Nosotros're all thankful that information technology's no longer the days where it seemed similar you had to re-install Windows every 6 months. In that location are withal times, though, where we must go to the final resort. Sometimes, you simply have to scrap information technology all and starting time all over again.

When Should I Re-install Windows?

In that location are several things you can do to fix minor and major Windows issues. The Check Disk (CHKDSK) utility is slap-up for fixing issues with the file system due to bad sectors on hard drives. Nosotros tin can show you how to gear up file system errors in Windows with CHKDSK.

The System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) control line tools can discover and gear up a host of Windows issues.

SFC is great for finding and repairing system files in Windows, whereas DISM tin can exercise a more thorough cheque and repair Windows using resource from Microsoft's Windows Update service. We have a whole article on how to utilise SFC and DISM. Try these things first.

If that doesn't do it, and y'all're certain that the issue isn't a hardware effect, then information technology might exist time to start over again. WARNING: we're talking well-nigh wiping away all your files and programs and starting again. Make sure to back up your files to an external drive or to a cloud storage service.

Three Ways to Do a Clean Reinstall of Windows

There are three ways y'all can exercise a clean reinstall of Windows. We'll be focusing on Windows 10. If you're using Windows 8.1 or before, the first 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 within of Windows with installation media.

Reset this PC for a Clean Install

This should be your outset pick when trying to completely wipe your figurer and re-install Windows x. Information technology's simple, doesn't require 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 start it.

In the Settings window, ringlet down and click on Update & Security.

In the Update & Settings window, on the left-side, click on Recovery. Once information technology'southward in the Recovery window, click on the Get Started button.

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

It may take a few minutes to become things ready. And so, it will tell y'all that the current setting is to Just 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 push to get to the information erasure option. Click Confirm.

Afterward a few seconds, you'll see the Ready to reset this PC window. If yous're certain you want to exercise this, click on Reset.

It will prepare to practice the reset. This part can accept several minutes. During our examination, it took about fifteen minutes. And so the reckoner restarts.

When the computer restarts, yous'll see the Windows logo and Please wait. Then the screen may go black 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 percent of completion. This can have several minutes to an hour or more than depending on your PC. When information technology is complete, you tin can begin your Windows ready up again.

Reinstall Windows from DVD or Bootable USB Drive

You'll need to have either the Windows DVD that came with your figurer or y'all bought on its ain, or a bootable USB drive with Windows on information technology. Many laptop and computer makers have utilities built into their Windows installs to aid y'all create these recovery drives.

If you didn't make one when you got your computer, at present'southward the time to practise that. Using the manufacturer's official Windows installation is the all-time way to get, as it will have all the hardware drivers specific to the make and model of your computer.

If that's not an option, you can download an official ISO of Windows 10 using the Windows Media Creation Tool or only your web browser. Nosotros tin can also evidence you where to get Windows 8.i or 7 ISOs. You'll demand to find your Windows Production Key.

The Windows Media Creation tool will guide yous through the cosmos of a bootable USB bulldoze or DVD. It's surprisingly uncomplicated, simply it tin take a while.

Side by side, you'll need to kicking your computer from the DVD or USB drive. You may demand to admission your calculator's BIOS and change the boot guild. It's likely gear up to boot from your hard drive start. Reboot your PC and follow the steps beneath.

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

To do this in a way that wipes the drive, go until yous get to the point where you'll be asked, Which type of installation practise you desire? At this point choose Custom: Install Windows merely (avant-garde).

You may be asked where you would like to install Windows. Typically, it volition exist the Primary drive. Select that and click Next.

The installation volition continue. Outset, you'll run across a screen similar the ane beneath for several minutes. Then your computer volition restart, and you'll meet a black screen with a blue Windows icon. Information technology volition go through several stages non requiring whatever input from you.

Eventually, you'll see the blue install screen with a rotating circle and the words Just a moment… Y'all're most at that place. This volition take several minutes and go through some more text.

Now, you'll be at the Windows fix upwards stage. Continue through this to go Windows gear up and you lot're ready to go.

Reinstall Windows from Your Install Media, from Inside of Windows

This method is a last resort. The Reset this PC method is easier and quicker. That might not exist an option for you, and so let's go over how-to re-install Windows from inside of your electric current Windows installation. The one upside to this method is that you should not have to enter your Windows production fundamental for it to work.

Insert your Windows installation media. Navigate to it in File Explorer and open up it. So look 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 asking if you lot want to all this app to make changes to this device. Click Yep.

A small window volition open showing the Windows logo and will go on to say that information technology is preparing. It will count percentage of readiness.

Next, the Windows 10 Setup window will open. It reads Install Windows ten and that it will go online to become updates. If you wanted, yous could click on Change how Windows Setup downloads updates. For our purposes, click on the Adjacent push button.

Information technology may quickly go through a few screens, like Getting updates, Restarting Windows 10 Setup, Checking your PC, Nosotros're getting a few things ready, then terminate on the Applicative notices and license terms screen. Feel free to read it and click on Have.

Information technology may quickly become through a few more screens such every bit Cull what to keep, Making sure you're fix to install, and and then it will stay on Getting updates for several minutes counting the percentage done. This can take a while.

It volition so starting time Making sure your PC has enough space, and then arrive at the Gear up to install screen. It may say that information technology will Keep personal files and apps. Merely click on Change what to go on under that.

There will be three choices: Keep personal files and apps, Go on personal files only, and Cypher. If y'all want a clean wipe, click on Nothing then click Next.

It will then apace go through some of the screens like before, and and so you'll see the large bluish Installing Windows 10 screen. It warns that your PC volition restart several times and that it will take a while. After some time, your computer will restart.

You'll see your login screen and the bulletin Getting Windows ready. Don't turn off your computer. That will go along for several minutes. Your screen may get black. Be patient.

Eventually, you'll get to a total blue screen reading Installing Windows 0% Don't turn off your PC. This will accept a while. Your PC will restart several times. Yes, it does take a while. Our test run took well over an hour.

Finally, the computer will restart, and you should be at your login window again. Log in and proceed to set upward Windows.

Welcome to Your Fresh Windows Install

Those are the three ways that yous can install Windows in a manner that completely wipes out everything on your reckoner. This is a new start. Only recall, if you lot wanted to admission any of your sometime files y'all better have them backed up to a cloud service or on an external hard drive. Enjoy your fresh install of Windows.