How to do a clean installation of Windows 10

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June 20,
2019

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The ultimate guide The best way to reinstall, upgrade, or set up a new device with
Windows 10 is using a clean installation. Here's the reason why and every step you need
to follow.
Mauro Huculak
20 Jun 2019

On Windows 10, a clean installation is perhaps the best option to delete everything from
the hard drive to start from scratch when your computer is having problems. Usually,
this process can help to resolve performance, startup, and shut down issues as well as
issues with memory and apps. Also, it's an effective method to delete viruses and
virtually any kind of malware, and it can even help to improve battery life.

If you've been using the same setup for a long time, you can also use a clean installation
to upgrade to a new version to minimize the risks of issues during and after the upgrade
process caused by drivers or incompatible apps.
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It's also the option that you should use to start fresh with a copy of Windows 10 on a
hard drive placement, a new device that came loaded with bloatware, or clean up a
computer that you're ready to giveaway.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the three-step process to prepare and
perform a clean installation of the OS, whether you're upgrading to the Windows 10 May
2019 Update, or making the leap from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.

How to prepare a PC for a clean install of Windows 10

Although the process to start with a fresh copy of Windows 10 isn't complicated, it's
recommended to perform several tasks before the installation to minimize the chances
of issues and protect your data.

Backing up installation and personal files

The clean installation process will erase everything stored on the main hard drive, so it's
a good idea to create a backup of all your files before proceeding.

You can do this in several ways. You can move your files to your OneDrive folder or
cloud storage service that you prefer. You can use the backup option available on
OneDrive to automatically sync your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with
these steps:

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.

2. Click the More option.
3. Click the Settings option.

4. Click the Backup tab.

5. Click the Manage backup button.

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6. Select the folders that you want to backup online.
7. Click the Start backup button.

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Or you can connect an external drive and manually make a copy of your account files
using these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.

2. Click on This PC from the left pane.
3. Browse to the following path:

C:\Users

4. Right-click your user folder and select the Copy option.

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 5. Open the folder location on the external drive.
6. Right-click and select the Paste option.

Once you complete the steps, you may need to repeat the instructions to backup the
files for the remaining accounts (if applicable).

Also, make sure to note the installed applications and their product keys as necessary to
reinstall them after the process.

If you're not already saving your passwords and bookmarks with an online service, it's
now a good time to export your browser credentials and links.

Downloading essential device drivers

Although the Windows 10 setup can detect and install most device drivers, you want to
download at least the most important drivers ahead of time, such as for the graphics
card, and Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter, in case they're not detected during the installation.

If you need assistance, you can use our guide on how to install device drivers on
Windows 10.

Also, below you'll find a list of websites from the most popular computer manufacturers
to download the latest device drivers.

Understanding system requirements for Windows 10

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While trying to upgrade a device already running Windows 10, the chances are that the
new version will be compatible with the current hardware. If you're planning to upgrade
an older computer running Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, it's
recommended to make sure that your device meets the minimum requirements.

These are the minimum requirements to install the Windows 10 May 2019 Update and
later releases:

Processor: 1GHz or System on a Chip (SoC)

Memory: 1GB for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit
Storage: 32GB for 64-bit or 32-bit
Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
Display: 800x600

You can use these instructions to learn the steps to check your device technical
specifications to make sure that you can install Windows 10.

An internet connection is also recommended, but not a requirement to download and

install updates.

Verifying activation of Windows 10

When you're planning to upgrade to the latest feature update or start fresh with a clean
copy of Windows 10, it's not necessary to re-enter the product key during the setup. The
OS will activate again automatically after the installation using your internet connection.

However, Windows 10 will only re-activate if the previous installation was properly
activated before the installation. Before you proceed with the clean installation process,
you should verify that your device is activated using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Activation.
4. Under the "Windows" section, confirm that your computer is activated.

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After you complete the steps, if your current setup is activated, then Windows 10 should
re-activate automatically after the installation.

Obtaining product key of Windows 10

If you're about to install Windows 10 on a new computer, or you're trying to upgrade
Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, you'll need to purchase a valid license from the Microsoft
Store, Amazon, or another retailer.

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Setting correct boot order

Before you can start your computer with a USB bootable media to perform a clean
installation of Windows 10, you may need to configure the Basic Input/Output System
(BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on your motherboard to change
the boot order to boot from USB.

Change boot order using BIOS

To change the boot order on BIOS-based systems, use these steps:

1. Start your computer.

2. During boot, hit one of the function keys (F1, F2, F3, F10, or F12), the ESC, or Delete
key.
3. While inside the BIOS, get to the Boot settings.
4. Set the boot order to start from the USB media with the Windows 10 installation
files.

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 5. Save the changes.

Once you complete the steps, your computer will be able to start from the USB bootable
media.

Change boot order using UEFI

If you're dealing with a UEFI, then the steps to change the boot order will also be
different.

Access UEFI on Windows 10

On Windows 10, to access the UEFI environment to configure your device to boot from
USB, use these steps:

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

5. Click the Troubleshoot button.

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6. Click on Advanced options.

7. Click the UEFI Firmware Settings option.

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 8. Click the Restart button.

