If you do this before July 29, you can use a Windows 7 or 8 license to activate Windows 10. Note that this method is quite involved, though self-explanatory, so make sure you know what you're doing (or are willing to learn a few new things).Īlso note that installing Windows 10 fresh on a computer by booting from the installation media will require you to buy a new Windows 10 license. Choose to boot the computer from the flash drive and the installation process will start. If you've built your own computer, you can install Windows 10 on it using the flash-drive creation method in the section above. For a custom-build computer (advanced users) After that click Next.įollow the rest of the installation and once it's done, if you have pick the option to keep nothing or just personal files, you will have yourself a clean installation of Windows 10 on your machine. Step 8: In the next step, you can choose to keep Nothing (so that you'll have a truly fresh Windows 10 install), Keep personal files only (your documents, music, photos and so on will remain intact) or Keep personal files, apps or Windows settings (you will not have a clean installation of Windows 10). Step 1: Go to Microsoft's Windows 10 download page and click on Download tool now to get the latest media creation tool. You'll need a drive that's 3GB or larger. I prefer using a USB flash drive (thumb drive) since it works with all computers, including those without an optical drive. Instead make yourself a Windows 10 installation disc.

If your computer still runs Windows 7 or 8, you want to avoid upgrading using Windows Update. Note that resetting your machine in this way means you'll lose the option to roll back to the previous Windows. The computer will restart and after somewhere between 10 minutes to half an hour, or maybe longer depending on the speed of the machine, you will have yourself a computer with Windows 10 freshly installed. If you intend to give it away or sell it after the reset, choose the second option, which will take much longer to complete.Īfter choosing an option, click on the Reset button and that's it. Basically, if you intend to keep the computer for yourself, pick the first option. Step 5: You will be presented with the option to Just remove my files or to Remove files and clean the drive. Only choose to clean the drive if you intend to give away or sell the computer after the reset.

Windows clean reinstall