How Do I Wipe My Pc and Start Again

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If your computer is getting sluggish, it may exist fourth dimension for a clean outset. Regularly wiping and reinstalling your operating organization can keep your computer running smoothly for much longer than you would expect. This volition clear out junk files and crust that irksome performance. If yous regularly support your files, the entire process should only accept an hour or and so.

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Obtain or create a Windows installation disc or USB drive. The easiest way to wipe your figurer and start over is to use a Windows installation disc or USB bulldoze. This will demand to be the same version of Windows that you currently have installed. For example, if y'all use Windows vii you'll demand a Windows seven installation disc. You tin either use the disc that came with your reckoner, or y'all can create one yourself. Y'all'll need a blank DVD or a USB drive with at least four GB of storage:
- Windows 7 - Apply your product key to download the ISO file from Microsoft. Then download the Windows DVD/USB Download Tool to create an installation DVD or USB drive using the ISO file that you just downloaded.
- Windows 8 - Visit the Microsoft Windows 8.1 download page and click the "Create media" button. Run the tool and follow the prompts to download and create an installation DVD or USB bulldoze.^[1]
- Windows 10 - Visit the Windows 10 download folio and click the "Download tool now" button. Follow the prompts in the tool to download the Windows 10 files and create an installation DVD or USB drive.
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Back up any files that you want to relieve. When you wipe your figurer and reinstall Windows, all of the files on the drive volition exist erased. Make sure that you save whatsoever important files to some other location, such as an external hard bulldoze or a deject storage service. Any programs that you lot have will need to exist reinstalled after you lot're finished.
- See How to Back Up Data for instructions on backing up your of import files.
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Boot from the installation disc or USB drive. Later everything important has been backed upwards, you're ready to start the wipe and reinstallation process. You'll be booting your calculator from the installation disc or drive instead of your hard bulldoze. You'll need to ready your figurer to boot from the installation disc or drive that you just created. The procedure is unlike depending on if your computer came installed with Windows 7 or earlier or with Windows viii or afterward (BIOS vs. UEFI).
- Windows 7 or earlier (BIOS) - Reboot your computer and then printing the BIOS, Setup, or Boot key. This central will be displayed on the screen while your computer is booting earlier Windows loads. Typical keys include F2 , F10 , F11 , or Del . Open up the Kicking menu and set your DVD or USB bulldoze to be the primary kicking device.
- Windows 8 or later (UEFI) - Open up the Beginning menu and right-click on the Power button. Hold down ⇧ Shift and click "Restart." Select "Troubleshoot" from the carte du jour that appears, and then "Advanced options." Click the "UEFI Firmware Settings" push to open your UEFI menu. The Boot department of this card will permit you to change the boot order and so that your computer boots from the USB or DVD drive.
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Offset the installation process. Printing whatever key on your keyboard when prompted to load the Windows Setup program. Information technology may take several minutes to load all of the necessary files.
5

Select your language options. Before installation begins, y'all'll be prompted to select your linguistic communication preferences. Click "Install now" to brainstorm the installation afterwards making your choice.
6

Enter your product key. You'll exist prompted for your Windows product central if you're installing Windows eight or afterward. If yous're installing Windows vii, you'll exist asked for the product cardinal subsequently installation is complete. You can skip this step if you want to enter your product key later on.
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Select the "Custom" installation option. This will allow y'all to delete all of the information on your figurer and beginning fresh.
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Select the bulldoze that Windows is currently installed on. It volition be listed as a "Primary" drive, and will usually be labeled with your Windows version.
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Click the "Drive options" button and then click "Delete." This will delete the partition and remove all of the data on the partition. It will exist turned into "Unallocated space."^[2]
- You can repeat this for any other partitions that yous want to remove and combine into your main one. Any information on these partitions will be deleted as well. Click "Extend" to combine block of unallocated space into a single partition.
- You tin can split your partition into multiple partitions if you want. This may be useful for file system. Select the unallocated infinite and click "New" to create new partitions from the unallocated space. Just brand sure the segmentation you intend to install Windows on is at to the lowest degree twenty GB in size.
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Select the segmentation you lot want to install Windows on and click "Next." This will begin the installation process for Windows. The copying and installation volition take around twenty minutes.^[3]
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Create your user account. Later on the files have finished copying, you'll be prompted to create your user account. This account volition have administrator privileges. You'll also be prompted to enter a name for the computer. This is the name that will identify your calculator on the network.
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Enter your production key (Windows 7). If you're installing Windows 7, you'll be prompted to enter your product cardinal. You tin can skip this for at present if you intend to enter your primal later.
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Choose your Windows Update settings. Virtually users should select the "Recommended" options to ensure that everything stays up to date and secure.
xiv

Set your appointment and time. Your calculator should automatically select the correct date and time, but you may have to brand manual adjustments.
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Identify the type of network you are connected to. Choose the blazon of network that best matches your surroundings. This will touch your network security and sharing settings.
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Start using Windows. After selecting your network blazon, you'll be taken to the Windows desktop. If you lot didn't enter your product key earlier, you'll exist prompted for it now.

