How to Clean Install Windows 10
Windows 10 is finally here, and your computer will automatically prompt you to upgrade. But if you’d rather start from scratch, you can do a clean install – you just have to follow a few steps in the correct order.
Performing a clean install is fairly straightforward as long as you have a valid license. Here’s what you need to do:
- Back up all your data first! A clean install erases everything from your hard drive — apps, documents, and everything else . Therefore, we do not recommend continuing until you have backed up all of your data.
- If you bought a copy of Windows 10 , you will have a license key in the box or in your email. Take this license key and keep it handy. If you were previously a Windows 7 or 8 user , you are eligible for a free upgrade. However, according to Microsoft, in order to do this, you need to update your existing computer. So, even if you want to do a clean install, wait for the Windows 10 update to arrive on your computer and then install the update first. It seems like a waste of time, but it’s the only way to ensure that you get a free license. Once you do this, you don’t need a key – Windows will simply “recognize” your computer from now on, even if you wipe it off the disk. Just skip any prompts for license keys and after installing Windows 10 it should activate automatically. Update November 2015: Microsoft has finally fixed this convoluted process and you no longer need to update your PC to Windows 10 before a clean install. If you are installing the latest build of Windows 10, you can skip this step and follow the instructions below to perform a clean install. When prompted for a key, enter your Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key to activate Windows 10.
- After obtaining a license key or installing a free upgrade to Windows 10, go to this page and download the Microsoft Media Creation Tool. Run it when it finishes downloading.
- Select the option “Create installation media for another PC” and click “Next” (even if you are using the computer on which you are installing Windows 10).
- Select your language and Windows version. If you bought Windows 10, the box or email will tell you which version you have installed. If you upgraded from Windows 7 or 8, you can check which version you have in Control Panel> System and Security> System.
- Choose what media you want to create. We recommend using a USB stick.
- The media creation tool will download and write the installation files for you. When this is done, restart your computer without disconnecting the USB flash drive.
- Boot from a USB stick. This can usually be done by pressing F12 (or a similar key) at startup, and then selecting the USB flash drive from the list that appears. If that does not work, check out this article to learn about the additional opportunities.
- You should be greeted by Windows 10 Installer. Follow the initial prompts and, when prompted, select Custom: Install Windows Only.
- Select the hard drive where you want to install Windows 10. If you are not sure which drive or partition it is, look for the largest one or the one that says “Primary” in the right column. !)
- Click the Format button. (If the Format button is grayed out, click Remove and then New.) Click Next to install Windows to this drive.
- Let the installation wizard guide you through the process.
There may be other methods that work (we are still studying), but this method worked well for me. Once you’ve got Windows 10 installed, just download all your favorite apps and enjoy setting up your new machine!