(Answered!) How do I reinstall Windows 10 from BIOS?

You go through every “How to fix PC issues” webpage, and the ultimate solution or fix is to reset or reinstall Windows. If you encounter a Windows 10 or 11 problem that you can't solve, the inevitable solution is to reset or reinstall Windows. In such a situation, questions like how to precisely reinstall Windows 10 or 11 might pop up. Can I reinstall Windows 10 in BIOS?

In this article from the tool, we'll learn how to reinstall Windows 10 from BIOS, when it's recommended, and what precautions to take for a smoother process. Read on for the details.

Read more: How to install Windows 10 from USB in BIOS

Can you reinstall Windows from BIOS?

No, you can't reinstall Windows from the BIOS, but the BIOS can help you boot your device from a bootable file to start the installation process. To reinstall Windows, you'll first need a USB, DVD, .pxe file, or network connection to access the operating system files.

Once we insert or connect a bootable device, the BIOS comes into play. All popular manufacturers – such as Asus, Dell, MSI, HP, and others – offer a key to enter BIOS settings. It will identify the device containing the boot files (usually Drive C:) and then take control to install the Windows 10 files on your machine.

There are, however, some reasons you might want to reinstall Windows 10 or 11.

• System performance issues.
• Virus or malware attacks.
• Software and driver conflicts.
• Upgrade to a new hard drive or SSD.
• Solve system problems.

Read next: How to Reinstall Windows 10 Without Losing Programs

Before reinstalling Windows 10, here are the preparations you should make: 1. **Backup Important Data**: Make sure to backup all your important files, documents, photos, and any other data that you don't want to lose. You can copy them to an external hard drive or use a cloud storage service. 2. **Create a System Restore Point**: If possible, create a system restore point so that you can revert to a previous state if something goes wrong during the reinstallation process. 3. **Save Product Key**: If you have a licensed version of Windows 10, locate your product key. It's usually found on the bottom of your laptop or in the purchase confirmation email. If you've activated Windows with a digital license, you shouldn't need it, but it's still good to have. 4. **Uninstall Unwanted Programs**: Remove any unnecessary applications or software that you don't plan on reinstalling later. 5. **Remove External Devices**: Disconnect all external devices such as printers, scanners, USB drives, and other peripherals, as they might interfere with the installation process. 6. **Update Drivers**: Ensure that you have the latest drivers for your hardware, which you can download from the manufacturer's website. This will save time after the reinstallation. 7. **Disable Antivirus**: Temporarily disable your antivirus software as it may interfere with the Windows setup process. 8. **Prepare Installation Media**: Download the official Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft's website and create a bootable USB or DVD using a tool like Rufus or the built-in Windows Media Creation Tool. 9. **Check System Requirements**: Ensure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 10 to avoid any compatibility issues. 10. **Take Note of Settings**: Write down or screenshot your current system settings, such as network settings, user account details, and personalizations, so you can restore them after the reinstall. Remember, a clean install of Windows 10 will remove everything from your system, so be thorough with your backups and preparations.

While a reset will remove all data from the device, you should proceed with caution, as it can lead to data loss. Before starting this process, you'll need to do some preparation.

A system reinstall will wipe all your data, so you need a tool with great backup options to protect it. AOMEI Backupper Home is a proven and excellent backup software for the job.

offers a comprehensive suite of features for computers running Windows 11/10/8/7. It allows you to back up files to the cloud, create clones and images, and perform incremental and differential backups. This software simplifies your backup and recovery processes.

Please back up your computer's data before reinstalling Windows 10 as follows.

Step 1: Launch Todo Backup on your computer, and then click “Create Backup” on the home screen. Hit the big question mark to choose what you want to back up.

Step 2: To back up the Windows operating system, click "Operating System" to start the backup task.

Step 3: The system will automatically select the Windows operating system information and all system-related files and partitions, so you don't need to make any manual selections here. Next, click on the illustrated area to choose where you want to save your system image backup.

Step 4: The backup location can be another local disk on your computer, an external hard drive, a network, the cloud, or a NAS. We generally recommend using an external physical drive or the cloud to store your system backup files.

Step 5: If interested, click on Options to enable automatic backup schedules based on daily, weekly, monthly basis, or event triggers, plus differential and incremental backups. Then hit "Back Up Now" to kick off the Windows system backup process. The finished tasks will be displayed as cards on the left side.

