The factory reset in Windows 11 is the pulverizer of your computer files. Often used as the last resort for a variety of Windows problems, the factory reset also comes handy when you want to reset
your PC, especially when different methods aren’t up to the task. Don’t worry, the method is not that complicated, and will probably only take a few minutes of your time. So let’s jump right in and get started with the factory reset. First, before you even start with the factory reset process, it’s a good idea to have a backup in place. In case things south for whatever reason, a backup insures you’ve something to fall back upon. We’ve covered a detailed
guide on backing up your Windows 11 files before. So be sure to check it out. After you’re done with the backup, you can now move to the factory reset. Here’s how you can get started: As soon you follow through the above steps, the Windows factory reset process will begin. The whole process can take anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour, depending on your hardware specifics. When your new Windows gets installed after the reset, make sure you download all the relevant updates for your operating system. This not only keeps your security settings up to date, but also ensures your PC is aligned with all the changes. Factory resetting your WindowsIf starting up your PC from scratch is what you’re after, then you can't go wrong with the factory reset. Don’t worry, it’s a very common way to format everything nowadays. Simply follow the above steps, and you’ll be done in no time. Just make sure you’ve a solid backup in place before you begin, though. Share This Post:(Image credit: Future) A clean installation of Windows 11 is the process of erasing the hard drive and applying a fresh copy of the OS to configure a new laptop or desktop computer. You can also use this method to resolve issues with an existing setup. For example, a clean install can help fix memory, shutdown, startup, apps, stability, and performance issues. Furthermore, this process can improve battery life and is the best method to get rid of viruses and other types of malware. If you have a new computer, wiping out the current setup and doing a fresh installation is an excellent solution to deal with bloatware that comes preloaded with the original manufacturer image. This method allows you to decommission the device safely without giving away your files. Also, this is typically the approach you will use to install Windows 11 when replacing the hard drive. If you have had the same configuration for a long time, this would be the preferred option to upgrade from an older version (such as Windows 10) while reducing the chances of issues during and after the process. This guide will walk you through the complete process of doing a clean installation, whether you are setting up a new laptop or upgrading from Windows 10 or an older version. How to prepare PC for clean install of Windows 11A clean installation deletes everything on the target drive, which means that taking the necessary precautions to minimize the chances of issues and data loss is a must. If you already have a backup of the computer and files, you have an activation key, or the current setup is already activated, or the device can start from a USB flash drive, and you disconnect non-essential peripherals, then you can skip this part to the bootable media creation and a clean install process. Create backup It's always recommended to have a recent system backup before proceeding with a clean installation to have a way to recover in case something goes wrong. Unless, of course, you do not have anything important you want to keep. (The backup process should be similar on Windows 11, 10, and 8.1.) Backup entire system On Windows 11 or Windows 10, you can choose from many backup solutions. However, the easiest way to create a system backup is to use the legacy System Image Backup tool. The tool is also available for Windows 8.1 and older versions. (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)Backup files to OneDrive If you need to create a backup of your documents, pictures, and other important files, you can upload the data to OneDrive or another cloud storage service. In the case of OneDrive, you can also use the backup settings page to sync your profile folders (Documents, Pictures, and Desktop) to the cloud automatically. To configure OneDrive backup, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, OneDrive will back up the files inside the user profile folders into the cloud and across computers. Back up files to external storage If you have a lot of files, uploading them to the could take a long time and turn out expensive. The alternative best option would be copying the files to an external USB hard drive. To create a file backup manually, connect a drive with enough storage, and use these steps:
After you complete the steps, repeat the instructions to back up the remaining accounts (if applicable). In addition to making a copy of your files, creating a list of the installed programs with their respective product keys (if applicable) is recommended to know which apps you need to reinstall in the new setup. If you usually do not sync passwords and bookmarks with an online service, exporting your browser credentials and links is a good time. If you are in the market for a new external drive, we recommend the Western Digital My Book Desktop because of its portability, capacity, and price. Western Digital My Book Desktop Bulk storage Look no further than the Western Digital My Book Desktop if you're in the market for an external drive to store file backups. Get up to 18TB of storage, protect your files with hardware encryption, and connect with USB-A 3.0 for fast file transfers. Check activation of Windows 10 Once Windows 11 or 10 has been properly activated, the product key is no longer necessary in future installations for the same computer. After the installation, Windows will (at some point) reactivate automatically. To confirm whether Windows 10 is correctly activated, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, Windows 11 should automatically reactivate after the clean installation. Check activation for Windows 11 If you plan to reinstall Windows 11, you can use these steps to confirm the activation:
