Tips for a Clean Install of Windows 10 Without Losing Data

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Although it's been stated that Windows 10 won't remove all your data during installation on your computer, this might confuse many users who don't wish to retain all the system drive data, as it could contain old, unnecessary files occupying significant storage space. To achieve faster performance, many users opt for a clean installation of Windows 10. If you need to do a clean installation of Windows 10 without losing crucial data, follow these steps to install it now.

Tip: Back up important data and files before installing Windows 10

While it states that Windows 10 won't shift all your existing Windows data after installation, the data stored on the system drive partition might still alter or even be overwritten by the new Windows 10 system installation files. Hence, to avoid data loss issues on your computer, it is essential to create backups of your PC data. It is highly advised to back up your data onto an external hard drive for added security.

If you find it time-consuming to copy files one by one to the storage device, you might want to try professional backup and recovery software. Tools like Todo Backup enable all Windows users to easily back up their data on Windows 10/8/7, and more. Download and install Todo Backup, then follow the steps below to immediately back up your Windows 7/8/10 data:

Step 1. The first time you use Todo Backup to back up files, click Create backup on the home screen, then click the big question mark to select backup contents.

Step 2. Since you're planning to back up files and folders on your computer, proceed with the "File" backup mode. Here, you can choose to back up pictures, videos, documents, and all other file types.

Step 3. Follow the paths to find the files, folders, or directories you want to back up, select them all, and click "OK".

Step 4. Next, you need to choose a backup location to save and store the backup.

Step 5. Todo Backup enables users to save backup files to any device that suits your needs, such as a local hard drive, external USB drive, SD card, network drive, NAS drive, or even the brand's cloud drive. Personally, we recommend selecting the cloud drive over physical drives for storing crucial backups due to its better accessibility, flexibility, and security.

To access the Tools Cloud, all you need is an email registration and login.

Step 6. If you're interested in an automatic and intelligent backup schedule for the next file backup task, proceed with the "Options" setting. Here, you can encrypt a confidential file backup, compress the backup image size, or customize a backup scheme to specify when the software should initiate the next backup.

Customize an advanced and automated backup task here:

Step 7. Click "Backup Now" to initiate the file backup process. The completed backup files will be displayed on the left panel in a card view.

After installing Windows 10 on your computer, you can use Todo Backup to restore your backups to your PC. If you need optimal performance, avoid restoring the backups to the system C drive.

Solution 1: Reset the computer to perform a clean install of Windows 10 for Windows 10 users

If you're a Windows 10 user or have upgraded your system to Windows 10, the recommended approach is to refresh your PC and perform a clean installation of Windows 10. To learn how to reset and do a clean install of Windows 10, follow these tutorial steps: 1. **Backup Your Data**: Before proceeding, ensure that you backup all important files, documents, and personal data to an external storage device or cloud service. 2. **Access Settings**: Click on the Start menu, then navigate to Settings (the gear icon). 3. **Choose Update & Security**: In the Settings window, locate and click on "Update & Security." 4. **Recovery Options**: On the left panel, select "Recovery" from the available options. 5. **Reset this PC**: Under the "Reset this PC" section, click on the "Get started" button. 6. **Choose Reset Type**: You'll be given two options: "Keep my files" and "Remove everything." For a clean install, choose "Remove everything." 7. **Confirm Action**: A warning will appear, explaining that all your apps, settings, and personal files (except those saved in the Cloud) will be removed. Review the information and click "Next" if you're sure. 8. **Select Erase Options**: You'll be asked if you want to remove data quickly or more thoroughly. The quick option is faster but less secure, while the thorough option takes longer but provides better data erasure. Choose according to your preference. 9. **Start the Process**: After selecting the erase method, click "Reset" to begin the process. This may take some time depending on your system's speed. 10. **Wait for the Installation**: Your PC will restart multiple times as it resets and reinstalls Windows 10. Do not turn off your computer during this process. 11. **Post-Reset Setup**: Once the reset is complete, you'll be guided through the initial setup process for Windows 10, including language selection, privacy settings, and creating a new account or logging in with an existing one. 12. **Install Updates and Apps**: After the setup, connect to the internet, and let Windows 10 download and install any available updates. Then, reinstall your preferred apps and programs. That's it! You've successfully reset and performed a clean install of Windows 10.

Step 1. Go to "Settings" and click on "Update & Recovery."

Step 2. Click on "Recovery", and then tap "Get Started" under "Reset This PC".

Step 3. Select "Remove everything" and then choose to "Remove files and clean the drive" to perform a clean reset on your PC.

Step 4. Finally, click "Reset".

All you need to do is wait patiently, and a few minutes later, your computer will restart, and you'll have a fresh installation of Windows 10 on your PC.

Solution 2: Clean Install Windows 10 for Windows 7/8 Users

Prepare a USB drive (approximately 3GB or larger) for the clean installation of Windows 10 from Windows 7/8.

Step 1. Download the media creation tool from Microsoft and select either the 32-bit or 64-bit version for your PC. The compatible version will run automatically.

Step 2. Run the downloaded tool and select "Create installation media for another PC" and click "Next".

Step 3. Choose "Language, Edition, and Architecture for Windows 10" and then click "Next".

Step 4. Select the USB flash drive.

Step 5. Insert the USB drive into the PC and click "Next".

Once the drive is selected, the tool will commence downloading Windows 10, and this process may take a few minutes to complete.

Step 6. Connect the USB drive to a Windows 7/8 computer and open it in Explorer. Click on Setup.

Step 7. When you reach the "Ready to Install" dialog, click "Change" to decide what to keep and select "Nothing." Click "Next."

After going through all these steps, all that's left to do is wait patiently. You should now be able to perform a clean install of Windows 10 on your PC instead of Windows 7 or 8.

Solution 3: Perform a clean installation of Windows 10 on a custom-built computer

If you have a custom-build computer and need to perform a clean install of Windows 10, you can follow Solution 2 to install Windows 10 using the USB drive creation method. To proceed, simply select to boot your PC from the USB drive, and the installation process will commence. (If you're performing a clean install of Windows 10 on a computer by booting from installation media, make sure to acquire a Windows 10 license. Your existing Windows 7 or 8 license might also be valid for entering and obtaining a free upgrade.)

Conclusion

That's everything you need to know about performing a clean installation of Windows 10. In this article, we've addressed three typical scenarios: clean installing for Windows 10 users, Windows 8/7 users, and custom-built computer users. Regardless of your user category, you can find a suitable solution within this guide. If you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team via email at support@tools.com.