How to Reinstall Windows 10 in Two Different Ways If you're experiencing operating system issues or want to restore your device to its factory settings, reinstalling Windows 10 might be the best solution. Here are two different methods to accomplish this task. **Method One: Using the "Reset This PC" Feature** 1. **Open Settings:** Click on the Start button on the taskbar and then select the gear-shaped "Settings" icon. 2. **Access Recovery Options:** In the Settings window, click on "Update & Security," then choose "Recovery" from the left-hand menu. 3. **Select "Reset This PC":** Under the Recovery page, you'll see the "Reset this PC" option. Click the "Get started" button. 4. **Choose Reset Mode:** You have two options: "Keep my files" (removes apps and settings only) or "Remove everything" (a complete wipe). Choose one based on your needs. 5. **Follow the Instructions:** The system will guide you through the reset process, which may take some time depending on your computer's speed and data. 6. **Wait for the Reset to Complete:** Your computer will automatically restart and begin installing a fresh copy of Windows 10. **Method Two: Using the Media Creation Tool** 1. **Download the Media Creation Tool:** Visit the [official Microsoft Windows 10 download](https://www.microsoft.com/zh-cn/software-download/windows10) page, click "Update now," and then choose "Create installation media for another PC." 2. **Make an Installation USB:** Use a USB drive and follow the wizard's instructions to create the Windows 10 installation media. 3. **Change the BIOS Boot Order:** Restart your computer, press F2, F10, F12 (or the corresponding key, depending on your manufacturer) to enter BIOS settings, and set the USB device as the first boot option. 4. **Start the Installation:** Save your settings and exit; your computer will boot from the USB and display the installation screen. Choose your language and other options, then click "Install Now." 5. **Enter the Product Key and Accept the License Terms:** If you have a key, enter it; otherwise, choose "I don't have a product key" to enter it later. 6. **Select the Installation Type:** Choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)" and then delete the existing partition or format the hard drive in the disk management interface. 7. **Begin the Installation:** Select the partition and click "Next." The installation process will start, which might take some time. 8. **Finish Setup:** After the installation is complete, follow on-screen prompts for basic setup tasks like network connections and user accounts. Before proceeding with either method, make sure to back up all important data, as both methods will remove your personal files and applications.

Now that you know how to access BIOS to reinstall Windows 10, in this section, we will see two safe and efficient methods to reinstall Windows 10 on your computer.

1. Method 1: Reinstall Windows with the Media Creation Tool
2. Method 2: Reinstall Windows 10 from Settings

Method 1: Reinstall Windows with the Media Creation Tool

Microsoft offers a free tool called the “Media Creation Tool” to reinstall or upgrade Windows 10. Instead of using a third-party utility, we can use it to reinstall Windows 10. Here's how to use the Media Creation Tool to reinstall Windows 10.

Before you download the tool, you'll need:

- A stable internet connection. - A USB flash drive or DVD with at least 8 GB of available space.

Step 1: Visit the Microsoft website and download the Media Creation Tool.

Step 2: Double-click the downloaded file to install it. Once installed, find the tool and run it as an administrator to get started.

Step 3: Once you've finished installing and agreed to the terms and conditions, you'll arrive at a screen asking “What do you want to do?” You have two options.

You need to create installation media to reinstall Windows 10 on your PC. So, select Create installation media for another PC, and then click Next.

Step 4: Choose the language, architecture, and version of Windows you want to create installation media for. You can select the “Use the recommended options for this PC” checkbox to continue with the language, version, and architecture of your computer in its current format.

Step 5: In the next window, select Which media to use. Here, you can choose either USB flash drive or ISO file.

Select the USB drive you want to use to reinstall Windows 10, and click “Next.”

Step 7: The Media Creation Tool from Microsoft will now begin downloading the latest version of the Windows 10 installation files to the USB flash drive on your computer.

Step 8: After downloading the USB media creation tool to your flash drive, it will begin creating the Windows 10 media.

Create the Windows 10 media

Step 9: When it's done, you'll see the message “Your USB flash drive is ready,” letting you know that you're all set. You can now use that drive to boot your computer and reinstall Windows 10.

TIP: All of Microsoft's operating system files and installation files are pre-set to be on the C drive. During startup, the BIOS reads the files from the C drive (labeled as an active partition) to boot the device. It's highly recommended that you back up your C drive, so you can use it for reinstalling.

You have now successfully reinstalled Windows 10 from the BIOS! If this guide helped you, share it with your friends and family!

Method 2: Reinstall Windows 10 Through “Settings”

Reinstalling the operating system used to be a common occurrence back in the Windows 7 days. The process was complicated and not something the average user could do, but Microsoft introduced the “Reset this PC” feature starting with Windows 8 that lets you reinstall Windows. You can use it to reinstall Windows 10 or 11 on your computer. Make sure your laptop is plugged in so it doesn't run out of power during the process. Here's how to do it.

