If you're running Windows 10 and encountering a seemingly unsolvable problem, reinstalling the operating system might be your all-time option. We're going to show you how to reinstall Windows without losing your personal information.

Windows x isn't without its problems and often information technology can exist hard to determine where the cause of the consequence lies. If your system worked well when you get-go got information technology, you might find that a particular commuter, program, or update is now causing trouble. Reinstalling Windows tin help solve this.

If you lot have your own communication or experience to share on reinstalling Windows, please permit us know in the comments below.

Back Upwardly Your Data

The process we're most to engage in will theoretically keep your personal data, but nada is ever certain. Information technology'due south all-time to have a backup just in example disaster strikes. You might also want to back up things outside your personal data, like program files or registry edits.

We've produced the ultimate Windows ten data backup guide, so it's likely that all the information you seek tin be constitute there. Only let's go through some steps.

The backup you lot create should never exist on the aforementioned drive as the primary copy of the data. Since you'll reinstall the operating system, your arrangement drive will exist cleaned too. Your fill-in should ideally exist on a separate bulldoze. If that's not possible, you could use smaller concrete media like a USB stick or opt for an online cloud storage service.

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If you don't want to have to remember almost what data to back upwards, you lot might want to consider creating an prototype of your organisation. This will basically create an exact duplicate, which you can ringlet dorsum to should annihilation get wrong during the Windows reset procedure.

Alternatively, you tin option and choose the data you want to keep and copy it over to the drive. Yous could utilise a third-party backup program to help you with this or you can do it manually.

What Data Should I Back up?

To begin, press Windows key + Due east to open File Explorer. It's likely that the majority of what you need volition exist in folders like Documents, Pictures, Videos, and the like.

Yous may want to consider your installed program's application data. This tin can be found by pressing Windows primal + R to open up Run, inputting %appdata% and pressing OK. It'll probable be sorted into folders named after the program'southward developer.

On a like vein, open up Run once again and scan to your Program Files folder, which will likely be C:\Program Files (x86). Here you'll find the actual installation files for your programs, and so copy them if yous don't want to redownload them, but also other things like settings or game saves.

Finally, y'all can as well back up any tweaks you fabricated in the registry. Open up Run, input regedit, and click OK to launch the Registry Editor. On the left-hand pane you lot can right click any folder and Consign it to create a re-create.

However, recollect the reason that you're reinstalling Windows. In that location'south no point bringing over all of this information; the issues you're having at present may reoccur. It'southward fine to back it up, just be wary about what yous reinstate on the other side.

Reinstall Windows

It'due south very easy to reinstall Windows. You lot don't need to download any software and information technology can all exist done with a few clicks.

To begin, press Windows key + I to open up Settings. Go to Update & security > Recovery. You'll find two options here.

Choice 1: Reset This PC

The first isReset this PC header. This volition reset your figurer back to the manufacturer state, which ways information technology'll also keep whatever bloatware that might have been there when you lot showtime got the organisation. This could be things similar program trials or manufacturer tools.

This isn't recommended, simply you lot tin use information technology if you wish. To proceed, click Get started, choose Keep my files, and progress through the sorcerer.

Option 2: Fresh Start

An alternative method is available from the aforementioned Settings window under More recovery options. Click Learn how to start afresh with a clean installation of Windows. It'll ask if you wanted to switch applications, and so click Yeah to launch Windows Defender. Now click Get started.

Keep pressing Side by side to proceed through the wizard, noting the information at each stage. You'll exist given a list of all your programs that will be uninstalled. See our guide on how to bulk install programs for a quick way to bring them back in one case you've reset Windows.

This method will proceed your personal data and default Windows programs, along with ensuring your arrangement is using the near recent version of Windows.

A Completely Clean System

The process complete, you'll now be running an entirely make clean version of Windows 10 with your personal information intact.

If everything worked out according to plan, you should also discover a backup of your organisation in the Windows.old folder on your C drive. While this is convenient, this is not a backup choice y'all should rely on! Windows 10 clears this binder afterward 10 days, so if there's annihilation you'd like to proceed for longer, motion the files out.

If you similar, you can reinstall your quondam programs and bring across the data that yous backed upward previously. Yet, call up to exist choosy with this. There'southward no betoken putting everything back to how it was after you lot just reinstalled Windows.

Not interested in keeping your personal data and looking for fifty-fifty more ways to reset Windows 10? Check out more ways to reset Windows 10 and reinstall from scratch in our guide.

Have you ever needed to reinstall Windows and keep your personal data? What method did you utilize to achieve that?

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Joe Keeley (848 Articles Published)

Joe was built-in with a keyboard in his hands and immediately started writing most engineering. He has a BA (Hons) in Business and is at present a total-time freelance writer who enjoys making tech simple for everyone.

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