.

Source: Windows Central

One time you complete the steps, if Windows Update finds any updates, it'll automatically download and install them. A restart may be required to complete the update procedure.

Check missing drivers

To determine whether drivers are missing, use these steps:

Open Outset.
Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the panel.
Confirm that none of the devices accept a yellow or blood-red mark, and brand sure nothing is listed as unknown.

Source: Windows Cardinal

If one or multiple devices have bug, you may need to manually download and install the latest drivers from your calculator manufacturer'due south support website. You can utilise this guide to install device drivers on Windows 10.

Install missing drivers

On Windows 10, drivers can also exist part of the optional updates. If you're missing one or multiple drivers, you lot may exist able to download them from Windows Update.

To download missing drivers using Windows Update, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the View optional updates option. If the option isn't available, then Windows Update doesn't have whatsoever commuter updates for your device.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Click the Driver updates section.
Select the missing driver.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the Download and install push.

After you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install the missing drivers automatically.

Confirm activation

To confirm Windows 10 was properly activated, use these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Activation.
If Windows 10 activated successfully, one of the post-obit letters would appear:
- Windows is activated with a digital license: The installation has been activated, but it isn't linked to your Microsoft account.
- Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account: The installation has been activated, and the license is linked to your Microsoft account.
Source: Windows Central

In the example that Windows 10 didn't actuate, the device volition try to reactivate at a later time. If you're yet having issues later on a couple of days, you can use the Activation Troubleshooter to activate.

Reinstall apps

It's now time to reinstall your applications, including your preferred web browser, such every bit Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera to browse the web.

If you use Spotify or iTunes to mind to tunes while working or surfing the cyberspace, you tin can download these apps and other from Microsoft Store.

Also, it'south at present a good time to download and install the suite of Office apps to start working with Give-and-take, Excel, PowerPoint and managing your emails with Outlook.

Restore files from fill-in

The concluding matter left to practise is to restore your files from backup. If you previously configured file backup with OneDrive, then the data should already be available inside the OneDrive folder, only if the app didn't configure automatically, yous tin use this guide.

In the case that you have a backup of your files on an external drive, reconnect the storage to restore the data into the account default folders.

To restore files from a previous backup, utilise these steps:

Open up File Explorer.
Nether the This PC section in the left pane, select the external drive with the files.
Select the folders with the file that y'all want to restore.
Click the Copy to menu from the "Dwelling" tab.

Source: Windows Central
Select the Choose location selection.
Select the destination to restore the files — for instance, the Documents folder.
Click the Copy button.

After you complete the steps, the files will restore in the location you specified.

Although you can start a make clean installation using the Media Creation Tool without a USB media and fifty-fifty the Reset this PC option from the recovery settings, these methods have their limitations and no ever piece of work as expected.

If you lot want to make sure that you're performing a truly clean installation, using the bootable media is a better culling.

More Windows 10 resource

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows ten, visit the following resources:

Windows x on Windows Central – All you need to know
Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Key

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-installation-windows-10

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