Step one: On your computer, open “Settings.” Go to “Update & Security” > “Recovery.” Click the “Reset this PC” heading, and then click “Get started” to begin the process.

Click Start.

Step 2: Here, you have two options to reinstall Windows 10. One is “Keep my files,” and the other is “Remove everything.”

“Remove everything” resets your computer to factory settings and installs the latest version of Windows 10; “Keep my files” resets the operating system options but keeps your documents, music, and so on.

Please select the data options as needed:

Step 3: In the next window, you'll have to choose how you want to reinstall Windows — with a Cloud download or a local reinstallation.

Cloud download will fetch all the files from Microsoft over the Internet and do a clean install. Local reinstallation uses the system files on your current PC to create a new copy of Windows 10.

Select the type of reinstallation

Step 4: Next, you'll see an Other Settings window. This window contains a summary of your choices. Under the options, you can review the "Change settings" option if you want to modify the conditions for reinstalling Windows.

If you select “Erase everything,” you'll see additional options to clear the drive, remove files from all drives, and download Windows.

Select your preference as needed, and make sure to click the "Download Windows" button, then click "Confirm".

Step 6: This window will display a list of tasks that you have selected to end. To verify the applications you are about to uninstall, click on the Uninstall List.

Click on "Reset"

Step 7: A new window will appear entitled “Get ready to reset this PC.” Click on Reset to start the process and wait for it to finish.

Once you've done that, you might be interested in:

In short

Reinstalling the Windows operating system is a common solution for software issues, OS upgrades, and performance boosts. This article will walk you through two methods of reinstalling Windows 10 from BIOS, along with some tips to streamline the process.

As the reinstallation process can be complicated, and any issues might pose a threat to your computer data, the best way to safeguard it is by using a professional backup tool like Todo Backup. This is an all-in-one solution for complete backup and recovery, suitable for all emergency scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Reinstall Windows from BIOS

Here are some common questions about reinstalling Windows 10 from BIOS. Hopefully, these will be of help to you.

How to reinstall Windows 10 from USB in BIOS? To reinstall Windows 10 from a USB drive in BIOS, follow these steps: 1. **Create the Windows 10 installation media:** - Visit Microsoft's official website and download the [Media Creation Tool](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10). - Connect a USB flash drive with at least 16 GB of space to your computer. - Run the Media Creation Tool, select "Create installation media for another PC" and follow the wizard, making sure to choose "USB flash drive" as the target device. - After the tool completes, it will create a Windows 10 installation USB. 2. **Access the BIOS settings:** - Restart your computer and repeatedly press a specific key (usually F2, F10, Delete, or Esc) to enter BIOS. This depends on your computer manufacturer, so consult your computer manual or search online for the specific model's BIOS entry key. 3. **Change the boot order:** - In the BIOS settings, find the "Boot" or "Startup" options. - Set the USB drive as the first boot device. It might show up as "USB HDD," "USB Flash Drive," or something similar. - Disable "Secure Boot" if it's enabled, as some older BIOS versions might not support booting from USB with this feature activated. 4. **Save and exit:** - Save your changes (usually by pressing F10, then Enter to confirm) and exit BIOS. Your computer will restart and boot from the USB drive. 5. **Start the Windows 10 installation process:** - Follow the on-screen instructions after the screen loads to begin the Windows 10 installation. - When prompted for the installation type, choose "Custom: Install only Windows (Advanced)" and either delete the existing partitions or create a new one for installing Windows 10. - After installation, remember to change the boot order back to the hard drive in BIOS to avoid booting from USB every time. Please note that reinstalling Windows 10 may erase all data, so make sure to back up important files before proceeding.

Plug the USB flash drive into your device. Now, hold down the power button and the key to open the BIOS settings on your device. Select the option to boot your device from the flash drive. This will reinstall Windows 10.

How can I reinstall Windows 10 without losing programs and data?

You can use installation media, such as a USB flash drive or DVD, to reinstall Windows 10 without losing your data. After choosing your installation media, such as USB or ISO file, select “Keep personal files” in the next window to preserve your personal documents and files during the reinstall.

How do I reset my computer from the BIOS?

• Access your computer's BIOS settings using the key specific to your product.
• Navigate to the Exit section, and then choose Load Default Settings.
• Select Yes to confirm, and then select Yes in the Exit Saving Changes pop-up to finalize this process.

Does a BIOS reset remove Windows?

A BIOS reset will delete your data and load the system with default settings. This is unrelated to your Windows operating system, and will simply restore your computer to its factory settings.