Solved Is factory reset the same as clean install?

Is a factory reset (the kind of reset that MS recommends before donating a computer, with the data wipe option enabled) the same as a clean install?

If not the same, what is the difference in the end results?

The computer manufacturer may place a partition on the disk drive for factory reset.

This allows the manufacturer to put whatever they want into the computer at the time of sale (the operating system with files are then available for a restore).

So any Dell, HP, Lenovo software or firmware that was installed at the time of sale is installed by the factory reset.

In contrast, a clean install only installs the Windows version on the iso.

A computer can come with Windows 7 and then be upgraded to Windows 8.1 then Windows 10 and then 11. The factory reset will reinstall Windows 7 at the time of sale. Whereas a clean install could install Windows 10, 11, etc.



See the chart in this tutorial:

Restores the firmware? Slightly scary, if true.

Firmware settings instead of firmware.
Thx

Factory Reset - Installs OS + all the Bloatware and Unnecessary Applications you don't need

Clean Install - Installs OS only, and not all the bloatware, just Microsoft's apps (which can also be uninstalled)

If a factory recovery partition is present, Windows resets itself to its factory default state. All the manufacturer installed software and drivers that came with the PC will be reinstalled.

But if you installed Windows yourself, it will use the WinRE and will be a fresh Windows system without any additional software.
Microsoft explains what’s actually going on under the hood like this.

When you reset your PC and remove everything:

1. The PC boots into Windows RE, the Windows Recovery Environment
2. Windows RE erases and formats the Windows partitions before installing a fresh copy of Windows.
3. The PC restarts into the new copy of Windows.

When you choose to keep your files, the same steps occur. However, before erasing your Windows partition, Windows RE scans the hard drive for your files and personal settings. It places them aside, installs a fresh copy of Windows, and puts them back where they were found.

Whether you choose to keep your personal files or not, this process involves a completely fresh Windows system.

Thanks to all who responded, I have the info I need, I will mark this thread solved

It might be the same thing, but not quite. The reset reinstalls the same version of Windows (for example 20H1). While with a clean installation you could use a newer ISO and install the latest version (such as 21H2). As for the drivers, I always prefer to install the latest anyway, so I choose a clean install which can also be faster than a reset.

I do clean installs less often than I see solar eclipses, so there were not many occasions to develop best practices > what can I do to maximize my chances of success?

> download the latest and greatest ISO
> use cloud files rather than local files
> repeatedly do Windows Update until there are no more updates
> repeatedly update drivers until there are no more updates

Anything else that belong in the checklist?

This are some options to consider:

a) make free backup images and save the images to another disk drive or the cloud

b) check the motherboard website for BIOS upgrades (improved performance, security, etc.)

c) run scannow, restorehealth, chkdsk as needed to maintain the integrity of the various files / file systems

d) find a third party software application to monitor drive SMART data as needed

e) regback if you don't make backup images

JMedlock83 said:

Factory Reset - Installs OS + all the Bloatware and Unnecessary Applications you don't need

Clean Install - Installs OS only, and not all the bloatware, just Microsoft's apps (which can also be uninstalled)

Click to expand...

Not necessarily true. If you installed the OS clean to begin with, and then before selling did the reset option, you wouldn't have a bunch of bloatware and preinstalled apps. You would retain your drivers and such.

Haydon said:

> download the latest and greatest ISO

Click to expand...

Which is still stuck on build 318, sigh...

Don't worry about the version. Just run Windows Update to install latest build.

Since I didn't see any answer to the question it is completely - no it is not the same thing whatsoever. So I'll try to explain since I drank some coffee.

The factory reset will simply restore your system to your latest firmware update. This means it will revert your system to how it was when you first purchased it. Or an updated version of that. Typically, this means deleting everything and reinstalling everything to what the manufacturer installed into your system along with the OS. Which will not be an actual true fresh copy of W11. Very highly not recommended.

A clean install is always recommended for any installation. And should be done even if the system is brand new out of the box. To completely wipe the drive and perform a completely clean installation of Windows. While cheering "format format format".

The first part of this is often overlooked which is completely wiping the drive. Also known as zeroing out the drive. Or writing zeros to the drive. Basically, eradicating anything and everything in the drive. This is not the same thing as formatting. But should be done prior to formatting. However, this step is often skipped. Modern BIOS (UEFI) often have this capability to wipe your drive completely clean.

Formatting is a process in which a base file system is installed into a drive. Thereby, prepping the drive for OS installation. Many users, including myself in the past, thought that formatting meant wiping the drive as described above. This is due to the fact that formatting involves deleting all information prior to installation of the file system. However, this is not a through reliable method of actually deleting everything. Nonetheless, it is quite common for users to overlook the first step of wiping the drive, and just start with formatting. However, not recommended to ignore the first step.

