Windows reinstall can help solve various PC issues. This post shows you how to reinstall Windows 11/10 via PC reset, a USB drive, as well as the Fix problems using Windows Update feature (only for Windows 11). In addition, MiniTool Partition Wizard can clone the disk to protect the computer.

A Windows reinstall is installing Windows on a computer that has Windows set up already. It is usually performed for the following reasons.

  • The PC has crashes, freezes, driver issues, or severe Windows Update errors that other fixes can’t resolve. Reinstalling Windows can be the last resort. 
  • The PC is infected with viruses, while the antivirus software takes no effect. Then, reinstall Windows to wipe everything, removing persistent viruses, rootkits, and unwanted bloatware.
  • The PC accumulates junk that slows it down. A Windows reinstall can clear out accumulated junk, unnecessary background programs, and registry clutter that slow down your computer.
  • The in-place upgrade failed. Then, back up data and reinstall Windows thoroughly can avoid issues that causes the in-place upgrade failure.
  • The computer has been used for many years, and you want to start fresh. Reinstalling Windows will offer a system free from years of installed apps, settings, and leftover files for better stability and speed.
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How to reinstall Windows 10/11? Try the following 3 methods. However, before reinstalling Windows, back up your data to an external drive or cloud services because a Windows reinstall may erase data.

Reinstall Your Current Version of Windows 11

On Windows 11 (the 2022 annual update or later versions), there is a feature named Fix problems using Windows Update. It will reinstall the same version of Windows already on your PC, repair system files and components, while preserving your apps, files, and settings.

This feature is usually used to fix PC problems, especially issues related to Windows Update. In addition, if an update fails to install because of problems related to system files or components, the PC will also prompt you to “Reinstall your current version of Windows to repair system files and components.​​​​​​​”

How to reinstall your version of Windows? Here is the guide:

Step 1: Enable the Fix problems using Windows Update feature.

  1. Press the Windows logo key + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to System > Recovery.
  3. Find the Fix problems using Windows Update feature and click Reinstall now.
Windows 11 System Recovery Settings with the selected Reinstall now button of the Fix problems using Windows Update option.

Step 2: In the pop-up window, read the message. Then, choose if you want to allow the PC to automatically restart 15 minutes after the installation completes. If you are ready to start the reinstallation, click OK.

Windows 11 Recovery Settings interface with the Fix problems using Windows Update window.

Step 3: The reinstall process will take you to the Windows Update page, and start downloading and installing a repair version of the last operating system update that was successfully installed on your PC. Once the reinstall is complete, restart your PC immediately or wait for the restart to perform automatically.

The Windows Update page in Windows 11 Settings with the repair Windows version being downloaded.
Also Read:Reinstall Your Current Version of Windows to Repair System Files

Reinstall Windows via PC Reset

PC reset also reinstalls Windows, giving you options to either keep personal files while removing apps and settings, or remove everything for a complete factory fresh start. Follow the guides below to reset Windows 10/11.

Tips:
The PC reset process is almost the same in Windows 10 and 11.

Reset the PC from Windows

If you can enter Windows, the PC reset will be much simpler.

Step 1: Enable the Reset this PC feature.

  • Windows 11: Open Settings and go to System > Recovery. Find Reset this PC and click the Reset PC button.
  • Windows 10: Open Settings and go to Update & Security > Recovery. Under Reset this PC, click Get started.

Step 2: Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.

  • Keep my files: When reinstalling Windows, it will remove apps and settings, but keep your personal files (documents and photos).
  • Remove everything: It will delete all things on the computer and then reinstall Windows. This option is similar to a clean install.
The Reset this PC window with the Keep my files and Remove everything options.

Step 3: Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.

  • Cloud download: It will download the latest Windows version from Microsoft to reinstall Windows.
  • Local reinstall: It reinstalls Windows using the local recovery image (winre.wim), which is stored in the Windows Recovery partition and maintained by major Windows updates. Therefore, it will not install the version of Windows that came with the computer, but the currently used Windows version.
The Reset this PC window with the Cloud download and Local reinstall options.

Step 4: Review Additional settings. If you want to change some of them, click Change settings, choose the settings you want, and then click Confirm to get back to Additional settings. Then, click Next.

  • Download Windows: It allows you to change between Cloud download and Local reinstall.
  • Clean data: This option only appears after you choose Remove everything in Step 2. It lets you choose whether to just remove files via quick format or fully clean the drive via full format. The former is fast, leaving data recoverable. The latter takes hours to overwrite the drive with zeros, making data unrecoverable.
  • Delete files from all drives: This option also appears only after you choose Remove everything. It determines whether to clean data from the Windows drive (the C: drive) or all drives.
Two Reset this PC windows showing Additional settings and Choose settings pages.