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1

Support any important files. When y'all reinstall OS X, all of your files will be deleted. Brand certain you copy all of your important documents, pictures, videos, and other files to a safe location, such as external hard bulldoze or cloud storage service. Meet How to Back up Data for instructions on backing up your important files.
2

Reboot your computer and hold . ⌘ Command+R afterward the startup sound. Release the keys once y'all see the Apple logo.
iii
Select the Wi-Fi network yous want to connect to. You may be prompted to select the network you want to connect to. If you don't have Wi-Fi, you'll need to connect via Ethernet. Y'all'll demand an internet connection to reinstall Bone 10.
- You lot tin also click the Wi-Fi icon in the upper-right corner and select the network you want to use.
4

Open "Disk Utility" from the Recovery menu. This volition open up a new window displaying all of the installed drives on your estimator.
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Select your difficult bulldoze and click "Erase." You can leave the settings that appear at their default and give the drive a new proper name if you'd like. Click "Erase" to confirm. Close Disk Utility once the erasing process is complete to return to the Recovery menu.
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Select "Reinstall OS Ten" and click "Continue." This will open the OS Ten installer. Yous will exist notified that your reckoner volition exist verified with Apple tree.^[iv]
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Read and have the license agreement. You'll demand to confirm that you accept this to proceed with the installation.
8

Select the drive that you desire to install OS X on. Choose the drive that you just erased in Disk Utility.
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Enter your Apple ID. Yous'll be prompted to enter your Apple tree ID to verify that you own the license for your operating system.
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Expect for the files to download. The installer volition begin downloading the files necessary to install OS X. The time this takes will depend on your connection speed.
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Select your region and keyboard. These should be selected correctly by default.
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Connect to your network. Select your wireless network and enter the countersign to connect to information technology. If you are connected via Ethernet, you won't be prompted to select a network.
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Choose to transfer information. You can restore a Time Machine backup or transfer files from a Windows PC. If you cull either of these, follow the prompts to transfer the files. To fix as a fresh calculator, select "Don't transfer any information now."
14

Sign in with your Apple ID. This will give you access to the Mac Shop and your iTunes purchases.
15

Create an account. By default, Bone Ten will utilize your Apple tree ID equally your figurer business relationship. You can choose to create a local business relationship instead.
16

Stop the setup process. You lot'll exist taken through a few more modest setup screens before yous are taken to your fresh desktop.^[five]

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Add New Question

Question

What is a partition?

Matt Ham
Computer Repair Specialist

Matt Ham is a Reckoner Repair Specialist and the CEO and President of Figurer Repair Doctor. With over a decade of experience, Matt specializes in Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Smartphone repairs and upgrades. Matt holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from N Carolina State University and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia Academy. Matt has expanded Computer Repair Doctor to vii different locations. He is also a Co-Owner of Repair Life, a full-scale marketing bureau specializing in driving both online and offline leads to cell phone and reckoner repair shops and device retailers.

Computer Repair Specialist

Proficient Answer

Information technology's like a built-in drive. You lot can create new partitions in Windows, or delete old ones. I would only mess around with them if you're following these steps to restore your organization, though.
Question

How do I admission the boot menu?

Matt Ham
Computer Repair Specialist

Matt Ham is a Computer Repair Specialist and the CEO and President of Calculator Repair Md. With over a decade of experience, Matt specializes in Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Smartphone repairs and upgrades. Matt holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina Country University and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia Academy. Matt has expanded Reckoner Repair Doctor to seven unlike locations. He is also a Co-Owner of Repair Life, a full-scale marketing bureau specializing in driving both online and offline leads to cell phone and computer repair shops and device retailers.

Computer Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

When you're restarting the machine, information technology'll say something like "Press F12 to enter the boot menu." That's where you access the menu to restore your machine.
Question

Is it worth hiring a pro to exercise this?

Matt Ham
Computer Repair Specialist

Matt Ham is a Computer Repair Specialist and the CEO and President of Computer Repair Doctor. With over a decade of feel, Matt specializes in Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Smartphone repairs and upgrades. Matt holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina Land University and an MS in Mechanical Applied science from Columbia Academy. Matt has expanded Computer Repair Doctor to seven unlike locations. He is too a Co-Owner of Repair Life, a full-scale marketing agency specializing in driving both online and offline leads to prison cell telephone and computer repair shops and device retailers.

Reckoner Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

If y'all feel comfortable messing around with your machine, then yeah. This is definitely one of those things you tin can pay someone to practise, and it shouldn't be a big deal for a pro to do it.
Question

Is history of search action shown while wiping is in progress?

No, your secrets are safe. In the future, just brand sure you clear your browser history subsequently looking at anything you don't want people to detect out about.
Question

For Windows 7, tin can I use an SD Card instead of USB?

No, SD cards are far as well slow for installing Windows vii. Y'all should employ USB or FireWire800.
Question

How can I wipe my Windows 10 and reinstall an older version of Windows?

Installl the older version on a drive partition. Once installed and properly running, delete the other Bone partition, so every bit to costless upwardly the allocated disk space. This allows a safe transition between the operating systems, and decreases the likelihood of losing computer functionality due to interrupted installations or information corruption. Look for details along the lines of "Installing an operating system on a disk partition.", specifying the Windows version you'd like in question.
Question

Can I wipe Windows vii and upgrade to 10 if I have the installer for 10 on a wink drive, or exercise I need to outset install seven and so upgrade?

You can install any version of Windows from scratch on whatsoever PC if the hardware meets the minimum requirements.
Question

Can I just wipe or take off my email that's on this estimator? I want to accept it back where I bought it from.

Curiousguy033

Customs Answer

Y'all tin take off the email on the device without issues, just don't deactivate information technology. Then you tin access it on a other device like telephone, laptop or tablet. Only don't forget your countersign or login info and you wont lose whatever important mails or contacts.