Windows 10 has proven to be a stable operating system, even after years of usage. Of course, early adopters had to live with its flaws, but with each update, it became better and better. However, sometimes you’re forced to reinstall Windows 10 on your PC for various reasons. It can be a sudden decrease in performance caused by viruses, software problems, or a sudden power outage during Windows Update that bricked your system.

Performing a complete format seems necessary in such a situation, but what if you don’t want to get rid of your files? Windows 10 has plenty of options to perform a clean install without losing data or sensitive, personal files. We’ll cover everything you need to know when performing a clean install and explain a few methods where you can keep all your files. Follow it thoroughly to avoid unnecessary problems.

Before You Start

One of the advantages of reinstalling Windows without tampering with your files is the automatic update to the latest version of Windows 10. If you’re a bit behind in software updates, this might increase the system’s performance even further. 

However, the speed of the entire process is heavily reliant on your hardware. The entire process will take significantly longer if you’re willing to install Windows on a 10-year-old HDD instead of a brand-new SSD. Considering you’ll be downloading new software, a fast internet connection will also come in handy.

Disclaimer: Just to be safe, make a backup copy of the most important files like documents, music, photos, videos, saved games, etc. Although Windows ensures its safety, it’s always good to be extra cautious if anything goes wrong.

Upon installation, all your apps will be removed, so make some extra preparations:

• Deregister all apps that need to be registered again after reinstall, e.g., Photoshop.
• Make sure your game saves are kept in the cloud, or make a backup copy of them so you won’t have to start fresh.
• Sign in to your Google or Firefox account and check if your settings and web bookmarks are saved to the cloud.
• Back up all activation keys you might need to use again when reinstalling apps.
• Download and save drivers for your network adapter to ensure you will be reconnected to the internet.

Link Windows 10 License with Microsoft Account

One last step to make things easier is to link your Windows 10 license with your Microsoft Account, so you don’t have to search for it upon reinstall. It will save you the hassle of activating it manually. However, if you don’t have a working license, you can always buy Windows 10 Home RETAIL Key on RoyalCDKeys for only a fraction of the retail price. 

Simply go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info. Click “Sign in with a Microsoft Account” and follow the on-screen instructions. Upon completion, the message will read: “Windows is activated with a digital license associated with your Microsoft Account.” With all the preparations done, let’s dive into the reinstalling process.

Method 1: Bootable USB or DVD Drive

This method is one of the most efficient ways to reset your system that remembers the glory days of Windows 7. To execute this method, you’ll need a Windows 10 copy on a DVD or create a bootable USB flash drive upon downloading Windows via Windows Media Creation Tool. If you want to boot a system from DVD, you’ll need to create an ISO file which this tool is perfectly capable of. After that, follow the instructions below:

1. Windows 10 DVD to your optical drive.

2. Then, click on This PC, right-click on the DVD or USB drive and select “Open in new window.”

3. Find and double-click setup.exe.

4. After that, you’ll see a “Get important updates.” Select the first option and click “Next.” Additionally, you can uncheck the box about sending data to Microsoft from the installation process.

5. After getting everything ready, accept the License Agreement, and the setup will start downloading the updates if available.

6. In the Ready to Install window, you have to alter some settings. Click on the link labeled “Change what to keep” and choose to keep personal files. After that, click “Next.”

7. Now you have three options:

• Keep personal files and apps
• Keep personal files only
• Nothing

Your main task is to reinstall Windows 10 without deleting your files, so choose either the first or second option.

8. See if you set everything correctly and then click “Install.” Your system will reboot a few times during the installation process.

9. After finishing, Windows will ask you to select country, language, keyboard layout, and time zone.

10. Sign in with Microsoft Account, and you’re done.

Method 2: Reset This PC Option

It’s probably the easiest and most recommended way to reinstall Windows 10 while keeping all of its files. Go to Start Menu > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC. Click “Get started.”

1. From the pop-up window, select “Keep my files.”

2. In the next window, you can choose whether you want to download Windows 10 from the cloud or use the existing files on your device. The first option is faster but uses much more data, while local installs take a bit longer.

