How to perform a clean install in Windows 10 and 11
Figure 1: Select Remove everything and proceed to the next step.
Ed Tittel / IDG
The Reset this PC tool advances to the next set of options, which allow you to grab files from Windows Update in the cloud (“Cloud download”) or reuse local Windows OS files on the current system (“Local reinstall”), as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: For best possible results, choose the Cloud download option to get known, good files from Microsoft.
Ed Tittel / IDG
The Cloud download option grabs fresh, new files from Microsoft servers, from which the reinstall proceeds. This is recommended, because problems with local files may affect the local recovery partition or folder that a reset is supposed to address. Cloud download takes a little longer but is more likely to fix what ails your PC. That said, Local reinstall, which grabs files from the local Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), may make sense for those with slow or expensive internet connections.
Once the files are all available, the Windows installer (setup.exe) takes over and starts a routine Windows 10 or 11 installation. March through the screens it presents, agree to the license, and answer its questions. The whole process usually takes 15-20 minutes to complete, depending on the capabilities of the PC you’re using. (For more details on the installation steps, see the Windows TenForums or Windows ElevenForum tutorials on clean installs; they’re both detailed and profusely illustrated.)
