How to Reinstall Windows 10?

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How to Reinstall Windows 10?

19 January 2021 Ashley S. Miller Specialist of Customer Service Dept.

Summary
Reinstalling Windows is a useful solution to fixing most of issues on PC when you fail to solve the problems through the other methods. In this essay, we will talk about how to reinstall Windows 10 in detail.

Contents

Part 1: About Windows 10 Reinstallation

Part 2: Back up/Transfer Data before Reinstallation: 1. Upload to OneDrive; 2. Back up with Renee Becca; 3. Transfer Data with Renee PassNow (for Unbootable Windows)

Part 3: How to Reinstall Windows 10: Method 1: Reset Windows 10; Method 2: Reinstall Windows 10 from Boot Media; Method 3: Back up Windows 10 with Renee Becca

Part 1: About Windows 10 Reinstallation

Whether your PC is crashed or affected by virus and Trojan programs, the system files will be damaged, and even the system will be unbootable. Or, it is running slower and slower. All these problems can be solved through system reinstallation. Reinstalling Windows can optimize the system, recover the original status and solve various system issues. When the problem is hard to be solved, try to reinstall the system.

Reinstalling Windows 10 can solve the following problems:

The Start menu has no response.
The Metro UI cannot be used.
The system files are damaged by virus.
Windows is updated improperly.
The other methods fail to fix the issues on Windows.
The computer is running slowly.
The system is frequently crashed.

Before reinstallation, you should make these preparations:

Back up data – All programs and files on the partitions will be emptied during reinstallation. Please back up your important files beforehand.
Enough time – It takes a long time to reinstall the whole system. You should spare enough time for the operations.
Make association between Windows product key and Microsoft account – It is a way to verify and activate your system.

TipsAccording to Microsoft, if Windows 10 has been activated in a PC, it can be reinstalled without the product key in the same device.

How to link Windows product key with your Microsoft account:

① Open [Windows Settings] > [Update & Security] > [Activation]. Ensure the current edition has been activated.

select update and security in windows settings

② Return to [Windows Settings] and click [Accounts] > [Your info] > [Manage my Microsoft account]. Follow the tips to log in the Microsoft account.

Windows 10 Microsoft account

③ Enter into [Update & Security] and click [Activation] again. The words [Windows has been activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account] mean you have made association between Windows and your Microsoft account. If you don’t see these words, please restart the computer.

check whether windows is activated

Part 2: Back up/Transfer Data before Reinstallation

Next, we should make preparations for Windows 10 reinstallation. Since all contents will be emptied from the complete reinstallation process, we suggest you to create temporary backup files for these contents.

1. Upload to OneDrive

There are many backup ways, such as OneDrive. OneDrive, the cloud storage services introduced by Microsoft, supports users of Windows PC and phone to save and sync files. Through OneDrive, we can back up the important files, such as document, desktop and pictures. Now, it includes a free tier that offers 5GB of file storage.

How to back up with OneDrive:

① If you’re prompted to back up your important folders (desktop, documents, and pictures), select the prompt to start the folder backup wizard.

If you didn’t see the prompt or you already closed the wizard, select the white or blue cloud icon in the Windows notification area, and then select [More] > [Settings], then [Backup] > [Manage backup].

set to back up files and folders to onedrive when no windows 10 recovery disk

② In the [Back up your folders] dialog, make sure the folders that you want to back up are selected and then select [Start backup].

upload files and folders to onedrive and backup

2. Back up with Renee Becca

If your computer runs normally, Renee Becca is also a useful tool for backup. Compared with OneDrive, it back up files quickly but also has no limitation of the backup space. The backup file storage only depends on the available disk space. Through the simple operations, you can fully protect your important files, such as emails, photos, videos, documents and bookmarks.

Professional Data Backup & Restore Software - Renee Becca data bacup software Renee Becca

Provides multiple functions like backup, restore, clone, system migration.

Clone all data (including system) in HDD to smaller SSD or larger HDD. Disk could boot PC after clone finished.

Supports to migrate Windows to SSD with a few clicks.

4K alignment will be processed when clone disk, migrate system, restore disk or system.

Backup & restore system/disk/folder. Auto backup plans are available.

Provides functions like backup, restore, clone, system migration.

Clone all data (including system) in HDD to smaller SSD or larger HDD.

Backup & restore system/disk/folder. Auto backup plans are available.

Compatible with: Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / 2008 / 2012(32bit/64bit) / Server 2008

Free Trial Free Trial

5000 people have download and make the disk clone successfully!

Steps:

① Download and install Renee Becca. Open the software and click [Backup] > [File Backup].

② Select the target files and the destination for storage. Then, click [Backup]. We suggest you save the backup files in the external disk.

Renee Becca offers several backup scheme types, including version chain mode, single version mode, full mode, incremental mode and differential mode. You can select one of them based on your needs.

In addition, you can set the auto schedule to back up files at the specific time.

③ You can check the backup files in the tab [Task]. After reinstalling the system, you can click [Recovery] to save them into the computer.

3. Transfer Data with Renee PassNow (for Unbootable Windows)

How if you don’t back up any file but the system has been unbootable? Renee PassNow can be used to transfer data.

Steps:

① Download and install Renee PassNow in the normal computer. Then, insert a USB/CD into the computer.

