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How to perform a clean install of Windows 11

How to perform a clean install of Windows 11

Performing a clean install of Windows 11 allows you to start fresh with a completely new operating system that is free of old settings, unnecessary files, and potential malware. It also gives you the opportunity to upgrade your machine if you’ve been using an older version of Windows. Doing so can give your device faster boot times, improved stability, and enhanced protection against malicious software. Here are the different methods you can take to perform a clean install of Windows 11.

Check compatibility

First off, you need to make sure that your PC can run Windows 11. The most recent version of the Windows operating system is rather heavy on requirements and may not run or even install properly if your PC doesn’t meet its requirements. You can check your PC’s eligibility with the PC Health Check app, but the easiest way is through your PC’s settings.

Head to Settings> Update & Security> Windows Update, and then click on Check for Updates. If your PC is eligible for Windows 11, you’ll see an Upgrade to Windows 11 feature.

There are ways to upgrade to Windows 11 if your PC doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements; we’ve even written a how-to guide for that process, but it is highly discouraged to do so as you won’t have Microsoft’s protection should your PC be infected with malware or suffer performance issues due to the Windows 11 upgrade. Also, note that the increased requirements are mainly centered around better security, so installing Windows 11 on an unsupported device is a risky move.

Create a backup

A backup is one of the most important recovery strategies when it comes to software updates. There are many third-party backup options, but Windows 10 has a built-in utility for this function specifically. All you need is a clean USB storage device with enough space for your system data.

  • First, you’ll want to open your Control Panel.
  • Next, head to System and Security, and hit Backup and Restore.
  • Click the On a Hard Disk option, and then select your USB device from the drop-down menu.
  • Click Next, and then click Start Backup, and you’ll be good to go.

When the backup is complete, we recommend you save your backup to a cloud storage service like OneDrive as well. This is important if you suspect you have malware on your PC, as OneDrive is a master at neutralizing suspicious files.

Free up some space

The Windows 11 installation takes up quite a bit of space. A good rule of thumb is to clear as much space as you can. Usually, a factory reset will obliterate all space-hungry apps and settings, but to be on the safe side, open Settings again, click on System and then head to Storage.

Next, head to Local Disk (C:), and click on the Temporary Files option.

Now you can just select all the temporary files you wish to remove and click the Remove Files button.

1. USB drive

The simplest way to perform a clean install of Windows 11 is to create a bootable USB drive with Microsoft’s media creation tool. This requires an 8 GB or larger USB drive and a valid Windows 11 Product Key (or digital license).

Once the USB drive is created, insert it into your computer and reboot. If your PC does not automatically boot from the USB drive, you will need to access the BIOS menu by pressing the appropriate key during startup (e.g., DEL, F12, etc.) and change the boot settings.

When you boot through the USB, you’ll be guided through the Windows 11 installation process. If you are reinstalling Windows 11, you won’t need to enter a product key. You simply need to accept the license terms, select the hard drive you want to install Windows 11 on, and follow the onscreen instructions. Keep in mind that deleting a drive partition or reinstalling Windows 11 on a specific drive will erase all the data stored on that drive.

During the installation, you’ll have to select the language and region, name your PC, determine whether the device is for personal or professional use, set up your Microsoft account, and customize your privacy settings.

2. ISO file

You can install Windows 11 by downloading an ISO file from the Microsoft support site. When downloaded, right-click the ISO file, click Mount > Virtual drive. Then, double-click the setup.exe file to begin the Windows 11 installation. Go through the installation guide and link the device to your Microsoft account.

3. Reset PC from recovery settings

If you already have Windows 11 installed but are experiencing issues like frequent system freezes, slow boot times, and more, you may be able to fix the problem by resetting your PC from the recovery settings. This method doesn’t work if you’re planning to upgrade from an older version of Windows.

To reset your PC, go to Settings > System > Recovery. In the recovery options, click on the Reset this PC button, click the remove everything option, and then select local reinstall. You can also configure the reinstallation options and choose whether to wipe just data, delete files from all drives, or download Windows from the cloud. Finally, press confirm and reset to reinstall Windows 11.

4. Advanced startup options

If you’re unable to boot your PC normally, you can use the advanced startup options to perform a clean install of Windows 11. To access the advanced startup options, press and hold the power button on your PC to do a hard reboot. Do this at least three times until the screen says “Automatic Repair.”

When you see this message, go to Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything . Select either cloud download or local reinstall, and choose whether to remove only files or format the entire drive. You’ll then be guided through the setup process as if you were doing a clean install from a USB drive.

Note that this method only works if you already have Windows 11 installed on the device.

Give our team a call today!

Reinstalling Windows 11 can be a daunting process, which is why you can always consult with our team. We have experience in performing clean installations of Windows 11 and can help you avoid any potential problems.

Beringer Technology Group, a leading Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and CRM for Distribution also provides expert Managed IT ServicesBackup and Disaster RecoveryCloud Based Computing, Email Security Implementation and Training,  Unified Communication Solutions, and Cybersecurity Risk Assessment.


theProfessor

theProfessor

Rob is the CTO of Beringer Technology Group, and focuses his efforts on software development, cloud engineering, team mentoring and strategic technical direction. Rob has worked with Beringer since 2005, and has influenced every department from Development, Security, Implementation, Support and Sales. Rob graduated with his MBA from Rowan University in 2012, earned his Bachelors of Computer Science in 1997, and is current with several Microsoft technical certifications. Rob is very active, and loves to mountain bike, weight train, cook and hike with his dog pack.