Best way to fix Windows 10/11 issues with a OS reinstall?

Frank15 · May 15, 2024

I’m thinking of the best ways to reinstall Windows when all other attempts to fix issues failed, when you want to avoid a wipe and reinstall that would require reinstalling apps and restoring user data.

A good option to try one after the other:

In-Place Upgrade > Windows Reset > Wipe and reinstall

It’s best to first do a backup of the full system drive, or at least of all the user data.

IN-PLACE UPGRADE:

Reinstalls only the OS, while keeping apps, and user data

As explained here:

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

there’s one for W10 too, basically the same.

Caveat: needs to be started from within the OS, so you have to be able to log in.

WINDOWS RESET/KEEPING DATA:

If the In-Place Upgrade didn’t fix the issue, you can try a Windows Reset and choose to keep user’s data. This way you won’t have to backup and restore the data manually. This will reinstall the OS, while removing third party apps and resetting settings to defaults.

It can be started from within the OS or within Windows RE.

WINDOWS RESET/REMOVE USER DATA: don’t keep user data. This reinstalls Windows, removes 3rd party apps, resets settings to defaults.

WIPE AND REINSTALL: make a bootable thumbdrive with an installer of Windows (just google how to, it’s easy) and boot your PC from it. This will format the system drive and reinstall Windows, and will also reinstall the hidden partitions boot and EFI partitions.

I’d appreciate opinions.

TechnoMage2021 · May 15, 2024

For years, as a computer tech, I've been screaming from the rooftops, "Backup! Backup! Backup!". And I do!
My data files are NEVER on my C: drive, so they are never in jeopardy. They are also backed up to Flash Drive(s) regularly.
The C: drive, incorporating Windows and all my programs are backed up in a compressed Image File, to a separate drive, on a weekly basis.

It's not often that I have to Restore a Backup Image, to fix some Snafu in Windows, but when that does happen, it's only a 15 minute delay to get a nice clean restoration of my Windows.

My backup/restore program, "Ghost 11.5" (the last DOS version) is never on my HD/SSD, but is always on its own Bootable Flash Drive.
So, if my main SSD/HD should totally CRASH, I can still boot up my PC with the Ghost Flash Drive and restore a Backup Image file, to a New HD/SSD. I've been using Ghost, since I first discovered it back in 1997, and I'm still using the last DOS version today. And, I still have my original GHOST boot floppy disk.

The whole process is so ridiculously simple I don't understand why more people refuse to do it. ??? But I guess that's just human nature.
Makes me ashamed, sometimes, to call myself Human.

Good Luck, Mate!
TM

Frank15 · May 15, 2024

TechnoMage2021 said:
For years, as a computer tech, I've been screaming from the rooftops, "Backup! Backup! Backup!". And I do!
My data files are NEVER on my C: drive, so they are never in jeopardy. They are also backed up to Flash Drive(s) regularly.
The C: drive, incorporating Windows and all my programs are backed up in a compressed Image File, to a separate drive, on a weekly basis.

It's not often that I have to Restore a Backup Image, to fix some Snafu in Windows, but when that does happen, it's only a 15 minute delay to get a nice clean restoration of my Windows.

My backup/restore program, "Ghost 11.5" (the last DOS version) is never on my HD/SSD, but is always on its own Bootable Flash Drive.
So, if my main SSD/HD should totally CRASH, I can still boot up my PC with the Ghost Flash Drive and restore a Backup Image file, to a New HD/SSD. I've been using Ghost, since I first discovered it back in 1997, and I'm still using the last DOS version today. And, I still have my original GHOST boot floppy disk.

The whole process is so ridiculously simple I don't understand why more people refuse to do it. ??? But I guess that's just human nature.
Makes me ashamed, sometimes, to call myself Human.

Good Luck, Mate!
TM

I'll try that. I remember I tried this long ago but I had issues, I guess becase most software expects the user folders to be in c:\users. But it's worth a try.
Thank you.