Refresh, reinstall, or fuggedaboutit?

DV1 · 10 Jul 2023

I've never had to refresh/reset Windows in any of the computers I've had but after 5 years with the present computer (a refurbished HP) I think it may help performance to freshen up things somewhat.

The online instructions for this seem fairly simple in that 'refresh' keeps files but removes apps etc., while 'reinstall' gives you a clean slate. Which of course means save one's files on an external drive and then migrate back.

Refreshing the OS is what I was going for but then I thought a reinstall would be even better. I called a repair place to ask them if the computer I had would have Win 10 in place to do that. The person on the phone said that it might not be in there. I tried to get some more info from him but he seemed hurried and I guess it was one of those things that maybe they get a lot of calls like mine and they're not about to give lengthy advice for free.

As an option, I looked around online and noticed the bit about making an ISO image on a drive and instructions as how to proceed from there. I have some empty flash sticks so that shouldn't be much of a problem.

Question:

How/where would I go about finding if this PC has Win 10 to do such for the reinstall before I go the ISO image route? I ask this because I remember seeing somewhere (can't remember where on the PC) something about 'Win 7'. Best I can guess about this is that maybe the original PC had Win 7 and then refurbished with Win 10 which would then lend logic to the repair person's comments. In my opinion, Win 7 was a great OS but of course time marches on to the drumbeat of Microsoft 'improvements'.

By the way, this refurbished PC has been running like a champ for 5 years. A couple of hiccups here and there that were easily addressed by myself but otherwise as pleasant as Christopher Cross' song, 'Sailing'.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Daniel

Ghot · 10 Jul 2023

@DV1

Try an In-Place Upgrade (repair install), first. If that doesn't freshen things up... then do a clean install...

An In-Place Upgrade "compares" what is installed on the computer, with the Windows ISO image.
Then, it overwrites corrupted Windows files, with clean copies from the ISO image.
This is how it "repairs" Windows while allowing you to keep your programs and personal files.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software

Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect or AOMEI Backupper Standard
Making a backup is optional, but always a smart move.
If you had a backup from before this problem occurred, you wouldn't be reading this.

Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect for Home Use
Free Backup Software for Windows | AOMEI Backupper Standard (free)

Go here and get the Media Creation Tool and save it to your desktop.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

RUN the Media Creation Tool and use it to: Create an ISO image... save IT to your desktop.
This will be the latest version of the ISO image.
The ISO must be created in the same language as you are using in Windows, to be able to keep your Programs and Files.

Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.

The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations.
Your drivers, programs and data will be intact.

dalchina · 10 Jul 2023

How/where would I go about finding if this PC has Win 10

E.g. Settings, About (in the search box)

The forum clearly prompted you for the full Windows build number (so we don't have to keep on asking). That would also readily show if you have Win 10, had you given it.

Why does that matter? Because, as shown in Ghot's text above, the major build must match that of the iso (+ base language etc), and if your build isn't 19045 (22H2) you would get the iso file a different way. (See relevant tutorial for methods)

something about 'Win 7'

- you may be thinking of the legacy (don't use it) Win 7 Backup and Restore.

Note: an in-place upgrade repair install (like any 'upgrade') keeps your accounts, progs, data and most settings.

DV1 · 11 Jul 2023

@Ghot

Thank you for the info. Will get to this in a few days and update as to progress. Lots of other errands to do AFK and when the temps are around and above 100 as they are here in Las Vegas, well, 'chill' becomes a particularly qualified adjective.

@dalchina

Win 10 Home - build: 19045.3086

I gather then that I will be looking for that particular build number to download an ISO image?

dalchina · 11 Jul 2023

Thank you for your reply.

19045 is the current build, so you can simply use the MS media creation tool as per the relevant tutorial.

Megahertz · 11 Jul 2023

Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you
System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums

In my opinion there is nothing like a clean install to make the computer faster and bloatware clean.

- Save all your data on an external drive
- Save all the current drivers (most OEM computers has dedicated drivers). Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10
- I suggest you build the USB Win 10 22h2 installation drive using MCT

Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

If you have a UEFI BIOS, you should install as UEFI-GPT
Detach any other drives (SATA or Power cable) from the MB.

During POST, press F9(?) to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name) if you want to install as UEFI-GPT or select USB (name) if you want to install as Legacy-MBR.
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the main drive till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.
If you don't want to use MS account, don't enable updates or connect to the internet during installation.

spapakons · 18 Jul 2023

If it works, then why you want to refresh it? An in-place upgrade should fix system file errors, but not improve performance. You can try uninstalling old applications you no longer use. Then go at Task Manager, Startup section and uncheck the boxes to applications you don't need at startup. I would disable any browser, Skype, Office, any updater running at startup and consuming valuable resources. I can always manually launch them only when I want to use them. Also you can optimize/defragment the disk. I would cleanup first and then defrag. In cleanup click the button to also include advanced options. Make sure you check all boxes to maximize free space. Then defrag the disk. Needless to say that you should have only one antivirus. Running two or more at the same time severely degrades performance as each one constantly checks the other slowing system to a crawl. Also check your disk's health with Crystal Info or Hard Disk Sentinel. Anything less than 95% health should be replaced. Another culprit is temperature. If you clean all dust and replace thermal paste at the CPU you should improve performance. CPU slows down after some temperature thresholds to prevent damage.