How to reinstall OS without losing apps and data....

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. inPicton
    Posts : 82
    Windows 10
       New #1

    How to reinstall OS without losing apps and data....


    Am unable to load Win 10. Have done all the things on the various Blue screens. Also did chkdsk /f/s ,no errors. Also tried a Restore Point, just got an Error message. I read somewhere on 10 forums there are a series of commands used at Command Prompt that may fix, but can't find. Would you suggest going the repair route first? If so, please point me to the appropriate Tutorial?
    If that doesn't work I wanted to reinstall OS without losing data and apps.
    Thank you for any help.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. zbook
    Posts : 41,475
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       New #2

    These are Microsoft recovery options:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...6-e3b5a3024da5

    An additional option is a custom install:

    Custom Install Windows 10

    How to Restore Files from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. repairpc956
    Posts : 30
    window
       New #3

    keeping all info doesn't seem likely


    found out and learned from my thread that if the "general" steps do not work
    then it seems better to just go to last step

    last step seems to be a complete reinstall of w10
    Clean Install Windows 10

    or this other ways of reinstalling w10
    Custom Install Windows 10

    doesn't seem like there's really any other options besides these 2...

    dont understand completely what is the differences of these 2
    but it depends on what type of info you want to save

    certain info doesnt seem like its possible to be saved

    seems like only way to save many kinds of info is a complete backup of entire drives
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. inPicton
    Posts : 82
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Thank you zbook. Looks like I'll have to do it via the "Choose Options" screen. Do you know how to. get to it?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. zbook
    Posts : 41,475
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       New #5

    These links have text and images:

    Custom Install Windows 10

    Clean Install Windows 10

    Refresh Windows 10

    Reset Windows 10
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. dalchina
    Posts : 43,009
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #6

    You should also check your disk using e.g. Crystal Diskinfo (free).
    As you can't boot you'd need either to use a live boot disk or connect your disk as an external disk to another PC.

    Don't confuse that with chkdsk which only acts on one partition, and doesn't check the entire physical disk's condition.

    Your options:

    a. If you have been using 3rd party disk imaging regularly and routinely as is ENDLESSLY recommended here-
    i. recover more recently added data
    ii. restore the most recent disk image of your O/S

    That makes it simple and routine.

    I will assume you haven't discovered the value of that in protecting your system, your time and your stress level.
    When you next have a working O/S then start doing that as soon as you possibly can.


    Lacking that, absolutely no guarantees whatsoever, and you could end up wasting a lot of time and having to do a clean install.

    b. Try using offline DISM commands.
    E.g.
    Use DISM Offline to Repair Windows 10 Image (2 Ways)

    For more - simply search for
    offline DISM repair O/S

    c. Custom install as zbook suggested - not so straightforward.
    Last edited by dalchina; 14 Mar 2024 at 02:54.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  9. Steve C
    Posts : 7,906
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       New #7

    zbook said:
    These are Microsoft recovery options:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...6-e3b5a3024da5

    An additional option is a custom install:

    Custom Install Windows 10

    How to Restore Files from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10
    Didn't Custom Install used to be called Repair Install?
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  10. dalchina
    Posts : 43,009
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #8

    The two are different assuming that 'repair install' = in-place upgrade repair install - only possible if the O/S boots normally.

    A custom install is more complicated in that it requires a lot more user actions.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  12. Steve C
    Posts : 7,906
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       New #9

    dalchina said:
    The two are different assuming that 'repair install' = in-place upgrade repair install - only possible if the O/S boots normally.

    A custom install is more complicated in that it requires a lot more user actions.
    That's why I use Macrium Reflect to recover in about 10 minutes!
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  13. zbook
    Posts : 41,475
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       New #10

    Steve C said:
    Didn't Custom Install used to be called Repair Install?
    A repair install is performed by booting to Windows and using a non-booted Windows Media Creation Tool (MCT) (Windows iso).
    Drivers, Applications, and files are maintained.

    A custom install is performed when it is no longer possible to boot Windows.
    The computer is booted using a Windows Media Creation Tool (MCT) (Windows iso).
    A fresh version of Windows is installed.
    Drivers and Applications need to be reinstalled.
    Important files are restored from Windows.old.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
Morning all, As stated in the title, I need to reinstall Windows 10 Pro, Version 20H2 (OS build 19042.906) such that my data and apps are not destroyed. I have searched the forum and found two related tutorials: Reinstall Windows 10 with this...
My Win10 installation is misbehaving in various minor ways. I've run sfc/scannow and that turns out clear. A possible solution is to reinstall windows without disturbing apps and existing data. I found what appears to be a pretty clear video on...
Reinstall Win 10 without losing data
in Installation and Upgrade

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.
I upgraded to Windows10 from WIndows7 sometime ago and have just kept cloning my hard drive whenever I needed a drive upgrade. I've ended up with a 2T NTFS drive with Windows10 that has a messed up boot record and also won't update the OS. I'm...
Like many other Windows 10 users in this forum, 1803 will not install for me. I have made several attempts to track down system settings that might be preventing the upgrade (like registry errors, Group Policy settings, security software, using the...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 13:35.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums