Reinstall Windows with the installation media
Applies To
Windows 11 Windows 10Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
The installation media for Windows is a versatile tool that serves multiple purposes, including in-place installations for recovery and new installations. This media, typically created on a USB drive or DVD, contains all the necessary files to install or reinstall Windows on your device. It is particularly useful in scenarios where your system encounters significant issues, such as software corruption or hardware failure, that prevent it from booting or functioning correctly.
For recovery purposes, the installation media allows you to perform an in-place installation, which essentially reinstalls Windows without affecting your personal files, settings, or installed applications. This method is ideal for resolving system problems while preserving your data and configurations. By booting from the installation media and selecting the appropriate recovery options, you can restore your system to a stable state without the need for a complete wipe.
In cases where a fresh start is required, the installation media can be used for a new installation of Windows. This process involves completely erasing the existing data on your device and installing a clean version of Windows. It's a suitable option when you want to remove all previous data, settings, and applications, or when setting up a new device.
Alternatives to reinstallation with media
Before reinstalling Windows using the installation media, review the article Recovery options in Windows, which provides an overview of the different solutions to recover Windows.
Before you start the reinstall
If a device isn't performing as expected or Windows is having issues, it might be because of low disk space. Before reinstalling Windows, try freeing up disk space to see if it resolves the problems. For more information, see Free up drive space in Windows.
If personal data and files need to be saved before reinstalling Windows, back them up before performing the reinstall. Personal data and files can be backed up to an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or a cloud location, such as OneDrive.
Windows must be activated after it's reinstalled. Usually, activation happens automatically after going online. For more information, see Activate after reinstalling Windows.
Before Windows can be reactivated after a reinstall of Windows, your Microsoft account must be linked to the Windows digital license on the device. For more information, see Link your Windows digital license to your Microsoft account.
If Windows is reinstalled after making a significant hardware change to the device, such as replacing the motherboard, it might no longer be activated. Activation troubleshooter can be used to reactivate Windows. For more information, see Using the Activation troubleshooter.
When reinstalling Windows, select the edition of Windows that matches your digital license. For example, if the current edition of Windows is Home, Windows Home must be installed again.
To check which edition of Windows is currently running, follow these steps:
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Right-click on the Start menu and select Settings > System > About Or Select the following About shortcut:About
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In the System > About window that opens, the edition of Windows is displayed in the Windows specifications section next to Edition
Steps to reinstall Windows with media
You can reinstall Windows when you are signed in to Windows (in-place upgrade), or from the Windows Recovery Environment (clean install).
Select the option that best suits your needs:
Note: If you suspect that your device has been infected, make sure that your antivirus software is up to date.
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Connect the installation media you created to your PC
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Open File Explorer and select the drive with the installation media
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From the root directory of the drive, open the file setup.exe, and then select Yes when asked if you’d like to allow the app to make changes to your device
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Select Change what to keep
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Select one of the following options, and then select Next:
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Keep personal files and apps - This will preserve your personal data, apps, and settings
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Keep personal files only - This will preserve your personal data and settings, but all your apps will be removed
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Keep nothing - This will remove all personal data, settings, and apps
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To finish, select Install to start reinstalling Windows on your PC
Your PC will restart several times during the reinstallation.
If your PC doesn't start and you don't have a recovery drive or a repair disc, you can use the Media Creation Tool to create installation media for Windows. This tool can be used to download the latest version of Windows and create a bootable USB drive or DVD, which can then be used to perform a clean installation of Windows.
Warning: A clean installation is an advanced option to help start fresh on a device. Microsoft recommends following the below steps only if you're confident in making these changes. For more help, contact support. A clean installation removes all of the following items:
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Personal files
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Apps
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Customizations from the device manufacturer
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Any changes made in Settings
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On a working PC, create the installation media for Windows
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Connect the installation media you created to your nonfunctional PC. Start the PC using the installation media
Note: Check with the PC manufacturer on how to start the PC using media.
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The Windows 11 Setup starts once the device boots from the Windows installation media. If you don't see the setup screen, your PC might not be set up to boot from a drive. Check your PC manufacturer's website for info on how to change your PC's boot order and then try again. In the Select language settings window, select language and localization settings, and then select Next
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In the Select keyboard settings window, select keyboard settings, and then select Next.
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In the Select setup option window, select Install Windows 11, select I agree everything will be deleted including files, apps, and settings, and then select Next
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If the Product key window appears:
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Select I don't have a product key
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In the Select Image window that appears, select the edition of Windows that is installed on the device as determined in the section The edition of Windows being reinstalled needs to match your license. Once the proper Windows edition is selected, select Next. Once Windows is reinstalled, Windows applies the product key automatically based on the product key linked to your Microsoft account.
Warning: If you don't have a product key and your product key isn't linked to your Microsoft account, don't proceed forward. Instead, cancel the Windows setup by closing the window, and then follow the instructions in the section Link your digital license to your Microsoft account before reinstalling Windows.
Note: The Product key window might not appear. For example, if Windows Setup finds a product key stored in the firmware of the device, it automatically applies that product key, and the Product key window doesn't appear.
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In the Applicable notices and license terms window, select the Accept button
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In the Select location to install Windows 11 window:
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Delete all partitions on Disk 0 that aren't listed as Unallocated Space. Partitions are deleted by selecting and highlighting each one individually and then selecting ❌Delete Partition
Warning: If a device has more than one disk, there might be additional disks listed, for example, Disk 1. Don't modify or delete the partitions on any other disks besides Disk 0.
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Once all partitions on Disk 0 are deleted, there should only be one item left called Disk 0 Unallocated Space. Make sure Disk 0 Unallocated Space is selected and highlighted, and then select Next
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In the Ready to install window, select Install
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The Windows reinstall begins. The device restarts several times during the reinstallation
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Once Windows finishes reinstalling, step through the Windows configuration wizard and configure settings as desired. Make sure to connect to and sign in with your Microsoft account so that the digital license and product key saved to your Microsoft account is properly applied to Windows
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