

Reinstall- you get a completely new registry SFC doesn't repair the registry. That's quite different to simply checking and correcting where possible your system files vs those in a repository on your disk. This reinstalls Windows, with the two options, including by definition, removing all installed programs. This might take an hour or two, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed.


Reinstalls Windows 10 and removes all your personal files.(If your PC came with Windows 10, apps from your PC manufacturer will be reinstalled.) Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed.Removes apps and drivers you installed.Reinstalls Windows 10 and keeps your personal files.Reset Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials Keep my files Recovery options, reset versus reinstall from dvd? Check the OS Repair link in my sig for more info if ya need. Though there are instances where these options will not work if a system has a level of corruption that has not been repaired/resolved. Often times I'll do this and bypass using a USB key on a system. Reset is like an OS reinstall, wipes user data, wipes profiles, registry, performs a install from the system image. Refresh is essentially In Place Upgrade but a little more aggressive as it wipes the Windows Apps and you may need to reinstall programs.

Hold Shift and click Restart to reboot your system, this will get you into the advanced boot menu, which you'll need to choose advanced options (I forget ATM what it is called) and choose one of a couple items, refresh or reset. With Windows 8 and 10 there are refresh and reset options that can be leveraged as well. In place upgrade as it is called is also only doable in that method if you can boot to desktop, if you can't, it is time for some more advanced options or a format & reinstall. In many cases though the goal is to keep user data intact, and to repair the OS. The method suggests is sound and a method I've used dozens if not hundreds of time with great success in the field. Depends on what you have, what your budget is and how you want to handle your system and data. As some have suggested, keeping some items on a separate internal storage drive is an option as well. You can always remove programs, delete download folder, media locations, etc. Click to expand.It depends on the junk accumulated honestly, but there are various methods.
