I have a habit of using the Windows Installation Media USB stick to reinstall windows as I think it’s the most thorough solution to “nuke and pave” Windows.
I wonder if resetting and choosing “remove everything” is equivalent. If that’s the case, I’d use this option in the future, as it’s a bit easier.
Any advice much appreciated.
Last edited by rodion15; 28 Apr 2022 at 06:05. Reason: error
There's a very slight difference.
See https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...allation_media
Compare
Reset Windows 10 - Remove everything [the second entry in the table]
withClean install of Windows 10 using installation media [the bottom entry in the table]
[Don't be mislead by those multiple Reinstall Windows 10 using installation media entries. If you read their detail you'll see that they are describing various options within what is normally called the Repair install procedure.]
Your comparison will reveal that Reset Windows 10 - Remove everything is expected to preserve apps that came with your computer [i.e. pre-installed apps] whereas a Clean install will ditch everything.
All the best,
Denis
To make Denis explanation more simple
- A reset will reinstall using the files on the computer and restoring some OEM bloatware.
- A clean install using an external drive (USB or DVD) will clean all and install the version you have on the USB or DVD.
An additional advantage of clean install over reset remove files is the opportunity to change the drive partition structure.
If a drive is MBR a reset remove files ends up with a MBR drive.
A clean install in contrast gives you the opportunity to modify the BIOS from Legacy to UEFI and change the drive partition structure from MBR to GPT.
This could allow the user to move from 4 partitions up to 128 partitions as needed.
Don`t forget to copy your Activation key before any reset to be on the safe side! Settings-system-about
i've been trying to update my windows 10 to no avail and it scrambles my computer every time i try, i dont quite have my head around doing a clean install from an ISO just yet so i've been using that same method you inquire about many many many times now and can unequivocally tell you it does re install all the bloatware associated with the computer.
mines a HP and it comes back with all the Windows crap you dont need as well as all the HP crap.
so basically it comes back with everything it came with from the shelf.
i've never had to do this for the "remove everything" option but still a good idea anyways for future times.
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