How do I do a full clean reinstall of Windows 10?
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Recovery.
- Under the “Reset this PC” section, click the Get started button.
- Click the “Remove everything” option to perform a fresh install of Windows 10.
- Click the “Local reinstall” option.
To reset your PC, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC > Get Started. Then, select Keep my files, choose cloud or local, change your settings, and set Restore preinstalled apps? to No.
- The Windows 10 (or 11) repair drill.
- Step 1: Using DISM and SFC for system repair.
- Step 2: Try a recent restore point or image backup.
- Step 3: In-place upgrade to current Windows 10 version.
- Step 4: Completely reinstall Windows 10.
- Picking up the pieces after the repair.
This is the most thorough reset (or recovery/reinstall/refresh) option as it replaces the current Windows configuration with a new one. All the contents will be removed, such as accounts, files, settings, ASUS customized software and apps downloaded from Windows Store.
This reset option will reinstall Windows operating system and keeps your personal files, such as photos, music, videos or personal files. However, it will remove apps and drivers you installed, and also removes the changes you made to the settings.
- Click on the ''Start'' button in Windows.
- Press shift and click on ''Restart''.
- The system will guide you through the troubleshooting section.
- Click on ''Reset my PC''.
- Click on ''Keep my files''.
- The system will reboot itself, and factory settings are restored.
Select Start > Settings > System > Recovery . Open Recovery settings. Next to Reset this PC, select Reset PC. Then choose from the options and/or settings in the table below.
Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot, or select the Find troubleshooters shortcut at the end of this topic. Select the type of troubleshooting you want to do, then select Run the troubleshooter. Allow the troubleshooter to run and then answer any questions on the screen.
Here's how to make the switch back to Windows 10: Start menu > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Recovery > Previous version of Windows (you may see Go back instead). That's it!
Installing Windows might sound like a daunting task, but it's really quite easy, especially if you're installing a more recent operating system like Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows 8. But no need to take your computer into the local experts for a simple reinstall—you can install Windows all by yourself!
How do I fix a corrupted Windows 10 operating system?
- Open an elevated command prompt. ...
- If you are running Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 8, first run the inbox Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool prior to running the System File Checker.
- Click Start. ...
- In the System Restore dialog box, click Choose a different restore point, and then click Next.
- In the list of restore points, click a restore point that was created before you began to experience the issue, and then click Next.
- Click Finish.

- Click Start.
- Click the power button icon.
- Press and hold down the Shift key and then click Restart. ...
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
- After the startup repair process is complete, reboot the computer.
A clean install of Windows 10 helps declutter the computer, frees up space, and eliminates performance and speed issues. It also helps remove viruses, Trojans, malware and bloatware from the system, and eliminates system problems like blue screen errors.
🖥 How to Factory Reset a PC
Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. You should see a title that says “Reset this PC.” Click Get Started. You can either select Keep My Files or Remove Everything.
A clean start-up is just a way of starting up your computer with a minimum of programs and drivers to enable you to troubleshoot which program(s) and driver(s) may be causing a problem. It does not delete your personal files such as documents and pictures.
There is no limit to the number of times you can re-install Windows 10 on the same day . . . What difficulty are you experiencing when trying to install Windows 10? Power to the Developer!
- Click the power button, then hold down Shift while choosing Restart. This opens the recovery menu. This works even if you're not logged into Windows.
- Click Troubleshoot.
- Select either Refresh your PC to repair the PC, or Reset your PC to prepare the PC for another user.
To cover all the bases: there is no way to factory reset Windows from the BIOS. Our guide to using the BIOS shows how to reset your BIOS to default options, but you can't factory reset Windows itself through it.
- Click the Start Menu and select the gear icon in the lower-left to open up the Settings window. You can also select the Settings app from the app list. Under Settings, click Update & Security to continue.
- Click the Recovery tab and select Get started under Reset this PC.
What is a hard reset Windows 10?
By performing a factory reset on Windows 10, you'll essentially be reverting your device back to the way it was when it rolled off the factory production line. So, while it may seem all doom and gloom, you could also think about it as a fresh start!
To do this, click Start, type Command Prompt or cmd in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow. Reboot your system, and attempt Reset this PC again.
A hard reset is a process of reverting a device back to the state it was in when shipped from the factory. That is to say, it erases all data including apps, user profiles, and settings. Hard resets can be helpful for wiping all data before selling a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
- Click Start.
- Click the power button icon.
- Press and hold down the Shift key and then click Restart. ...
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
- After the startup repair process is complete, reboot the computer.
