How To Clean Install Windows 7 From Usb

A clean installation of Windows 10 is the process of erasing the hardware and setting upward a new fresh re-create of the platform when a calculator has a problem. For example, yous can resolve performance, memory, startup, shut down, and apps problems using this method. As well, it's maybe the best approach to remove viruses and other types of malware, and it can help to improve battery life.

In addition, it's an excellent solution to remove preloaded bloatware (unnecessary preloaded software) from Windows ten. You can use this method to decommission a computer without giving away your information. Or you tin prepare a new installation after replacing the hard drive.

Furthermore, if you had the aforementioned setup for some fourth dimension, a clean installation is the recommended option to upgrade to the latest version of Windows ten or upgrade from an older version (such as Windows vii and Windows eight.1), minimizing the risks of problems during and after the process.

In this Windows ten guide, we will walk you through the complete process to perform a clean installation.

How to prepare computer for clean install of Windows 10
How to create USB bootable media for clean install of Windows ten
How to perform make clean install of Windows x
How to complete setup after clean install of Windows ten

How to prepare computer for clean install of Windows x

As you ready to go on with a make clean installation of Windows 10, it'due south recommended to complete some essential tasks to minimize problems and potential data loss.

If you already have a backup of the computer and files. Yous take an activation product central. The device can start from a USB flash drive, and not-essential peripherals are asunder, then you can skip this part and jump to the bootable media cosmos and a clean install process.

Create backup

The install process of Windows 10 deletes everything on the drive, which means that backing up the entire device (or at least your files) is a crucial pace unless y'all don't have anything important you want to proceed.

Back up unabridged system

You should create a temporary backup to revert the settings or recover files if something goes wrong during the installation.

Yous can choose many dissimilar solutions, only the easiest fashion to create a total backup is to utilise the legacy Organization Image Backup tool available on Windows 10. Information technology'south a deprecated characteristic, just information technology continues to work. The tool is also available for Windows eight.ane and Windows 7.

Support files to OneDrive

If you need to support your documents, pictures, and other of import files, you lot can upload the data to OneDrive or some other cloud storage service.

In example yous use OneDrive, you can as well employ the backup settings page to sync your contour folders, including Documents, Pictures, and Desktop, to the deject automatically.

To configure OneDrive backup on Windows ten, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Backup.
Under the "Back up files to OneDrive" section, click the Back up files option.

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Click to clear the folder y'all don't want to dorsum up in the deject.
Click the Starting time fill-in button.

Source: Windows Fundamental

In one case y'all consummate the steps, OneDrive will back up the files on the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures user folders in the cloud.

Support files to external storage

If y'all have a lot of data, syncing the files to the cloud can be expensive and take a long fourth dimension, and the available space may not even be enough. If this is the case, perchance the best selection would be to copy the files to an external USB hard drive.

To create a file backup manually, connect an external bulldoze with enough storage infinite to your Windows 10 computer, and utilise these steps:

Open File Explorer.
Blazon the following path in the address bar and press Enter:

%HOMEPATH%

Source: Windows Central
Click the Select all button from the "Domicile" tab.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Click the Copy to push from the "Abode" tab.
Select the Choose location pick.
Select the destination location.

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Copy button.

After you consummate the steps, repeat the instructions to support the remaining accounts (equally necessary). In addition to copying your files, information technology's also a good idea to create a listing of the installed programs with their respective product keys (if applicable) to know the apps to reinstall after the installation.

If you commonly don't sync passwords and bookmarks with an online service, now's a skillful time to export your browser credentials and links as you'll need them after to access your online services.

In case you don't have an external hard drive or one without plenty infinite, we recommend the Western Digital Elements Desktop Hard Bulldoze because of its portability, capacity, and price.

Bank check Windows 10 activation

Although subsequently activating Windows 10, yous no longer have to provide a production key for reinstallation in the same figurer. Once the new installation completes, the organisation will automatically reactivate when it connects to the internet.

