How To Reinstall Windows 10 From Usb

A make clean installation of Windows 10 is the process of erasing the hardware and setting upward a new fresh re-create of the platform when a computer has a problem. For case, you can resolve performance, retentiveness, startup, shut down, and apps issues using this method. Also, information technology's perhaps the all-time approach to remove viruses and other types of malware, and information technology tin help to improve battery life.

In improver, it's an fantabulous 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 tin can ready up a new installation after replacing the difficult drive.

Furthermore, if you had the same setup for some time, a make clean installation is the recommended option to upgrade to the latest version of Windows x or upgrade from an older version (such as Windows 7 and Windows 8.1), minimizing the risks of bug during and after the process.

In this Windows ten guide, we volition walk you through the complete process to perform a clean installation.

How to ready computer for make clean install of Windows ten
How to create USB bootable media for clean install of Windows 10
How to perform clean install of Windows 10
How to complete setup after clean install of Windows 10

How to prepare computer for clean install of Windows 10

As y'all prepare to proceed with a clean installation of Windows 10, it'southward recommended to complete some essential tasks to minimize problems 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 not-essential peripherals are asunder, so you can skip this function and jump to the bootable media creation and a make clean install procedure.

Create backup

The install procedure of Windows 10 deletes everything on the drive, which ways that backing up the entire device (or at to the lowest degree your files) is a crucial footstep unless you don't take anything important yous desire to keep.

Support entire system

You should create a temporary fill-in to revert the settings or recover files if something goes wrong during the installation.

You can choose many unlike solutions, but the easiest fashion to create a full backup is to use the legacy System Prototype Backup tool available on Windows 10. It's a deprecated characteristic, but it continues to work. The tool is also available for Windows 8.1 and Windows vii.

Back up files to OneDrive

If you lot demand to back up your documents, pictures, and other important files, you tin can upload the data to OneDrive or some other deject storage service.

In case y'all use OneDrive, y'all tin too 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:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Backup.
Under the "Support files to OneDrive" section, click the Dorsum up files choice.

Source: Windows Key
(Optional) Click to clear the binder you don't want to dorsum up in the deject.
Click the Beginning backup button.

Source: Windows Central

Once you complete the steps, OneDrive will back upwards 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 bachelor infinite may not even exist 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 plenty storage space to your Windows 10 computer, and use these steps:

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

%HOMEPATH%

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Select all button from the "Home" tab.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Re-create to button from the "Abode" tab.
Select the Choose location option.
Select the destination location.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Copy button.

After y'all consummate the steps, echo the instructions to back up the remaining accounts (as necessary). In addition to copying your files, information technology'south as well a good idea to create a list of the installed programs with their respective product keys (if applicable) to know the apps to reinstall afterward the installation.

If you usually don't sync passwords and bookmarks with an online service, now'south a practiced time to export your browser credentials and links as you'll demand them afterward to admission your online services.

In instance you lot don't accept 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.

Cheque Windows 10 activation

Although after activating Windows 10, you no longer take to provide a product key for reinstallation in the same computer. Once the new installation completes, the arrangement will automatically reactivate when it connects to the internet.

To confirm whether Windows 10 is properly activated, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Activation.
Nether the "Windows" section, ostend the activation. If the calculator has been properly activated, y'all'll see one of these letters:
- Windows is activated with a digital license: The installation has been activated, only it isn't linked to your Microsoft business relationship.
- 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 Key

Subsequently you complete the steps, Windows 10 should automatically reactivate after the clean installation if your current setup is activated.

Obtain Windows 10 genuine cardinal

If y'all take to set up an installation on a reckoner that never had an activated version of Windows x, or you lot plan to upgrade from Windows viii.1 or Windows 7, you lot will have to purchase a valid license from the Microsoft Store, Amazon, or another retailer.

Download essential drivers

Windows 10 can discover and install well-nigh drivers automatically. However, it's usually recommended to download at least the essential drivers earlier 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 estimator builds.

You tin 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:

Dell
HP
Lenovo
ASUS
Acer
Samsung
MSI

Confirm Windows x requirements

If 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.ane, you want to check that the device meets the minimum requirements.

Hither are the minimum requirements to install the Windows x November 2021 Update (and college):

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

Yous tin can use these instructions to check the device technical specifications to ostend you can exercise a clean install of Windows x.

Change kicking order on firmware

It's also important to make sure that the computer can kick from a USB flash drive. If this is not the case, you lot'll demand to alter the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on the motherboard.

Change kick order using UEFI

On computers already running Windows 10 or eight.1, you can admission the settings to modify the boot guild within the desktop interface.

UEFI settings on Windows x

To alter the UEFI settings on Windows 10, employ these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Recovery.
Under the "Advanced startup" section, click the Restart at present button.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Troubleshoot push button.

Source: Windows Central
Click on Advanced options.

Source: Windows Central
Click the UEFI Firmware Settings pick.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Restart push.

Source: Windows Key
Inside the motherboard firmware settings, open the Kick page.
Set the boot order to start from the USB flash drive with the Windows 10 installation files.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Salvage the changes.