Step 5: Click Reset to start resetting this PC. Wait until the reset process is complete.

The Reset this PC window showing the Ready to reset this PC page.
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Reset the PC from WinRE

If the PC won’t boot, you can reset it from WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment). Here is the guide.

Step 1: Interrupt the booting process 3 times to enter WinRE. The process should be as follows: power on the PC, once the PC logo appears, power down the PC, and then repeat this process 2 more times.

Step 2: Once in WinRE, go to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

The selected Reset this PC option in WinRE.

Step 3: Choose Keep my files or Remove everything. Then, choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.

Step 4 (Only for the Remove everything option): Choose Only the drive where Windows is installed or All drives. Then, choose Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive.

Two Reset this PC interfaces asking you where to delete files and how to clean the data.

Step 5: Click Reset to start resetting the PC.

Reinstall Windows with USB

This method is usually used when the PC won’t boot, and it works even if the computer can’t enter WinRE. In addition, it can be used to install a different Windows edition.

Reinstall Windows 11 with USB

Here is how to reinstall Windows 11 using a USB drive.

Step 1: Create a Windows 11 installation USB drive.

  1. On a well-running PC, go to Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 webpage.
  2. Under Create Windows 11 Installation Media, click Download Now to get MediaCreationTool.
  3. Connect a USB drive to the computer and run MediaCreationTool.
  4. Accept license terms.
  5. Select Language and Edition.
  6. It will ask you to choose which media to use. Choose the USB flash drive option.
  7. Select the drive letter of the USB drive to start creating the Windows 11 installation USB drive.
The Windows 11 Setup interface showing the USB flash drive and ISO file media options.

Step 2: Use the USB drive to boot the PC that needs to reinstall Windows.

  1. Power down the computer that needs to reinstall Windows.
  2. Connect the Windows 11 installation USB drive to it.
  3. Power on the computer and press the boot menu key (F12, F2, Esc, F10, Del, etc.).
  4. On the Boot Menu, select the USB drive and press Enter to boot the PC from the USB drive.

Step 3: Go through the Windows 11 installation process.

  1. Once the computer boots up, you will see the Windows 11 Setup interface.
  2. Set the language to install, Time and currency format, and Keyboard or input method.
  3. Select the Install Windows 11 option and check the box before I agree everything will be deleted including files, apps, and settings.
  4. Click I don’t have a product key in the bottom left corner.
  5. Select a Windows 11 edition to install. It’s recommended to choose the one for which you have the product key.
  6. Accept the license terms.
  7. You need to select the location to install Windows 11. Select the C drive directly, which will just clean data on the Windows drive. Or, use the Delete Partition feature to delete these partitions one by one and choose the unallocated space to install Windows 11.
  8. If you are Ready to install, click Install to start the Windows 11 reinstallation.
  9. Wait until the reinstallation is complete.
Tips:
The Repair my PC option just leads you to WinRE.
Two Windows 11 Setup interfaces asking you to select the setup option and location to install Windows 11.
Also Read:What to Do if Windows 10/11 Media Creation Tool Not Working

Reinstall Windows 10 with USB

Reinstalling Windows 10 with a USB is similar to reinstalling Windows 11, but there is a little difference. Here is the guide.

Step 1: Create a Windows 10 installation USB drive.

  1. Go to Microsoft’s Download Windows 10 webpage.
  2. Click Download Now to get MediaCreationTool_22H2.
  3. Connect a USB drive and run this tool.
  4. Accept license terms.
  5. When it asks you what you want to do, choose the Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC option.
  6. Select Language, Edition, and Architecture.
  7. Choose which media to use. The USB flash drive option is recommended.
  8. Select the drive letter of the USB drive to start the creation.
The Windows 10 Setup interface with the options to upgrade this PC now and create an installation for another PC.

Step 2: Use the method described above to boot the PC to be reinstalled from the USB drive. Then, go through the installation process.

