Reinstall Win 10 without losing data

BobZ said:

Please direct me to a relevant tutorial so that I can reinstall Windows 10 without losing anything on my computer. I hav Macrium so imaging the C drive isn't a problem.

An in-place repair/upgrade will not delete anything, it just rewrites the system files, leaving all user data and apps alone and preserved.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

All other methods, Reset, Refresh, and obviously clean install you would lose apps and data or at least apps on a Refresh.

One key thing: you haven't stated your Win 10 build - the forum prompted you to do so so we don't have to keep asking.

If you are running 1909, use a 1909 iso file
If you are running 2004, use a 2004 iso file
etc..
- of the same base language and 'bitness'.

heikwith said:

Are everything in Program Files also preserved ?

The way you ask your question suggests maybe you are running a 32-bit version of Windows, if so, make sure the ISO is 32-bit. Your apps and data are preserved. It's is a rare case when an app is not, and if so Windows would notify you. You're not left in the dark about it.

Yes, you can use a newer major build, but that's an upgrade to the next build. Not a repair. That difference needs to be clearly understood.

Using a newer major build has implications for features, drivers and potentially bugs.
Personally I find that statement in the tutorial potentially confusing.