Formatting is a feature of Windows 11 installation. So once you have completed the first step of actually wiping your main drive clean. You can proceed to run the Windows 11 installer. When you get to the section on hard drive partitions, make sure you choose the drive you want to install Windows 11 on, then select the option for - New Drive. The installer will then setup the proper partitions necessary separating out some minor files. You will then want to choose the main partition of your main drive - which is the full empty part where all your empty storage space is. And select the option for - format. Thereby, it will proceed to format the drive to continue with the installation.

Note - it is important for this entire process that the system has completely no access to the internet. And to have your genuine Windows key that came with your computer embedded in your brain.

Once Windows is fully installed, you can find all your drivers on the manufacturer website. This is typically done with a separate computer prior to allowing the computer you're setting up to access the internet. You can transfer the drivers to a USB, and use that to install the drivers into the system.

Then when connecting to the internet, you can run the update and all the validation stuff.

sourcecode said:

Modern BIOS (UEFI) often have this capability to wipe your drive completely clean.

Click to expand...

Can you show us some pictures by way of example?
What can we do to wipe the drive completely clean if the BIOS (UEFI) does not have this capability?

sourcecode said:

Note - it is important for this entire process that the system has completely no access to the internet.

Click to expand...

Why? I thought that cloud files can be cleaner than local files?

sourcecode said:

And to have your genuine Windows key that came with your computer embedded in your brain.

Click to expand...

If you store the Windows product key in your Microsoft account, and you wipe the drive completely clean prior to the clean re-install, should that not be sufficient to validate?

Haydon said:

Can you show us some pictures by way of example?
What can we do to wipe the drive completely clean if the BIOS (UEFI) does not have this capability?


Why? I thought that cloud files can be cleaner than local files?


If you store the Windows product key in your Microsoft account, and you wipe the drive completely clean prior to the clean

Click to expand...

No images. There are third-party nuke tools for zeroing the drive. Which may be even better. Can't recommend any off the top of my head since I haven't used any since CD-ROM as UEFI has been sufficient.

Cloud files require internet access. So you need to ensure you have everything locally available regardless if connected to internet during installation or not. Either way, connecting with internet before everything is ready could potentially interfere with clean installation. The only reason to ever connect to the internet in regards to installation is when it is time to update.

Any alternative method for validation does not apply to general use. Especially considering the fact that MSA is not necessary for simply having a key. Your method only applies if you have MSA or even intend to use it. MSA tends to only be useful if you intend to use additional web-app features associated with Windows Store.

Since this is a question about renewing windows to factory defaults.
1. Just as with clean install it's good to have ready and working internet and that mostly involves wired connection (universal NIC drivers are included). That also enables it to download and install any missing drivers,
2. Any way you get installation files, be it thru MCT, direct ISO download (from MS), use Rufus or let windows directly do it, you get same version and that's last publicly released ISO. After finishing it should update to last build.
3. "Zeroing" the drive is not needed, for SSDs maybe even bad as such renovation will replace all system partitions and make new ones.
4. Since all this is happening on same PC (actually motherboard that counts). no need to type insert registration, at first connection to internet it will "phone home" and activate.
5. Haven't seen any UEFI BIOS do anything to disks but some older BIOS versions had ability for Low Level format which wasn't advisable either.

Why you should wipe the drive? Once new data are written on top, the original data become garbage and useless. Also a full format is very time consuming and unnecessary. You don't even need to create partitions and format them. Just delete all original partitions, select the blank disk and proceed.

CountMike said:

Since this is a question about renewing windows to factory defaults.
1. Just as with clean install it's good to have ready and working internet and that mostly involves wired connection (universal NIC drivers are included). That also enables it to download and install any missing drivers,
2. Any way you get installation files, be it thru MCT, direct ISO download (from MS), use Rufus or let windows directly do it, you get same version and that's last publicly released ISO. After finishing it should update to last build.
3. "Zeroing" the drive is not needed, for SSDs maybe even bad as such renovation will replace all system partitions and make new ones.
4. Since all this is happening on same PC (actually motherboard that counts). no need to type insert registration, at first connection to internet it will "phone home" and activate.
5. Haven't seen any UEFI BIOS do anything to disks but some older BIOS versions had ability for Low Level format which wasn't advisable either.

Click to expand...

Most of this is false.

The reason you're claiming that zeroing the drive is bad is the exact reason to zero it. Therefore zeroing the drive is the direct opposite of bad. And no it will not replace anything. It will delete everything so that there will be no partitions at all. Not even one. This is why during installation, you create a new partition on the driver. Even if that partition is the entire drive itself. All of which I made clear to explain. Which you completely ignored.

You do not need any working internet at all for installation. Especially when it comes to drivers which I even mentioned to install prior to connecting to internet. Again which I explained clearly and you completely ignored.

All those other methods for installation are using a mix of going through something else and not as secure. Including may not be functional offline. The best and most reliable for cleanest installation installing directly from offline media. Such as USB or Optical drive.

You didn't explain why it's important to wipe the drive before. Doing a zero fill and full format on an SSD drive unnecessarily shorten its life.