3. From the next window, choose “Change settings.”

4. Now, under the toggle “Restore preinstalled apps?” select No. Click confirm to save changes.

5. Return to the previous screen and click “Next.”

6. You’ll see a summary of the reset you’re about to perform. Click “Reset” to begin the process.

After some time, Windows will reinstall and show you the login screen. After setting up basic settings, you’ll be taken to a fresh desktop. However, there will be no drivers since it’s a clean installation. But if you’re connected to the internet, Windows will automatically install and configure everything.

Leave the system for at least half an hour to download everything. After that, check Device Manager by right-clicking the Menu Start and selecting it from here. If there are no yellow exclamation marks, everything works as it should. Otherwise, double-click on the missing device and select “Update Driver.” Then Windows should download the missing driver.

Method 3: System Recovery Drive 

Probably the least used method, but if you have an OS recovery disc or USB, you can use one of them to reinstall Windows. Boot your system with one of these. 

1. If a bootable device is set correctly, you should see a message “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.” Press any key to start the process.

2. A Windows Setup screen will appear. Choose your preferred language and click continue.

3. Choose “Repair your computer.”

4. From the large blue screen, choose “Troubleshoot.”

5. Select “Reinstall Windows 10 with this media.”

6. Then, click Windows 10 and wait till the setup is complete.

7. After that, you’ll see a confirmation screen about keeping personal files. Click “Install.”

8. Wait till the reinstallation process completes. After it completes, the system will restart. If it fails to reboot, you can do it manually.

9. Upon completion, the system will restore to its original settings. Configure the system to your liking, and you’re ready to go.

Method 4: Reinstall from USB or DVD Without Formatting

This method is aimed at advanced users as it’s a little tricky. It’s almost the same as installing a fresh copy of Windows, but we’ll use a trick to avoid the formatting option. This way, all your data will be stored in a folder called “Windows.old.” It's especially useful if you cannot boot your laptop or PC and formatting is the only option.

Here’s how to perform this method:

1. Insert the installation media of your choice and boot from it.

2. Choose language and follow the on-screen instructions.

3. When you get to the Windows Setup window, select the C: drive and click “Next” to proceed. Don’t format the drive!

4. Complete the installation process.

5. When the installation completes, in the root directory of C: drive, you will find a folder Windows.old where all your files are saved.

6. Open this folder and copy all the important files.

Disclaimer: After copying everything from Windows.old folder, you can’t simply delete it. You need to use the Disc Cleanup option.

FAQ

Can I Reinstall Windows Without Losing Data?

Yes, all the solutions above will keep your files and install a fresh copy of Windows 10 on your device. Your preferred choice should depend on the condition of your system, if your PC refuses to start at all, use method 4.

Is There a Chance That My Data Will Be Lost?

It depends on the method you’re going to use. If you follow each step of the process and won’t misclick anything, you won’t lose your documents/apps/photos or any other data.

Does Reinstalling Windows Fix PC Issues?

If your problems are not hardware-related, reinstalling Windows usually fixes performance issues and all kinds of errors. It also cleans your PC from virus-infected files so starting with a fresh operating system is usually the best solution.

Can I Reinstall Windows 10 Without DVD?

Yes! Simply refer to method 2 on this list.

Do I Need an Activated Windows to Reset The System?

No, you can perform these methods regardless of whether your system is activated. However, resetting the system won’t eliminate activation watermarks as you need a product key. You can acquire Windows 10 Home RETAIL Key on RoyalCDKeys for a really cheap price.

Summary

Thanks to Windows Recovery Environment, reinstalling Windows 10 is an easy and reliable process. Using any of the described methods will keep your important data and reset your system to the original Windows settings. Simply follow each step of any described method, and you’ll get a working computer without any data loss. 

Whether it’s caused by a virus attack or software, you can use several different methods to repair your system. However, our solutions are arguably the best and most reliable since you get a fresh Windows 10 without losing data.