How does a Windows file become corrupted? File corruption usually happens when there is an issue during the 'save' process. If your computer crashes the file being saved will likely be corrupted. Another cause might be damaged sections of your hard drive or storage media that might have viruses and malware.
- Entering the CMD windows.
- Type in sfc /scannow, and press the Enter key. ...
- If the SFC command doesn't work. ...
- Type in DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth to scan the corruptions of Windows images.
You do not need to enter a serial number the next time or times you install or reinstall windows (provided it is the same version). Thus, you can install it as many times as you want on the same pc.
As I have mentioned above, you can reinstall Windows 10 without a CD/USB drive or with it. If you already have a Windows 10 installer media (like a CD or a USB drive), then you can install a fresh copy of the OS on your system.
Generally, if you bought a physical copy of Windows, the product key should be on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in. If Windows came preinstalled on your PC, the product key should appear on a sticker on your device. If you've lost or can't find the product key, contact the manufacturer.
In the command prompt window, type SFC /scannow and press Enter . System file checker utility checks the integrity of Windows system files and repairs them if required. After the process is complete, reboot the computer.
What causes a corrupt operating system?
A system failure may occur due to a hardware failure or a significant software problem, leading the system to freeze, reboot, or stop working completely. An error may or may not be displayed on the screen because of a system failure.
- Press the "Windows" key and type cmd.
- Right-click "Command Prompt" and choose "Run as administrator".
- Type sfc /scannow into the Command Prompt window and press "Enter" to run a full system scan.
For Windows 10, go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Then navigate to Update & Security, and find the Recovery menu. Next, select Reset this PC and choose Get Started. Follow the instructions to revert your computer to when it was first unboxed.
They both do basically the same, except selecting Clean The Drive will write zeros to the entire drive before reinstalling... Just Remove Files deletes the Files without writing zeros...
- Go to "Start" > "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Recovery".
- Under "Reset this PC option", tap "Get Started".
- Choose "Remove everything" and then choose to "Remove files and clean the drive".
- Finally, click "Reset" to begin reinstalling Windows 10.
Keep My Files – This option removes all apps and settings from Windows 10. But this will take care of personal files. Those files won't get deleted. Remove Everything – This option will remove all personal files.
Wiping a computer hard drive is different from shredding because it merely erases any stored information while keeping the physical hard drive intact. This is also different from moving documents to the trash or recycle bin because, even though the files are hidden from view, they remain on the device.
Resetting to Factory Settings
During the factory resetting process, your PC's hard drive is completely erased and you lose any business, financial and personal files that may be present on the computer. Once the resetting process starts, you cannot interrupt it.
- Program files folder. ...
- WinSxS folder. ...
- System32 folder. ...
- Windows folder. ...
- System volume information folder. ...
- Swapfile. ...
- Pagefile.
Resetting reinstalls Windows 10, but lets you choose whether to keep your files or remove them, and then reinstalls Windows. You can reset your PC from Settings, the sign-in screen, or by using a recovery drive or installation media.
What removes unnecessary files from the hard drive?
Right-click your main hard drive (usually the C: drive) and select Properties. Click the Disk Cleanup button and you'll see a list of items that can be removed, including temporary files and more. For even more options, click Clean up system files. Tick the categories you want to remove, then click OK > Delete Files.
No, Microsoft doesn't ask you for a product key to let you download the Windows 10 installation kit. Actually, there are absolutely no details required from you. You can download Windows 10 without having to tell Microsoft anything: neither your Microsoft account nor your Windows 10 serial key is needed.
Generally, if you bought a physical copy of Windows, the product key should be on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in. If Windows came preinstalled on your PC, the product key should appear on a sticker on your device. If you've lost or can't find the product key, contact the manufacturer.
Open Start > Settings > Update & security > Recovery.
Under Advanced startup, click Restart now. Windows will reboot into the recovery environment. Then click Troubleshoot. Click Reset this PC, then repeat the same steps as described in Option 2.
3: Does Windows 11 reset to wipe all drives? No, it only wipes C Drive. Using the same methods in this article, a Windows 11 user can wipe their C Drive only. However, if the Diskpart method is not used carefully, users may accidentally remove all of their drives.
When you reinstall Windows locally, you have a complete copy of the operating system and all your data on your hard drive.
If you have a fast Internet connection and enough data, it's recommended to choose cloud download. It can help you save some time. If your connection speed is slow or you want to avoid additional downloads, please choose local reinstall. It can help you avoid unnecessary downloads.