To ostend whether Windows 10 is properly activated, utilize these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Activation.
Under the "Windows" section, ostend the activation. If the computer has been properly activated, you'll see one of these messages:
- Windows is activated with a digital license: The installation has been activated, merely it isn't linked to your Microsoft business relationship.
- Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft business relationship: The installation has been activated, and the license is linked to your Microsoft account.
Source: Windows Fundamental

Subsequently you complete the steps, Windows 10 should automatically reactivate after the clean installation if your current setup is activated.

Obtain Windows ten genuine key

If you have to set up an installation on a reckoner that never had an activated version of Windows x, or yous program to upgrade from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, you will take to purchase a valid license from the Microsoft Store, Amazon, or another retailer.

Download essential drivers

Windows ten tin can detect and install most drivers automatically. However, it's usually recommended to download at least the essential drivers before the process (such as for the network adapter and graphics card), as a precaution, in case the setup fails to add these drivers correctly, especially on custom estimator builds.

You tin use our guide to install device drivers on Windows 10.

Here's a listing of the most popular manufacturers to download the latest device drivers:

Dell
HP
Lenovo
ASUS
Acer
Samsung
MSI

Confirm Windows x requirements

If the device already has Windows ten, the following major update most probable volition meet the minimum hardware requirements. Notwithstanding, if you're nigh to upgrade a reckoner running Windows 7 or Windows 8.ane, you want to check that the device meets the minimum requirements.

Hither are the minimum requirements to install the Windows x Nov 2022 Update (and higher):

Processor: 1GHz or System on a Bit (SoC).
Memory: 1GB for 32-flake or 2GB for 64-bit.
Storage: 32GB for 64-bit or 32-bit.
Graphics bill of fare: DirectX 9 or afterward with WDDM 1.0 driver.
Display: 800x600.

Y'all tin utilise these instructions to check the device technical specifications to confirm you can practice a clean install of Windows 10.

Change kick order on firmware

It's too important to brand sure that the computer tin can boot from a USB flash drive. If this is not the case, you lot'll demand to change the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on the motherboard.

Alter boot order using UEFI

On computers already running Windows 10 or viii.1, you tin can access the settings to modify the boot lodge within the desktop interface.

UEFI settings on Windows ten

To change the UEFI settings on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Recovery.
Under the "Avant-garde startup" section, click the Restart at present button.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Troubleshoot push.

Source: Windows Central
Click on Advanced options.

Source: Windows Central
Click the UEFI Firmware Settings option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Restart push.

Source: Windows Central
Inside the motherboard firmware settings, open the Boot page.
Set up the boot order to start from the USB flash drive with the Windows x installation files.

Source: Windows Primal
Save the changes.

After you complete the steps, the estimator should now exist able to offset from a USB bootable media.

UEFI settings on Windows viii.ane

To change the UEFI settings on Windows viii.ane, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update and recovery.
Click on Recovery.
Under the "Advanced Startup" section, click the Restart at present button.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Click the Troubleshoot pick.

Source: Windows Key
Click on Advanced options.

Source: Windows Central
Click the UEFI Firmware Settings option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Restart button.

Source: Windows Central
Inside the motherboard firmware settings, open the Boot page.
Ready the boot order to outset from the USB media with the Windows 10 installation files.

Source: Windows Central
Relieve the changes.

Once y'all complete the steps, the device will first from a USB wink drive to proceed with the installation process.

UEFI settings on Windows vii

To change the UEFI settings on Windows 7, utilise these steps:

Outset the PC.
As soon as it starts, press the F1, F2, F3, F10, F12, Esc, or Delete fundamental to access the firmware.

Quick tip: Y'all may need to check your manufacturer support website for more specific steps to access the firmware settings.
Within the motherboard firmware settings, open up the Kicking page.
Set the kick guild to showtime with the Windows ten installation files from the USB media.

Subsequently you lot consummate the steps, you lot should exist able to start the device using a bootable media.