After yous complete the steps, the computer should now be able to start from a USB bootable media.

UEFI settings on Windows viii.1

To modify the UEFI settings on Windows viii.1, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update and recovery.
Click on Recovery.
Under the "Avant-garde Startup" section, click the Restart now push.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Troubleshoot option.

Source: Windows Central
Click on Avant-garde options.

Source: Windows Central
Click the UEFI Firmware Settings pick.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Restart button.

Source: Windows Key
Inside the motherboard firmware settings, open the Boot page.
Gear up the kicking gild to showtime from the USB media with the Windows x installation files.

Source: Windows Key
Save the changes.

One time y'all consummate the steps, the device will outset from a USB wink bulldoze to proceed with the installation process.

UEFI settings on Windows seven

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

Start the PC.
Equally shortly as information technology starts, press the F1, F2, F3, F10, F12, Esc, or Delete primal to access the firmware.

Quick tip: Y'all may need to bank check your manufacturer support website for more specific steps to access the firmware settings.
Inside the motherboard firmware settings, open up the Boot page.
Set the boot order to first with the Windows 10 installation files from the USB media.

After you complete the steps, you should be able to first the device using a bootable media.

Configure boot guild using BIOS

If yous have a legacy BIOS firmware, you tin can change the boot order with these steps:

Showtime the PC.
As soon as the computer starts booting up, printing one of the office keys (F1, F2, F3, F10, or F12), Esc, or Delete central.
Inside the motherboard firmware settings, open the Kicking page.
Set the boot order to first with the Windows 10 installation files from the USB media.

Source: Windows Central
Save the changes.

Once you complete the steps, the reckoner can now first 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 x installation. If you accept non-essential peripherals connected to the reckoner (such as removable storage and other USB and Bluetooth devices, printers, scanners, cameras, and others), it'due south recommended to disconnect them.

Yous but demand a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and internet connection. Afterwards the setup, y'all can reconnect the peripherals (one at a time) to ensure they don't cause any bug.

How to create USB for clean install of Windows 10

Yous will need a USB bootable media to perform a clean installation of Windows x. You can easily create one using many tools, including the Microsoft Media Creation 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 bulldoze of at least 8GB of space, and use these steps:

Open up the Windows 10 download page.
Under the "Create Windows 10 installation media" section, click the Download tool at present button to salve the file on the computer.
Double-click the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the Have button to agree to the Microsoft terms.
Select the Create installation media (USB flash bulldoze, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Next button.
(Optional) Articulate the Use the recommended options for this PC pick.
Select the right language, architecture, and edition of Windows ten.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Next button.

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Next button.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Select the USB flash drive (or click the "Refresh drive list" selection to brand it available).

Source: Windows Central
Click the Side by side button.
Click the End button.

Once you complete the steps, the tool will download the files and create an installer with the latest installation files, which yous tin and so use to start the device and configure a fresh re-create of Windows 10.

Create Windows 10 USB with Rufus

Alternatively, the Rufus tool can help you create an installation media for computers with UEFI or BIOS firmware.

Rufus is a gratis tool with many options to aid you create a bootable media of Windows 10 faster. Withal, it's important to call back that information technology's a third-party option, which Microsoft does non back up. As a event, use it at your own take chances.

To create a Windows ten USB installer with Rufus, connect a USB flash bulldoze of at least 8GB of infinite, and so apply these steps:

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

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

Source: Windows Cardinal
Under the "Settings" section, use the Check for updates driblet-downward menu and select the Daily option.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: These steps are necessary to enable the selection to use the tool to download the ISO file of Windows x.
Click the Close button.
Close the Rufus tool.
Relaunch the Rufus tool.
Under the "Device" section, use the driblet-down menu to select the USB flash drive.
Under the "Boot option" section, click the downwardly pointer push on the right and select the Download option.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If you already have an ISO file, click the Select push button, choose the Windows 10 ISO file, and continue with step 24.
Click the Download button.
Apply the "Version" drib-downwards carte and select the Windows ten pick.
Click the Continue button.
Select the 21H2 (Build 19044.thirty - xxxx.xx) option to download the Windows ten November 2021 Update.

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Continue button.
Use the "Edition" drop-downwards menu and select the Windows 10 Dwelling/Pro option.
Click the Go on button.
Use the "Linguistic communication" drop-down card and select the installation language.

Quick tip: In the Us, choose the "English" option, not "English International."
Click the Continue button.
Use the "Architecture" drop-down menu and select the 32-bit or 64-bit (recommended).
Click the Download push button.
Select the location to download the ISO file.
Click the Relieve button.
Use the "Image pick" drib-down menu to select the Standard Windows installation option.
Use the "Partition scheme" driblet-down bill of fare to select the GPT choice.
Utilize the "Target system" drop-down menu to select the UEFI (non CSM) selection.

Source: Windows Central

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

After you lot complete the steps, Rufus will download the ISO file from the Microsoft servers, and information technology'll create the bootable media to perform a clean install of Windows ten.