② Create a boot USB/CD. After that, connect the boot USB/CD into the target computer.

③ Restart the computer and press the hot key (F2 or DEL) to enter into BIOS/UEFI. Then, change the boot order as the USB/CD.

④ As Renee PassNow appears, select [Data Transfer].

⑤ Select the files to transfer.

When you’ve made these preparations fully, you can begin to reinstall Windows 10. Next, we will introduce 3 ways about how to reinstall Windows 10.

Part 3: How to Reinstall Windows 10

Method 1: Reset Windows 10

Windows 10 offers a simple reinstallation way. Users don’t have to download the ISO files or use the boot media but quickly factory reset the system to the original status. But as many users reported, it cannot solve some issues on the computer. If it is not a solution to troubleshoot, you shall try the second method.

Steps:

① Get [Windows Settings] started from the Start menu. Then, select [Update & Security].

select update and security in windows settings

② Click [Recovery] > [Get started] under [Reset this PC].

Reset to format PC or nec laptop in Windows 10

③ In the pop-up window, select [Keep my files] or [Remove everything]. We choose [Keep my files] in this case.

④ You will be notified that all apps are to be removed. Click [Next] to continue.

how to reset windows additional settings

⑤ Finally, click [Reset] to reinstall Windows 10.

confirm to reset this pc but keep the personal files

Method 2: Reinstall Windows 10 from Boot Media

This method is about completely erasing the disk and installing the new Windows 10 edition through boot media. First, you should prepare an external device, such as USB or DVD. By the way, this method is suitable for the unbootable computer.

Check if you get these conditions:

Connect the computer to the network.
Prepare an external device, like USB, DVD or hard drive with at least 8GB.

Step 1: Create installation media

Here are two points for creating a new installation media:

You shall check whether you’ve backed up the important data to the other storage devices (i.e. USB or SD card) or to OneDrive. It is noted that you not save the backup files to the device which is going to be installation media.

You shall prepare a blank USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space or blank DVD (and DVD burner) if you want to create media. We recommend using a blank USB or blank DVD, because any content on it will be deleted.

Steps:

① Download the media creation tool from the Microsoft official site (URL: https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows10). Then, click on [Download tool now].

download Windows 10 installation media tool how to install os on a ssd

② Run the tool and click [Accept] to confirm the license terms.

③ On the [What do you want to do?] page, select [Create installation media for another PC], and then select [Next].

④ Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10. By default, check the item [Use the recommended options for this PC].

how to reinstall windows10 boot install screen

⑤ Select which media you want to use. Click [USB flash drive] and [Next] to continue.

⑥ Insert a USB and click [Next] to create the installation media. Finally, click [Finish] to exit the setup.

Step 2: Reinstall Windows 10

Steps about how to reinstall Windows through the boot media.

① Insert the installation USB when the computer is off. It is noted that the USB shall be inserted into the rear interface in desktop computers and the all-in-one PCs, and into the USB 2.0 interface in the laptops.

② Restart your PC. If your PC does not automatically boot to the USB or DVD media, you might have to open a boot menu or change the boot order in your PC’s BIOS or UEFI settings. To open a boot menu or change the boot order, you’ll typically need to press a key (such as F2, F12, Delete, or Esc) immediately after you turn on your PC.

③ On the [Install Windows] page, select your language, time, and keyboard preferences, and then select [Next] > [Install Windows].

Note: The computer will be restarted for several times during the installation.

Method 3: Back up Windows 10 with Renee Becca

Data on the Windows partitions will be reset after the reinstallation. Therefore, you should install the programs and change the settings again. That is quite time-consuming. What’s more, it is still very difficult for newbies to reinstall the system. We recommend Renee Becca, an easy-to-use tool that reinstalls the system merely through a USB flash drive, without any data lost. Users can back up the whole Windows 10 system and then recover the system to the other computers. Through this method, you don’t need to reinstall the drivers, programs and reset the system.

Professional Data Backup & Restore Software - Renee Becca data bacup software Renee Becca

Provides multiple functions like backup, restore, clone, system migration.

Clone all data (including system) in HDD to smaller SSD or larger HDD. Disk could boot PC after clone finished.

Supports to migrate Windows to SSD with a few clicks.

4K alignment will be processed when clone disk, migrate system, restore disk or system.

Backup & restore system/disk/folder. Auto backup plans are available.

Provides functions like backup, restore, clone, system migration.

Clone all data (including system) in HDD to smaller SSD or larger HDD.

Backup & restore system/disk/folder. Auto backup plans are available.

Compatible with: Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / 2008 / 2012(32bit/64bit) / Server 2008

Free Trial Free Trial

5000 people have download and make the disk clone successfully!

Steps about how to reinstall Windows 10 with Renee Becca:

① Download and install Renee Becca. Launch the software.

② Click [Backup] > [System Backup]. The software will automatically check the version.

③ Select a destination to save the system files. Then, click [Backup].

④ Next, recover the system. When the system is damaged or you need to reinstall the system, you can use the backup files to reinstall. Click [Task] > [Rescue Disc] > create a rescue disc.

⑤ Get the computer started via the boot media. The operation is similar with that of installation media. Click here to get more about how to restore backed up Windows system with Renee Becca.

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