9. While inside the firmware, get to the Boot settings.

10. Set the boot order to start from the USB media with the Windows 10 installation
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 files.

11. Save the changes.

After you complete the steps, your UEFI-based system running Windows 10 should be
able to boot from USB.

Access UEFI on Windows 8.1

On Windows 8.1, to access the UEFI environment to configure your device to boot from
USB, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update and recovery.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Under the "Advanced Startup" section, click the Restart now button.

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5. Click the Troubleshoot option.

6. Click on Advanced options.

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7. Click the UEFI Firmware Settings option.

8. Click the Restart button.

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 9. While inside the firmware, get to the Boot settings.
10. Set the boot order to start from the USB media with the Windows 10 installation
files.

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 11. Save the changes.

Once you complete the steps, the device should be able to start from the USB bootable
to proceed with a clean installation of Windows 10.

Disconnecting non-essential peripherals

Peripherals connected to your device usually cause problems during the installation
process. As a result, it's recommended to disconnect non-essential peripherals, including
removable storage and other USB and Bluetooth devices as well as printers, scanners,
cameras, and others.

When performing a clean install of Windows 10, you only need a monitor, keyboard,
mouse, and an internet connection. After the process, you can always reconnect the
peripherals again.

How to create USB bootable media for a clean install of

Windows 10
When performing a clean installation of Windows 10, you'll need a USB media, which you
can create using the Media Creation Tool or third-party tools like Rufus.

Using Media Creation Tool

To create a Windows 10 setup media using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool, connect a
USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and then use these steps:

1. Open Windows 10 download page.

2. Under the "Create Windows 10 installation media" section, click the Download
tool now button to save the file on your device.

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3. Double-click the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file to launch the tool.
4. Click the Accept button to agree to the Microsoft terms.
5. Select the Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for
another PC option.

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 6. Click the Next button.
7. Clear the Use the recommended options for this PC option (if applicable).
8. Select the correct language, architecture, and edition of Windows 10.

Quick tip: If you plan to install Windows 10 on multiple computers running the 32-
bit or 64-bit architecture, then use the "Architecture" drop-down menu and select
the Both option.

9. Click the Next button.

10. Select the USB flash drive option.

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11. Click the Next button
12. Select the flash drive from the list.

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 13. Click the Next button.
14. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the Media Creation Tool will download the required files
and create a bootable media that you can use to start your device and install Windows
10.

Using Rufus
If the Media Creation Tool isn't working, you can use the Rufus tool to create an
installation media.

In the case that you don't have a Windows 10 ISO file, you can also use Rufus to
download the ISO and create the bootable USB flash media.

To begin, connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and then use these steps:

1. Open Rufus download page.

2. Under the "Download" section, click the latest release of the tool to save the file on
your device.

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3. Double-click the Rufus-x.x.exe file to launch the tool.
4. Under the "Device" section, select the USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space.
5. Under the "Boot selection" section, click the down arrow button next to the
"Select" option on the right and click the Download button.

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 6. Click the Download button.
7. Use the "Version" drop-down menu and select Windows 10.
8. Click the Continue button.
9. Select the 19H1 (Build 18362.xxx) option to download the Windows 10 May 2019
Update.
10. Click the Continue button.
11. Use the "Edition" drop-down menu and select the Windows 10 Home/Pro option.
12. Click the Continue button.
13. Use the "Language" drop-down menu and select your installation language.
14. Click the Continue button.
15. Use the "Architecture" drop-down menu and select the 32-bit or 64-bit (usually
recommended).
16. Click the Download button.

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17. Select a folder location to download the ISO file.
18. Click the Save button.

19. Use the "Image option" drop-down menu to select the Standard Windows
installation option.
20. Use the "Partition scheme" drop-down menu to select the GPT option.
21. Use the "Target system" drop-down menu to select the UEFI (non CSM) option.

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 22. Under the "Show Advanced drive properties" section, leave the default settings.
23. Under the "Volume label" field, enter a descriptive name for the drive — for
example, "win10_usb."
24. Under the "File system" and "Cluster size" section, leave the default settings.
25. Click the Show advanced format options button.
26. Select the "Quick format" and "Create extended label and icon files" options.
27. Click the Start button.
28. Click the OK button to confirm.
29. Click the Close button.

After you complete the steps, Rufus will run the script to download the ISO file, and it'll
create the bootable media to perform a clean install of Windows 10.

How to perform a clean install of Windows 10

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Once you performed the recommended preparations and created the USB bootable
media, then you can proceed with the steps to do a clean installation of Windows 10.

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

Windows 10 clean installation

To do a clean installation of Windows 10, connect the bootable media, and use these
steps:

1. Start the device with the USB flash drive.

2. On prompt, press any key to boot from media.
3. On the "Windows Setup," click the Next button.

4. Click the Install now button.

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5. Type the product key if this is the first Windows 10 install. If you're reinstalling the
OS, you can click the I don't have a product key option to continue (assuming
that your device was already activated).

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6. Click the Next button.
7. (If applicable) Select the edition of Windows 10. (This selection has to match the
edition your product key activates.)

