Whatever the reason it might be, on Windows 10, there are at least two ways to erase and start from scratch with a fresh copy of the operating system. You can use the “Reset this PC” feature, which allows you to reset the system to the factory default settings removing everything from all the drives without a USB installation and additional steps. Or you can use a USB bootable media to start the computer to manually wipe out the hard drive and perform a clean installation of the operating system. In this guide, you will learn two methods to securely erase the hard drive and reinstall Windows 10 on your computer.
Reinstall Windows 10 removing everything with Reset this PC Reinstall Windows 10 removing everything with USB flash drive
Reinstall Windows 10 removing everything with Reset this PC
On Windows 10, you can use the “Reset this PC” feature to wipe the hard drive clean and reinstall a fresh copy of the operating system without the need for a USB flash drive. To reinstall Windows 10 deleting everything without a USB flash drive, use these steps: Once you complete the steps, the recovery feature will first download the setup files. Secondly, it will format the drive. Thirdly, and most importantly, it will perform a clean installation of Windows 10 without a key since the device was previously activated. (See also this video tutorial on how to complete this task.) Windows 10 Reset this PC Windows 10 wipe out drive option Windows 10 reinstall with cloud download Reset this PC change settings Wipeout and reinstall settings Windows 10 reinstall current settings
Reinstall Windows 10 removing everything with USB flash drive
Alternatively, you can also start your computer with a USB flash drive to erase the hard drive and perform a clean installation of Windows 10. To format the hard drive and reinstall Windows 10, use these steps: After you complete the steps, the process will wipe out the hard drive, and a clean copy of Windows 10 will install on the device. Also, you will need to complete the out-of-box experience (OOBE) to set up your account and personal settings. However, if you intend to decommission or sell the computer, you do not need to complete the OOBE. Windows 10 setup install now button Windows 10 reinstallation skip product key Select edition of Windows 10 Windows 10 reinstall custom option Wipeout hard drive before Windows 10 install Windows 10 OOBE select region Windows 10 OOBE select keyboard Windows 10 reinstall create account Create pin option. Set new account PIN Windows 10 OOBE privacy settings Enable Timeline Skip phone link Backup files to OneDrive Skip Office install Since the device had an activated version of Windows 10, you won’t need to enter a product key when reinstalling the OS with a USB flash drive. The system will re-activate automatically after the installation. While there are multiple ways to reinstall the operating system, using a USB flash drive is perhaps the best option to complete the process since it allows you to wipe out the drive manually, and the installation process is likely to cause fewer problems than using the reset option. All content on this site is provided with no warranties, express or implied. Use any information at your own risk. Always backup of your device and files before making any changes. Privacy policy info.
