A clean install of Windows is the right way to go when all other software troubleshooting you’ve tried has been unsuccessful and you want to install or reinstall a clean copy of Windows back on your computer. Most of the time, you try a clean install after one of Windows’ automatic repair processes hasn’t solved your problem. A clean install returns your computer to pretty much the same state it was in the first day you turned it on. In case it’s not clear yet, this should be reserved for the most serious of Windows operating system problems, since all the data on your primary hard drive partition (usually the C drive) is erased during the process.

How to Clean Install Windows

A clean install of Windows is accomplished during the Windows setup process by removing the existing Windows installation (assuming there is one) before installing a new operating system or reinstalling the existing one. The individual steps involved in completing a clean install can differ greatly based on the operating system you happen to be using:

How to Clean Install Windows 11 How to Clean Install Windows 10 How to Clean Install Windows 8 How to Clean Install Windows 7 How to Clean Install Windows Vista How to Clean Install Windows XP

Important Reminders

Remember, a clean install will erase everything from the drive that Windows is installed on. When we say everything, we mean everything. You’ll need to back up anything you want to save before you begin this process! You can back up your files online or use an offline backup tool. In addition to backing up the individual files you want to keep, you should also prepare to reinstall your programs. Gather the original installation discs and downloaded program setups to any program you want to put back on your computer. In most cases, particularly with modern software programs that are still accessible online through digital downloads, knowing which programs you want to reinstall is enough (no real backup is necessary) because you can just re-download them from the software maker’s website. One easy way to document all your installed programs is with the Save to text file option in CCleaner, accessible via Tools > Uninstall. No program outside of those that come bundled with an original Windows setup will be on your computer after the clean install is complete. Please reference the documentation that came with your computer, or contact your computer manufacturer directly for directions.