8. Click the Next button.

9. Select the I accept the license terms option to continue.

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10. Click the Next button.
11. Click on the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option.

12. Select the partition with the current installation of Windows (usually "Drive 0"), and
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 click the Delete button.

Quick tip: If "Drive 0" has multiple partitions, you can select and delete each of the
partitions to allow the setup to use the entire drive for the installation. Windows 10
will create the required partitions automatically during the process. It's not
necessary to delete the partitions on secondary drives.

13. Click the Yes button.

14. Select the empty drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).

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 15. Click the Next button.

Once you complete the steps, the setup will proceed with the fresh installation of
Windows 10 on your computer.

Windows 10 out-of-box experience (OOBE)

After the installation is complete, you'll need to go through the out-of-box experience to
create a new account and configure your environment.

In this guide, we're following the out-of-box experience available with version 1903 (May
2019 Update), but depending on the release that you're installing, the steps may be
slightly different.

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

1. Select your Region.

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2. Click the Yes button.
3. Select your keyboard layout.

4. Click the Yes button.

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5. Click the Skip button. (Unless you need to add a second keyboard layout.)

6. Click the Set up for personal use option.

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 7. Click the Next button.
8. Type your Microsoft account information.

9. Click the Next button.

10. Type your Microsoft account password. Or if you already use your phone to sign in
to Microsoft services, you can click the Use the Microsoft Authenticator app
instead option.

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11. Click the Next button.
12. Click the Create PIN button.

13. Create your new four-digit sign-in PIN. (If you want to create a complex PIN, you
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 can check the Include letters and symbols option.)

Quick tip: If you want to continue using a traditional password, click the Cancel
button to skip the process.

14. (Optional) If you wish to enable Timeline to access your activity history across
devices, click the Yes button. Otherwise, click the No button. Using this option,
you'll still be able to access your activities, but it'll only show four days of worth
activities, and they won't sync across devices.

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15. (Optional) You can type your phone number and then click the Send button to link
your phone with your computer. If you want to skip this option, click the Do it later
button in the bottom left corner of the screen.

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16. (Optional) Click the Next button to set up OneDrive. If you use another cloud
service or you're not interested in uploading your files to the cloud, click the Only
save files to this PC option in the bottom left corner of the screen.

17. (Optional) Check the Let Cortana respond to "Hey Cortana" option to use the
assistance hands-free.
18. Click the Accept button to allow Microsoft to collect personal information to make
Cortana more personal. If you're not interested in this feature, click the Decline
button to continue.

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19. Select your privacy settings (and don't forget to scroll down to the page to review
all the available settings).
20. Click the Accept button.

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After you complete the steps, the settings you selected will apply to the installation, and
the desktop should now appear.

Windows 10 after-installation tasks

Once the installation is complete, you want to make sure that the Windows 10 is properly
activated, the latest updates are installed, and you want to ensure that every device was
correctly recognized.

Check activation
To confirm that Windows 10 activated successfully, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Activation.
4. If Windows 10 activated successfully, you'll see one of the following messages:

Windows is activated with a digital license: The installation has been

activated, but the license 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.

In the case that Windows 10 didn't activate, you can use the Activation Troubleshooter to
resolve the issue.

Check for updates

To make sure that your device has the latest security and maintenance patches, use
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these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Check for updates button.

If there's an update available, it'll download and install automatically.

Check device drivers

To confirm that the hardware and peripheral drivers were correctly detected, use these
steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Confirm that none of the devices have a yellow or red mark, and make sure
nothing is listed as unknown.

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In the case that one or multiple devices have problems, make sure to download and
install the latest drivers from your computer manufacturer's support website.

You can use this guide to install device drivers on Windows 10.

Additional tasks
Additional post installation tasks, include downloading and installing apps, such as ,
Mozilla Firefox, or Opera to browse the web.

If you use Spotify or iTunes to listen to tunes while working on your computer, you can
download these apps and other from Microsoft Store.

Also, it's now a good time to download and install the suite of Office apps to start
working with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and managing your emails with Outlook.

Finally, if you created a backup of your files, you can now reconnect the external drive to
restore your files to your account folders. (You can quickly open your account folders
using the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut, using this path %HOMEPATH%, and
clicking the OK button.)

If you backed up your files using OneDrive, the files should already be available through
the OneDrive folder.

Wrapping things up

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While you can start a fresh installation of Windows 10 using the Media Creation tool,
using this approach has its limitations, and there are more chances of running into
issues. If you want to make sure that you're performing a true clean installation, using
the bootable media is the recommended option.

More Windows 10 resources

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

Mauro recommends all these affordable accessories

Hi, I'm Mauro Huculak, Windows Central's help and how-to guru. I wrote the post you're
reading now, and I know the Windows OS inside and out. But I'm also a bit of a hardware
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I know mice, and this is the one I use every day. The MX Master is a wireless high-
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Ktrio Extended Gaming Mouse Pad ($12 at Amazon)
If you spend a lot of time typing, your palms and mouse will leave tracks on your desk.
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Supernight LED light strip ($20 at Amazon)
You could just use a regular light bulb in your office, but if you want to add some
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