How to perform clean install of Windows 10

The installation process of Windows x has two principal 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 observe the options to erase the difficult drive, configure the partitions, and clean install Windows 10. The out-of-box experience happens later on 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 make clean install process

After the grooming, you lot can proceed with the clean installation of Windows 10.

Warning: This is some other friendly reminder that this procedure will erase everything on the computer. Before proceeding, it'due south ever recommended to brand a temporary full fill-in of your PC.

To practice a make clean installation of Windows 10, utilise these steps:

First the PC with Windows 10 USB media.
On prompt, press whatever cardinal to kick from the USB flash drive.
On the "Windows Setup," click the Next button.

Source: Windows Fundamental

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

Source: Windows Cardinal
On a reinstallation, click the I don't have a product key option to proceed (assuming that your device was already activated). Otherwise, if this is your first fourth dimension installing Windows ten, enter the product key.

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Adjacent button.
Select the edition of Windows x (If applicative).

Source: Windows Central

Quick note: The selection has to match the edition of your production key. If you don't select the right edition, Windows 10 won't activate, and you'll have to redo the entire process.
Click the Next button.
Select the I have the license terms option to go on.
Click the Next button.
Click the Custom: Install Windows but (Advanced) option to continue with a clean installation.

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

Quick tip: If "Drive 0" has multiple partitions, y'all accept to select and delete each partition to allow the setup to utilise the entire difficult bulldoze for the new clean installation. The setup volition create the required partitions automatically during the process. Also, information technology's not necessary to delete the partitions on secondary drives.
Click the Yes push.

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

Source: Windows Key
Click the Next push.

Once you complete the steps, the setup will install a fresh re-create of Windows 10 on the device.

If y'all plan to decommission the figurer, yous exercise not need to go along with the out-of-box experience. If this is an upgrade, go on with the instructions below.

Windows 10 out-of-box experience

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

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

Select your Region option.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout option.

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button (unless you need to add a second keyboard layout).

Quick note: If you don't have a wired network connection, yous'll have to sign into the wireless network.
Select the Set up for personal utilise option.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the Next button.
Ostend your Microsoft account data to create an account.

Source: Windows Central

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

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

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If you want to go on using a traditional password, click the Cancel button to skip the process.
Select the privacy settings for the device (and don't forget to coil down the folio to review all the available settings).
Click the Accept button.

Source: Windows Primal
(Optional) Click the Skip button, or select how you will be using the device to receive targeted ads, tips, and other recommendations and click the Accept push.

Source: Windows Cardinal
(Optional) Click the No, cheers button to skip the telephone link process.

Source: Windows Fundamental
(Optional) Click the Adjacent button to let OneDrive to back up the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to the cloud. If you use another cloud service or prefer not to upload files to the cloud, click the Only save files to this PC option in the screen's lesser-left corner.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Reject button to skip the Microsoft 365 setup (as necessary).

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If you have an Office product fundamental, y'all can click the I accept a production key pick, and then the apps will install automatically.
(Optional) Click the Non now button to continue without setting up Cortana.

Source: Windows Central

After you complete the steps, the settings will apply to the make clean installation of Windows 10, and yous should be able to encounter the default desktop experience.

How to consummate setup after installation of Windows 10

Once the installation is complete, information technology'due south besides expert to check that Windows 10 isn't missing whatever critical updates or drivers and is properly activated.

Install updates

To download and install the latest updates, use these steps:

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

Source: Windows Key

Once yous consummate the steps, any available updates volition automatically download and install. Too, a restart may be required to consummate the update procedure.

Check missing drivers

To determine whether drivers are missing on Windows 10, apply these steps:

Open Get-go.
Search for Device Managing director and click the top event to open the app.
Confirm that none of the devices has a yellowish or red mark, and make sure nix is listed as unknown.

Source: Windows Central

If some hardware has problems, you may need to manually install the latest drivers from your computer manufacturer's support website. You lot can employ 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 x, utilise these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the View optional updates choice. If the option isn't available, it means that Windows Update doesn't accept any driver updates for the computer.

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

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Download and install button.

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

Confirm activation

To ostend Windows 10 was activated correctly, utilise these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Activation.
If Windows 10 is activated successfully, y'all will see one of these messages:
- Windows is activated with a digital license: The installation has been activated, merely 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 instance Windows 10 didn't actuate, the device volition try to reactivate at a later on time. If you're notwithstanding having issues after a couple of days, yous can use the Activation Troubleshooter to actuate.

Reinstall apps

It's at present 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 or iTunes to heed to tunes while working or surfing the cyberspace, you tin download these apps and others from the Microsoft Store.

Besides, information technology'southward now a expert time to download and install the Microsoft Function apps 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 exist available inside the OneDrive folder, but if the app didn't configure automatically, you tin utilise this guide.

If you lot 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 ten, use these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Under the This PC section in the left pane, select the external drive with the file backup.
Select the folders with the file to restore.
Click the Copy to carte from the "Dwelling" tab.

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

After you consummate the steps, the files volition 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 piece of work as expected. The bootable media is the culling if you lot want the best possible make clean installation method.

More than Windows resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows ten and Windows 11, visit the post-obit resources:

Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you lot need to know
Windows 11 help, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you demand to know

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