How to do a clean install of Windows 10 like A Pro |

When your computer is facing some problems on Windows 10, clean installation can be a great option to remove all the things from hard drive of your computer to start from scratch. From enhancing your computer’s performance to resolving issues regarding start-up, shut down, memory and apps this process can help you out. It also helps you to improve your battery life and can remove viruses and any type of malware virtually.

If you are using an older version for a long time a clean Installation can also be used to upgrade to a new version. By doing so, you can minimize the risks of issues caused by incompatible apps and drivers during and after the process of up-gradation. To start afresh with a copy of Windows 10 on a hard drive placement it can be the best option.

In this article, we will browse through the process to devise and execute a clean installation of the OS. You can use this process to upgrade to the Windows 10 or to make the leap from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. This process involves the following 3 steps:

Devise a PC for a clean installation of Windows 10.
For a clean installation of Windows 10 create USB bootable media.
Execute a clean installation of Windows 10.

How to prepare a PC for a clean installation of Windows 10?

Though, a clean installation of Windows 10 is not a complicated process, but some tasks are recommended to perform before installation in order to minimize the risk of issues and protect data.

Backing up installation and personal files

Downloading essential device drivers

Knowing system requirements for Windows 10:

Your PC should meet following requirements to install the Windows 10 May 2019 update and later release:

Processor: 1GHz or system on a Chip(SoC)
Memory: 2GB for 64 bit or 1GB for 32bit
Storage: 32GB for 64-bit or 32-bit
Graphics card: Direct-X9 or a later version with WDDM-1.0 driver
Display: 800×600

Verifying activation of Windows 10:

If you are going to start afresh with a clean copy of Windows 10 or upgrade the latest update you need not re-enter product key during the setup. After the installation the OS will automatically activate again. But it will activate automatically when your previous installation was activated properly. So, before the installation process verify your activation.

Obtaining product key of Windows

Setting correct boot order:

You have to configure the Basic input/ Output system(BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface(UEFI) on motherboard before starting your PC with a USB bootable media to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 in order to change the boot order to boot from USB.

Disconnecting non-essential peripherals

How to create USB bootable media for a clean installation of Windows 10?

You can create USB bootable media by using the Media Creation Tool or third-party tools like Rufus.

Using Media Creation Tool

Connect a USB flash drive of minimum 8GB of space and follow these steps:

Open Windows 10 download page.
Click the Download tool now button under the ‘Create Windows 10 installation media’ section to save the file on your device.
To launch the tool, double-click the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe.
To agree to the Microsoft terms, click the Accept button.
For another PC option select the Create installation media(USB flash drive, DVD or ISO file).
Click the Next button.
If applicable, clear the Use the recommended options for this PC option.
Choose the correct language, architecture and edition of Windows 10.

(If you are going to install Windows 10 on multiple PCs running the 32-bit or 64-bit architecture, select the Both option, using ‘Architecture’ drop-down menu.)

Click the Next button.
Choose the USB flash drive option.
Click the Next button.
Choose the flash drive from the list.
Click the Next button.
Click the Finish button.

You can use Rufus tool to create an installation media if the Media Creation Tool is not working.

How to perform a clean installation if Windows 10?

After following above mentioned steps you are ready to execute a clean install of Windows 10.

Windows 10 clean installation

Connect a bootable media to execute a clean installation of Windows 10 and follow below mentioned steps:

With the USB flash drive start the device.
Press any key to boot from media, on prompt.
Click the Next button on the ‘Windows Setup’.
Click the Install now button.
If it is the first Windows 10 install type your product key and if you are re-installing it click the I don’t have a product key option to continue.
Click the Next button.
Choose the edition of Windows 10. This edition should match with the edition your product key activates.
Click the Next button.
To continue, choose the I accept the license terms option.
Click the Next button.
Click on the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option.
Choose the partition with the present installation of Windows (usually ‘Drive 0’)and click the Delete button.
Click the Yes button.
Choose the drive which is empty. (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).
Click the Next button.