08-01-2020 , 08:02 PM
If you're having problems with Windows 10 on your PC or you want a fresh copy of Windows 10 without the clutter of old files or apps, you can reinstall Windows 10 to try and fix your issues and return your PC to a cleaner state.
Check your disk space
If your PC isn't performing as expected or if you're having issues with Windows 10, it may be because of low disk space. Before you reinstall Windows 10, try freeing up disk space to see if that helps. For more info, see Free up drive space in Windows 10.
Before you begin
Make sure you back up your data
Make sure Windows 10 is activated
You’ll need to link your Microsoft account to your digital license before you reinstall Windows
You'll need to reactivate Windows 10 if you've made a significant hardware change to your PC
You’ll need to reinstall the edition of Windows that matches your license
Make sure you back up your data
If you have personal data and files that you want to save, back them up to an external hard drive, USB thumb drive, SD card, or cloud location (such as OneDrive) before you begin to reinstall Windows 10.
Make sure Windows 10 is activated
Windows 10 must be activated after it’s reinstalled. Usually this happens automatically after you go online. For more info, see "Activating after reinstalling Windows 10" in Activation in Windows 10.
Note
If Windows 10 was activated on your device after upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you have a digital license for Windows 10 that can automatically activate Windows 10 after you reinstall it. For more info, see "Activating after reinstalling Windows 10" in Activation in Windows 10.
You’ll need to link your Microsoft account to your digital license before you reinstall Windows
In Windows 10 (version 1607 or later), you must link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 digital license on your PC before you can reactivate Windows. For more info, see "Associate your Windows 10 license with your Microsoft account" in Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.
You'll need to reactivate Windows 10 if you've made a significant hardware change to your PC
If you reinstall Windows 10 after you make a significant hardware change to your PC (such as replacing the motherboard), it may no longer be activated. If you were running Windows 10 (Version 1607) before the hardware change, you can use the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows.
Note
If you weren't running Windows 10 before making the hardware change, or if the troubleshooter can't re-activate Windows, contact support.
You’ll need to reinstall the edition of Windows that matches your license
When you reinstall Windows 10, you'll need to select the edition of Windows that matches your digital license. For example, if you’re running Windows 10 Home, you’ll need to install Windows 10 Home again.
Types of reinstalls for Windows 10
The following chart provides info about the different options that you can choose for each type of reinstall including what happens to your apps, files, personal data, and how much disk space is required for the reinstall. Use this chart to help you decide which option to use to reinstall Windows 10.
We recommend that you first try to "Reset Windows 10," then, if needed, "Reinstall Windows 10 using installation media," and then, if needed, try a "Clean install of Windows 10 using installation media."
![[Image: tbTc18Q.png]](https://i.imgur.com/tbTc18Q.png)
Continue reading HERE
Check your disk space
If your PC isn't performing as expected or if you're having issues with Windows 10, it may be because of low disk space. Before you reinstall Windows 10, try freeing up disk space to see if that helps. For more info, see Free up drive space in Windows 10.
Before you begin
Make sure you back up your data
Make sure Windows 10 is activated
You’ll need to link your Microsoft account to your digital license before you reinstall Windows
You'll need to reactivate Windows 10 if you've made a significant hardware change to your PC
You’ll need to reinstall the edition of Windows that matches your license
Make sure you back up your data
If you have personal data and files that you want to save, back them up to an external hard drive, USB thumb drive, SD card, or cloud location (such as OneDrive) before you begin to reinstall Windows 10.
Make sure Windows 10 is activated
Windows 10 must be activated after it’s reinstalled. Usually this happens automatically after you go online. For more info, see "Activating after reinstalling Windows 10" in Activation in Windows 10.
Note
If Windows 10 was activated on your device after upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you have a digital license for Windows 10 that can automatically activate Windows 10 after you reinstall it. For more info, see "Activating after reinstalling Windows 10" in Activation in Windows 10.
You’ll need to link your Microsoft account to your digital license before you reinstall Windows
In Windows 10 (version 1607 or later), you must link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 digital license on your PC before you can reactivate Windows. For more info, see "Associate your Windows 10 license with your Microsoft account" in Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.
You'll need to reactivate Windows 10 if you've made a significant hardware change to your PC
If you reinstall Windows 10 after you make a significant hardware change to your PC (such as replacing the motherboard), it may no longer be activated. If you were running Windows 10 (Version 1607) before the hardware change, you can use the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows.
Note
If you weren't running Windows 10 before making the hardware change, or if the troubleshooter can't re-activate Windows, contact support.
You’ll need to reinstall the edition of Windows that matches your license
When you reinstall Windows 10, you'll need to select the edition of Windows that matches your digital license. For example, if you’re running Windows 10 Home, you’ll need to install Windows 10 Home again.
Types of reinstalls for Windows 10
The following chart provides info about the different options that you can choose for each type of reinstall including what happens to your apps, files, personal data, and how much disk space is required for the reinstall. Use this chart to help you decide which option to use to reinstall Windows 10.
We recommend that you first try to "Reset Windows 10," then, if needed, "Reinstall Windows 10 using installation media," and then, if needed, try a "Clean install of Windows 10 using installation media."
Continue reading HERE