Windows 10: OEM Windows is broken. Should I repair or wipe disk and start again?

Hi, your simplest option would be to use the manufacturer's restore partition and restore your PC to exactly how it was when you bought it.

The first thing you then do is to install Macrium Reflect (free) and start routinely creating and updating system and disk images, create its boot medium. You will need external storage for images at least equal to and preferably double the amount of data you are imaging.

That way you can restore an image after something breaks (or you break sthg!).

Once you have created your first base image (larger and slower than the rest) start removing trialware you don't want. Update your image when complete.

Create a separate partition.. that's where it's a really good idea to put your personal data- separate from the OS.

Install your favourite programs- periodically update your disk image. And so on.

Creating disk images lets you restore Windows and all your disks and partitions to a previous working state, quickly and probably without technical help.

You can recover from:
- a failed disk drive (restore to a new one)
- ransomware (which encrypts your disk)
- user error
- unrecoverable problems from failed updates to problem programs
- unbootable PC (hardware faults aside)

Images also act as a full backup- you can extract files too.

You can even use images to help you move more easily and quickly to a new PC.
Can be used with Laplink software to transfer your build automatically to another PC

Imaging can even help you sleep at night knowing you have a second chance.

Many here recommend Macrium Reflect (free) as a good robust solution and more reliable than some others. It’s
- more feature rich
- more flexible
- more reliable
than Windows Backup and Restore system images.

It's well supported with videos, help and a responsive forum.

There are other such programs, free/commercial, some with simpler interfaces, but Macrium R is one of the most robust and reliable.

How long does it take?
SSD+ USB3 - maybe 15 mins for the first system image, less thereafter
HDD + USB2 - maybe 40-50 mins
That’s with little personal data, few programs installed.
- of course, depends how much you have on C:
(You can and should image all your partitions and disks)

Once you've created your first image, keep it updated with e.g. differential imaging- which images just changes from the first image, more quickly, and creates a smaller image file.

You need a backup medium - say- twice as large as the total amount of data you are imaging to keep a reasonable number of differential images. This will vary dependent on the number of images you keep, so is only a rough practical guide.

Some comment that system restore isn't always reliable; if it works and solves the problem, great. But sometimes restores won't work or fail. And of course a restore point only covers a limited number of aspects of the system. That’s where disk imaging comes in.

I am then guessing this is a second hand machine.

In that case, run a disk check before you waste too much time
Use Crystal Diskinfo (free/portable...) to check the disk. You can also run Macrorit Diskscanner (free) to check the surface if you like.

(if unbootable, boot using Kyhi's boot DVD /drive available from the top of the Software and Apps section here)

If it's used, wipe and clean install. As it's running Win 10, activation should be automatic.