Resetting or reinstalling Windows 10 can be a great way to troubleshoot a problem that’s affecting the performance of your computer or to start over with a fresh new installation. Resetting or reinstalling Windows 10 is not difficult, but it requires you to be familiar with the process and have some basic technical knowledge. This guide will cover all of the steps required to reset or reinstall Windows 10.
Before You Begin
Before you begin resetting or reinstalling Windows 10, there are a few important things to take care of first.
First, make sure you have a backup of any files or data that you don’t want to lose. Even if you choose to keep your personal files when you reset Windows 10, it’s still a good idea to have a backup of your data in case something goes wrong during the reset process.
Second, make sure you have the installation media for Windows 10. If you bought your computer with Windows 10 pre-installed, you probably don’t have the installation media handy. You can use the Media Creation Tool to create an ISO file of Windows 10. You can then burn the ISO file to a USB drive or DVD and use it as installation media.
Once you’ve taken care of backing up your data and getting the installation media, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
Resetting Windows 10
To reset Windows 10, open up the Start menu and type in “reset”. Click on the “Reset this PC” option that appears in the search results. You should now see the Reset this PC window.
The Reset this PC window will ask you if you want to keep your personal files or remove everything. Choose whichever option you want and click the “Get started” button.
Windows 10 will now begin resetting your computer. This process can take a while, so be patient. Once it’s done, your computer will restart and you should be taken back to the same Windows setup screen you saw when you first set up your computer.
Reinstalling Windows 10
If you don’t want to reset Windows 10 and just want to start with a fresh install, you can do that too. This process is a bit more complicated, but it’s still doable.
First, make sure you have your install media handy. Boot your computer from the install media by setting your BIOS settings to boot from the USB drive or DVD.
Once you’ve booted from the install media, you should be taken to the Windows setup screen. Follow the prompts to accept the license agreement and select a partition to install Windows 10 on.
Once you’ve selected a partition, the installation process will begin. This can take a while as well, so be patient. Once it’s done, your computer will reboot and you should be taken back to the same Windows setup screen you saw when you first set up your computer.
That’s it! Now you know how to reset or reinstall Windows 10. Keep in mind that resetting or reinstalling Windows 10 will delete all of your files and documents, so make sure you have a backup before you proceed.