Configure kick order using BIOS

If you have a legacy BIOS firmware, y'all can change the kicking society with these steps:

Start the PC.
As before long as the computer starts booting up, printing i of the function keys (F1, F2, F3, F10, or F12), Esc, or Delete primal.
Inside the motherboard firmware settings, open the Boot page.
Set the boot order to start with the Windows 10 installation files from the USB media.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Salve the changes.

Once you complete the steps, the computer tin can now offset from the USB wink bulldoze to upgrade to Windows x.

Disconnect non-essential peripherals

Typically, peripherals are among the most common reason for problems during a Windows ten installation. If you have non-essential peripherals connected to the estimator (such equally removable storage and other USB and Bluetooth devices, printers, scanners, cameras, and others), it'due south recommended to disconnect them.

You only need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and internet connection. After the setup, you can reconnect the peripherals (one at a time) to ensure they don't cause whatsoever problems.

How to create USB for clean install of Windows 10

You volition need a USB bootable media to perform a clean installation of Windows 10. You can easily create ane using many tools, including the Microsoft Media Cosmos Tool and Rufus.

Create Windows 10 USB with Media Creation Tool

To create an installation media using the Media Creation Tool, connect a USB flash bulldoze of at least 8GB of space, and use these steps:

Open the Windows ten download folio.
Nether the "Create Windows 10 installation media" department, click the Download tool now button to save the file on the computer.
Double-click the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the Accept push button to agree to the Microsoft terms.
Select the Create installation media (USB wink drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC option.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Next push.
(Optional) Clear the Use the recommended options for this PC option.
Select the right language, architecture, and edition of Windows 10.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the Side by side push.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Adjacent push.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Select the USB wink drive (or click the "Refresh drive list" selection to make it available).

Source: Windows Primal
Click the Adjacent button.
Click the Cease button.

Once you lot complete the steps, the tool will download the files and create an installer with the latest installation files, which you can and so use to start the device and configure a fresh copy of Windows 10.

Create Windows 10 USB with Rufus

Alternatively, the Rufus tool tin can aid you create an installation media for computers with UEFI or BIOS firmware.

Rufus is a free tool with many options to help you create a bootable media of Windows 10 faster. Withal, it'southward important to recollect that it's a third-political party option, which Microsoft does not support. As a outcome, use information technology at your own risk.

To create a Windows 10 USB installer with Rufus, connect a USB flash drive of at to the lowest degree 8GB of space, and then use these steps:

Open the Rufus download page.
Under the "Download" department, click the link to save the latest release on the estimator.

Source: Windows Primal
Double-click the Rufus-x.xx.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the Settings push (3rd button from the left) at the bottom of the page.

Source: Windows Central
Under the "Settings" section, use the Check for updates drop-down menu and select the Daily pick.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: These steps are necessary to enable the option to apply the tool to download the ISO file of Windows ten.
Click the Close button.
Shut the Rufus tool.
Relaunch the Rufus tool.
Under the "Device" section, use the driblet-downwards carte du jour to select the USB flash bulldoze.
Under the "Boot selection" section, click the downwards arrow button on the right and select the Download choice.

Source: Windows Fundamental

Quick tip: If yous already have an ISO file, click the Select button, choose the Windows 10 ISO file, and continue with footstep 24.
Click the Download button.
Utilize the "Version" drop-downward menu and select the Windows 10 option.
Click the Go along button.
Select the 21H2 (Build 19044.thirty - xxxx.xx) selection to download the Windows ten November 2022 Update.

Source: Windows Key
Click the Proceed button.
Utilize the "Edition" drop-down menu and select the Windows 10 Home/Pro option.
Click the Continue button.
Use the "Language" drib-downwardly card and select the installation language.

Quick tip: In the United states, choose the "English" selection, non "English International."
Click the Continue button.
Apply the "Compages" drop-downwardly menu and select the 32-bit or 64-bit (recommended).
Click the Download button.
Select the location to download the ISO file.
Click the Save push button.
Utilize the "Image option" drib-down card to select the Standard Windows installation choice.
Utilise the "Partition scheme" driblet-down menu to select the GPT option.
Apply the "Target system" drop-downward menu to select the UEFI (non CSM) option.