Once you complete the steps, the new installation will reactivate automatically. Check Windows 8.1 activation If you happen to have Windows 8.1 and the device is compatible with Windows 11, you can use these steps to confirm the activation:
Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will reactivate automatically. Microsoft does not support the upgrade path from Windows 8.1 (or even Windows 7), but you can still install Windows 11 if the device meets the minimum requirements. Obtain a genuine key on Windows 11 When setting up a new computer that's never had any version of Windows, you will have to purchase a valid license from the Microsoft Store (opens in new tab), Amazon, or another retailer. (Although it's not official, you should be able to activate a new installation with a Windows 11, 10, 8.1, or 7 product key.) Download essential drivers Although Windows 11 does a good job detecting and installing device drivers automatically, it's a good idea to download the essential ones before the process (for example, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and graphics) as a precaution if the installation fails to add these drivers correctly. Typically, this is not an issue with branded devices (Dell, HP, etc.), but this could be a problem for custom builds. You can use our guide to install device drivers on Windows 11. Here's a list of websites from the most popular manufacturers to download the latest device drivers.
Since Windows 11 is based on Windows 10, virtually any driver designed for the latest version of Windows 10 should be theoretically compatible with Windows 11. Confirm Windows 11 requirements Although you may have a computer already running Windows 10, it does not necessarily mean it will run Windows 11. Microsoft has increased the minimum hardware requirements to ensure security, performance, and stability. Here are the minimum requirements to install Windows 11:
In addition to the requirements, the installation will also require an internet connection and a Microsoft account to complete the initial setup. These requirements apply to Windows 11 Home and Pro. Manually compatibility check To check the basic hardware specs, use these steps:
You can also check your laptop or desktop hardware specifications on the manufacturer's support website. In addition, you will also need to ensure that the computer has enabled the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. You can complete this task with these instructions. Secure Boot is also a requirement and must be enabled to run Windows 11. You can use this guide to check the feature state and the steps to turn it on as necessary. PC Health Check app Alternatively, you can also use the PC Health Check app to determine whether your device can run Windows 11. To confirm your computer will run Windows 11, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, you will know whether your PC can handle the new version. If there's a check that the computer didn't pass, use the available links in the app to find out what you can do to remedy the block. Change boot order on firmware and enable TPM and Secure Boot You also have to make sure the computer can start from a USB flash drive. If this is not the case, you will need to change the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on the motherboard. Also, if necessary, you can use these steps to enable TPM and Secure Boot. Change boot order using UEFI On devices already running Windows 11, 10, or 8.1, you can access the settings to change the boot order from within the desktop environment. UEFI settings on Windows 11 To change the UEFI boot settings on Windows 11, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the device will be able to start from the USB bootable media, and then you can proceed with the setup. UEFI settings on Windows 10 To change the UEFI boot settings on Windows 10, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the computer should now be able to start from a USB bootable media. UEFI settings on Windows 8.1 To change the UEFI boot settings on Windows 8.1, use these steps:
After completing the steps, the computer can start from the bootable USB drive to continue the clean installation process. Configure boot order using UEFI If you do not have access to the desktop environment of Windows, you can change the boot order with these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the computer should be able to boot from the Windows 11 USB flash drive. Disconnect non-essential peripherals Peripherals connected to the computer can cause problems during the installation process. If you have non-essential peripherals (such as removable storage and other USB and Bluetooth devices, as well as printers, scanners, cameras, and others), it is a good idea to remove them. During the clean installation, 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 do not cause any issues. How to create USB for clean install of Windows 11On Windows 11, you will need a USB bootable media to perform a clean installation, which you can easily create using many tools, including the Microsoft Media Creation Tool and Rufus. Create Windows 11 USB with Media Creation Tool To create an installation media using the Media Creation Tool, connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the application will download the files and create an installation media, which you can then use to boot the device and proceed with a fresh copy of Windows 11. Create Windows 11 USB with Rufus You can also use the Rufus tool to create the installation media. Rufus is