If you don’t have a Windows 10 install disc of some sort, you’ll need to follow Steps 1 to 6 of our How to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 guide, but don’t go any further than. On computers running Windows 7 or earlier, follow our guide to reinstalling Windows — either from a Windows installation disc or your computer’s integrated recovery partition. If you have sensitive data that was once stored on the drive, be sure to wipe the drive using a tool above before reinstalling the operating system. Second, you want to wipe out the drive using a secure method to make sure you've removed your personal information and applications beyond recovery, and install a clean copy of Windows 10 to. Here's how to reset your Windows 10 PC. Resetting your PC or restoring to an earlier state can clean out any pesky background programs and wipe your computer's hard drive of any. Jan 31, 2019 How to erase my hard drive and start over. On the 'Do you want to fully clean your drive' screen. To restore a Windows 7 or Vista computer, you must have a set of restore discs for the computer or an original Windows 7 or Vista installation disc. If you do not have a set of restore discs, you will need to contact the computer.
Why would you want to reinstall Windows 10 completely?
Perhaps you're selling or giving away your PC, and you want to make sure all your apps, settings, files, event history, and other personal information is safely erased so the new owner can get a fresh start.
Or maybe you're experiencing a pesky problem and rather than spend hours troubleshooting you just want to start with a clean installation of Windows.
In either case, the Reset option is a great alternative to the old-fashioned clean install. This feature, which has been significantly refined since its debut in Windows 8, lays down a completely new copy of your current Windows version, without any third-party drivers or software that might be causing problems.
You don't need any installation media or product keys, and you don't have to fuss with BIOS settings to boot from an alternative device.
You can't reset your PC by accident. The process involves at least four steps that require choices on your part, with one final confirmation that lays out in very clear terms exactly what's about to happen. You can back out at any time before you click that last button.
To start, go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery. Under the Reset this PC heading, click Get Started.
In the first set of options, choose Keep My Files (best choice if you're planning to reuse the PC yourself) or Remove Everything (if you're turning the device over to someone else).
If you choose to remove all files, the next option allows you to wipe the empty space those files occupied so they can't be recovered using disk utility software.
After making those choices, click the Reset button on the final summary page. The reset operation doesn't take long, and when the process is complete you can sign in (or set up a new account), restore your apps, and get back to work without any cruft from your old installation.
How To Wipe Windows 10 Laptop
Windows will automatically download and install the most recent cumulative update to complete the installation.
How To Wipe Computer Clean Windows 10 Temp Files
One bonus if you choose the option to keep your files: The Reset option puts a neatly formatted file on the desktop when you sign back in, telling you which desktop apps were removed. Use that list as a cheat sheet for reinstalling your favorite programs.
Previous tip: Monitor system performance in real time