Step 6: Select a source: Cloud download or Local reinstall. The Cloud download option installs the latest version stored in Microsoft’s cloud. What it doesn’t do is update Windows 10 to the latest version if you never bothered to install patches and feature updates. However, the Keep my files option keeps your profile intact along with the associated files and folders. That’s where the Cloud download option comes in: Windows pulls everything from Microsoft’s servers to rebuild the local copy.īoth options return all settings to their factory defaults and remove all software not installed from the Microsoft Store. However, the Local reinstall option may not be able to repair Windows 10 if it’s too broken, too corrupted. It’s Microsoft’s “ imageless recovery” system so installation media doesn’t need to lurk on a hidden partition, taking up space. In both cases, it rebuilds Windows 10 using the current installation. Your settings, such as the Start Menu arrangement, will go back to their defaults. Whichever you choose, you will need to reinstall all apps and programs acquired outside the Microsoft Store.

Here you need to decide whether you want to keep all of your files and folders intact, or truly start from scratch and then use your backup to restore those files and folders. In comparison, the standard reset option lets you choose whether to keep your files, doesn't save any settings, installs the same version of Windows, and lets you choose how to reinstall the OS. To summarize, Fresh Start downloads a fresh copy of the most recent Windows 10 version, keeps your files and some settings, and doesn't leave any manufacturer bloatware, aside from Store apps. The above reset process does not keep any of your settings. Finally, Fresh Start keeps 'some Windows settings,' but doesn't specify which ones.

The only exceptions are Microsoft Store apps that were installed by the manufacturer, which stay. Because of this, Fresh Start avoids clutter by removing all non-standard Windows apps, including manufacturer bloatware.Fresh Start downloads the latest version of Windows 10 from Microsoft, with no option to reinstall from local files.Fresh Start always keeps your personal files, with no option to remove everything and do a full factory reset.

How to wipe a windows computer