a free tool with many options to help you create a bootable media of Windows 11, 10, or 8.1 faster. However, it's important to remember that it's a third-party option, which Microsoft does not support. As such, use it at your own risk. To use Rufus to create a Windows 11 USB installer, connect a flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and then use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, Rufus will download the ISO file from the Microsoft servers and create the bootable installation media. How to perform clean install of Windows 11The Windows 11 installation has two parts. The first is the setup, and the second is the out-of-box experience (OOBE). In the first part, you will configure some basic settings, select the target drive, configure the partitions, and begin the clean installation process. The second part happens after the installation, and it is where you will choose your settings (such as region, keyboard, network), create an account, and confirm your privacy settings. Warning: This is another friendly reminder that this process will erase everything on the computer. Before proceeding, making a temporary full backup of your PC is always recommended. Windows 11 clean install process After the preparation instructions, you will be ready to proceed with the clean install of Windows 11. To do a clean installation of Windows 11, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the setup will install a fresh copy of Windows 11 on computer. If you plan to get rid of the device, you can stop and let the new owner go through the out-of-box experience. However, if you're upgrading the system, continue with the instructions below. Windows 11 out-of-box experience After the installation, you must continue with the OOBE to choose your preferences and create a new account. To complete the out-of-box experience on Windows 11, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the process will apply the settings and direct you to the Windows 11 desktop. How to complete setup after install of Windows 11After the installation, you should download any available system and driver updates and confirm that Windows 11 is properly activated. Install updates To check for updates on Windows 11, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the available updates will download and install automatically. Check missing drivers To determine whether device drivers are missing, use these steps:
If multiple devices have problems, you may need to manually download and install the latest drivers from your computer manufacturer's support website. Install missing drivers Windows Update may also include updates for drivers, but these might be optional installs. If the device is missing one or multiple drivers, you may be able to download them from Windows Update. To download missing drivers using Windows Update, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install the missing drivers automatically. Confirm activation To confirm Windows 11 was activated correctly, use these steps:
If the installation is not activated, the system will try to reactivate at a later time. Reinstall apps Once you complete the post-installation steps, it's time to reinstall your applications, including your favorite web browsers, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera (opens in new tab), to browse the web if different from Microsoft Edge. If you use Spotify (opens in new tab) or iTunes (opens in new tab) to listen to tunes while working or surfing the internet, you can download these apps and others from the Microsoft Store. Also, you should now download and install the suite of Office apps (opens in new tab) to start working with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Restore files from backup If you created a backup, you could now restore the files on the new installation. If you are using OneDrive, the files should already be syncing to your device. However, if the app did not configure automatically, you can use this guide. In the case that the backup you created is located on an external drive, then connect the drive to the computer and restore the data. To restore files from a previous backup on Windows 11, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the files will restore in the location you specified. While there are multiple ways to approach a clean installation, these methods are limited and don't always work as expected. If you want to start from scratch with a fresh copy of Windows 11, booting up the computer with a USB flash drive is your best option. More Windows resourcesFor more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community. How do I format my computer Windows 11?Reset your PC. Select Start > Settings > System > Recovery . Open Recovery settings.. Next to Reset this PC , select Reset PC. Then choose from the options and/or settings in the table below.. How do I reinstall Windows 11 and delete everything?How to Factory Reset Windows 11. Click Settings. ... . Scroll down to "Recovery" in the System menu. ... . Click "Reset PC" next to the "Reset this PC option." ... . Choose whether to keep your files or remove everything. ... . Pick how to reinstall Windows 11. ... . Approve the settings and click "Next." ... . Click "Reset" one last time to confirm.. Can I uninstall and reinstall Windows 11?Reinstall Windows 11 on your computer to get a fresh start without losing your files. To reinstall Windows 11, click the Reset PC button on Settings > System > Recovery. The feature allows you to perform a full reinstallation keeping your data or removing everything.
How do you format only C drive and install Windows 11?How to Format C Drive in Windows 11/10?. 1 Use Windows Setup or External Storage Media to Format C. ... . 2 Use System Repair Disc to Format C. ... . 3 Use Recovery Console. ... . 4 Use a Diagnostic and Repair Utility. ... . 5 Use a Data Destruction Program to Delete the Drive's Data.. |