


Additionally, you will have to reinstall all programs you again (MS Office, Photoshop, Chrome browser, etc.).įortunately, there are other options available in Windows besides clean install. It means that all files on the primary drive (the C drive) will be gone. When you should perform a clean install?Ī clean install of Windows is the last resort to go with when all other troubleshooting steps you have tried have been unsuccessful and you want to install or reinstall a clean copy of Windows back on your computer.Ī clean install will return your system to the same state it was on the day you first turned your computer on. The old Windows installation will be moved into the “Windows.old” folder, and a new “Windows” folder will be created. So, will a clean install of Windows 10 delete your files?Ī fresh, clean Windows 10 install will not delete user data files, but all applications need to be reinstalled on the computer after the OS upgrade. At the same time, I don’t want to lose my data. Sometimes I need to reinstall because Windows is getting crashed and sometimes when I want to clean malware (clean install does not guarantee to remove viruses, however). When I keep installing new applications on my machine, they often run processes on the background and slow down Windows. Reasons to do a clean install are various. Full Disclosure Here…Įvery so often I need to reinstall Windows on my PC. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