Source: Windows Central

Quick note: If the computer includes a legacy BIOS, select the MBR option for partition scheme and BIOS (or UEFI-CSM) option target arrangement.
Under the "Show Avant-garde drive backdrop" section, don't change the default settings.
(Optional) Nether the "Volume label" field, enter a descriptive proper noun for the drive — for example, "win10_usb."
Under the "File arrangement" and "Cluster size" sections, don't modify the default settings.
Click the Show avant-garde format options button.
Select the Quick format and Create extended label and icon files options.
Click the Commencement button.
Click the OK push to ostend.
Click the Close push.

After you lot consummate the steps, Rufus will download the ISO file from the Microsoft servers, and it'll create the bootable media to perform a make clean install of Windows ten.

How to perform make clean install of Windows ten

The installation process of Windows 10 has two master parts, including the setup and out-of-box experience (OOBE). In the setup procedure, that'due south where yous will select some of the bones settings, and you'll observe the options to erase the difficult drive, configure the partitions, and make clean install Windows 10. The out-of-box experience happens after the setup is complete, and it's the phase where you'll configure your settings, such as region, network, account, privacy, and other settings.

Windows 10 make clean install process

After the preparation, you tin proceed with the clean installation of Windows 10.

Warning: This is another friendly reminder that this procedure will erase everything on the computer. Before proceeding, it's e'er recommended to make a temporary total backup of your PC.

To do a clean installation of Windows 10, use these steps:

Offset the PC with Windows 10 USB media.
On prompt, press whatever central to kick from the USB flash drive.
On the "Windows Setup," click the Side by side button.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If your language, time and currency, and keyboard are dissimilar from the default selections, brand certain to select the right settings.
Click the Install now button.

Source: Windows Central
On a reinstallation, click the I don't have a product key choice to proceed (assuming that your device was already activated). Otherwise, if this is your beginning time installing Windows ten, enter the production key.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Side by side push button.
Select the edition of Windows 10 (If applicable).

Source: Windows Key

Quick note: The option has to match the edition of your production primal. If you don't select the correct edition, Windows 10 won't activate, and you'll have to redo the unabridged process.
Click the Next button.
Select the I take the license terms option to continue.
Click the Next button.
Click the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) pick to continue with a clean installation.

Source: Windows Central
Select the segmentation with the current installation (usually "Drive 0") and click the Delete button.

Quick tip: If "Drive 0" has multiple partitions, you have to select and delete each division to allow the setup to utilise the unabridged difficult bulldoze for the new clean installation. The setup will create the required partitions automatically during the procedure. Also, it's not necessary to delete the partitions on secondary drives.
Click the Aye button.

Source: Windows Central
Select the empty drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the Adjacent button.

One time yous complete the steps, the setup will install a fresh copy of Windows x on the device.

If y'all program to decommission the figurer, yous do not need to continue with the out-of-box feel. If this is an upgrade, continue with the instructions below.

Windows 10 out-of-box experience

After the setup, you lot have to continue with the out-of-box feel to configure your preferences and create a new account.

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

Select your Region selection.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Yep push.
Select your keyboard layout option.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip push button (unless y'all demand to add a second keyboard layout).

Quick annotation: If you don't have a wired network connectedness, you'll have to sign into the wireless network.
Select the Prepare for personal employ option.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Click the Next push.
Confirm your Microsoft account information to create an account.

Source: Windows Central

Quick note: The recommended process is to use a Microsoft account. However, if you want to employ a traditional local account, you'll need to click the Offline account option from the bottom-left corner and continue with the on-screen directions.
Click the Adjacent button.
Confirm your account password.
Click the Next push.
Click the Create Pivot push button.

Source: Windows Key
Create a four-digit Windows Hello PIN.

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If y'all want to go along using a traditional password, click the Cancel button to skip the process.
Select the privacy settings for the device (and don't forget to scroll downward the page to review all the available settings).
Click the Accept button.