  1. Once the Windows Setup opens, review the Language to install, Time and currency format, and Keyboard or input method. Then, click Next.
  2. Click Install now.
  3. Select I don’t have a product key at the bottom.
  4. Choose a Windows 10 edition.
  5. Accept the license terms.
  6. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
  7. Where do you want to install Windows? Select the Windows drive, or delete all drives and select the unallocated space.
  8. The installation process will start and wait until it finishes.
Tips:
The Upgrade option is not working. If you click it, Windows Setup will tell you “the upgrade option isn’t available if you start your computer using Windows installation media.”
The Windows Setup interface showing the upgrade and custom Windows installation types.
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Clone Your System Disk for Data Protection

Computers can malfunction for various reasons. To protect the computer, cloning the computer system disk is one of the measures.

MiniTool Partition Wizard is capable of this job. Its Copy Disk feature can clone the system and data to an external hard drive. Once the computer goes wrong, you can clone the system and data from the external drive back to the computer.

Tips:
This software can also migrate the system only, copy partitions, convert MBR to GPT during the disk cloning, recover lost partitions and data, etc. In addition, it’s also a free partition manager that is capable many basic disk management tasks.

Here is how to clone the system disk to an external hard drive.

MiniTool Partition Wizard DemoClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Connect an external hard drive to your computer. Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard. Right-click the system disk and choose Copy.

The MiniTool Partition Wizard interface with the selected Copy option in the right click menu of the system disk.

Step 2: Select the connected external hard drive as the target disk, and then click Next. Read the warning information and click Yes to confirm that all data on the disk will be destroyed.

The MiniTool Partition Wizard interface with the Copy Disk Wizard window asking you to select the target disk.

Step 3: Review the copy options and target disk layout. Then, click Next. Read the notice and click OK.

Tips:
In most cases, it’s recommended to keep the default options and layout. However, if your external hard drive is larger than the system disk, it’s better to Copy partitions without resizing. Then, you can use the remaining unallocated space to create a partition for data storage.
The MiniTool Partition Wizard interface with the Copy Disk Wizard window asking you to review the copy changes.

Step 4: Read the note information and click Finish. Click Apply to execute the disk copy task.

The MiniTool Partition Wizard interface with the selected Apply button.
Tips:
To copy the system and data from the external hard drive back to the system disk, the steps are the same. However, if the computer can’t boot, you need to create a bootable USB drive using MiniTool Partition Wizard, boot the PC from the USB drive, and then perform the disk copy task.

How to Reinstall Windows FAQ

Q1. How to reinstall Windows from the boot?
To reinstall Windows from boot, you need to create Windows installation media, boot the PC from it, and then go through the reinstallation process.
Q2. How to reinstall Windows from BIOS?
You can't directly reinstall Windows from the BIOS, but you can use the BIOS/UEFI to boot from a Windows installation USB drive. Then, reinstall Windows from the USB.
Q3. How to reinstall Windows without losing data?
To reinstall Windows without losing data, use the “Reset this PC” feature and choose the “Keep my files” option. For Windows 11, you can also use the Fix problems using Windows Update feature.
Q4. What to back up before reinstalling Windows 11?
Before reinstalling Windows 11, back up your personal files, including:
1. Documents, Photos, Videos, Music, desktop files, downloaded files, etc.
2. Browser data, especially bookmarks and saved passwords.
3. Other important files, like program license keys, important email data, and any crucial game saves.
Q5. Do I need to activate Windows after reinstall?
Yes, you usually need to reactivate Windows after a reinstall. However, it often happens automatically if you're using the same device and edition, especially if you link your license to a Microsoft account. On the other hand, if you installed a different edition or replaced the motherboard, you need to reactivate it manually.
Q6. Is reinstalling Windows better than resetting?
Yes, a full reinstallation (clean install) is generally better than a standard Windows reset because it provides a truly fresh OS by wiping the drive clean. This leads to better performance and stability. However, a reset might leave behind old drivers or lingering issues.
Choose a reset for convenience to keep files, but opt for a clean install for maximum thoroughness, especially for persistent problems or upgrades.

How to reinstall Windows 11 and 10? This post offers 3 methods and illustrates them in detail.Click to Tweet

Bottom Line

This post shows you how to reinstall your version of Windows 11, reinstall Windows 11/10 via PC reset, and reinstall Windows 11/10 with a USB. It also offers a guide to computer cloning with MiniTool Partition Wizard. If you encounter issues when copying a disk with this software, contact our support team via [email protected] for help.

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About The Author

Linda
Linda

Position: Columnist

Linda has been working as an editor at MiniTool for 5 years. She is always curious about computer knowledge and learns it crazily. Her articles are simple and easy to understand. Even people who do not understand computer can gain something. By the way, her special focuses are disk management, data recovery and PDF editing.

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