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Click the Skip button, or select how you will be using the device to receive targeted ads, tips, and other recommendations and click the Take push button.

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Click the No, thank you button to skip the phone link process.

Source: Windows Fundamental
(Optional) Click the Next button to permit OneDrive to back upward the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to the cloud. If you apply another deject service or prefer not to upload files to the deject, click the Only save files to this PC option in the screen'southward bottom-left corner.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Decline push button to skip the Microsoft 365 setup (as necessary).

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If you have an Part product primal, you lot can click the I have a product key pick, and then the apps will install automatically.
(Optional) Click the Non now button to go along without setting up Cortana.

Source: Windows Primal

Subsequently yous consummate the steps, the settings will apply to the clean installation of Windows x, and yous should be able to see the default desktop experience.

How to complete setup subsequently installation of Windows 10

In one case the installation is consummate, it'due south too good to check that Windows 10 isn't missing any critical updates or drivers and is properly activated.

Install updates

To download and install the latest updates, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Bank check for updates button.

Source: Windows Central

Once you consummate the steps, whatever available updates will automatically download and install. Likewise, a restart may be required to complete the update procedure.

Check missing drivers

To determine whether drivers are missing on Windows ten, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Device Managing director and click the height result to open up the app.
Ostend that none of the devices has a yellow or crimson mark, and make sure zip is listed as unknown.

Source: Windows Central

If some hardware has problems, you may need to manually install the latest drivers from your computer manufacturer's support website. You can utilise this guide to install device drivers on Windows ten.

Install missing drivers

On Windows 10, drivers tin too be part of the optional updates. If the computer doesn't have all the required drivers, you may be able to download them from Windows Update.

To download missing drivers on Windows ten, use these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the View optional updates option. If the option isn't bachelor, it means that Windows Update doesn't have any driver updates for the estimator.

Source: Windows Key
Click the Commuter updates section.
Select the missing driver.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click the Download and install button.

Afterwards y'all complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install the missing drivers automatically.

Confirm activation

To confirm Windows 10 was activated correctly, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Activation.
If Windows 10 is activated successfully, you volition run into one of these messages:
- Windows is activated with a digital license: The installation has been activated, simply information technology 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.
Source: Windows Cardinal

In case Windows ten didn't activate, the device will try to reactivate at a later time. If you're still having issues after a couple of days, y'all tin can use the Activation Troubleshooter to activate.

Reinstall apps

It'southward now time to reinstall the apps, including your preferred spider web browser, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera to scan the spider web.

If you use Spotify or iTunes to listen to tunes while working or surfing the net, you can download these apps and others from the Microsoft Store.

Also, information technology's at present a good time to download and install the Microsoft Office apps to showtime working with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and managing your emails with Outlook.

Restore files from backup

The last thing left to do is to restore your documents from backup. If you previously configured file backup with OneDrive, the data should already be bachelor inside the OneDrive folder, but if the app didn't configure automatically, you can apply this guide.

If you have a backup of your files on an external bulldoze, reconnect the storage to restore the information into the default folders (Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc.).

To restore files from fill-in on Windows ten, use these steps:

Open up File Explorer.
Under the This PC section in the left pane, select the external drive with the file backup.
Select the folders with the file to restore.
Click the Copy to menu from the "Dwelling house" tab.

Source: Windows Central
Select the Choose location selection.
Select the destination to restore the files — for example, the Documents binder.
Click the Re-create button.

After you lot complete the steps, the files will restore to the new location.

Although you can start a clean installation using the Media Creation Tool without a USB media and even the "Reset this PC" choice from the recovery settings, these methods have their limitations and do not always work every bit expected. The bootable media is the culling if y'all want the best possible make clean installation method.

More Windows resources

For more than helpful manufactures, coverage, and answers to common questions near Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
Windows 11 assistance, tips, and tricks
Windows ten on Windows Central — All you need to know

Nosotros may earn a committee for purchases using our links. Learn more.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-installation-windows-10

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