[Article] Reinstall or clean install Windows 11

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Technical Level : Intermediate Summary If you have installed a recent release of Windows in the past 15 years, you pretty much know what it will be like to install Windows 11. In this article, we take a look at performing a clean install. This includes starting a clean install from within a running version of Windows or a hard disk/SSD with no previous Windows installations.

Details

Perform a clean install by booting from install media (DVD or USB thumb drive)

Perform a clean install using Reset in Windows 10 or Windows 10 Refresh Tools (Start Fresh)

Perform a clean install from within a running version of Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10

Windows 11 is a free upgrade for Windows 10 users. As long as your current Windows 10 installation is activated, you can upgrade for free or perform a clean install using your existing Windows 10 product key. Just make sure you are installing the Windows 11 edition that currently corresponds with your Windows 10 edition.

Perform a Clean Install on an Empty Hard Disk/SSD or Reinstall by Booting from Install Media (DVD or USB Thumb Drive

Once you have your Windows 10 installation media ready, all you need to do is boot from the disc or USB thumb drive to begin setup.

Once your computer is set to boot from the DVD, you should see this option to boot from the installation media. Press any key to load Windows setup files.

The Windows logo will appear on screen, this might be here for a while, as long as you see the animating dots, everything should be ok

Select your Language, Time and Keyboard method then click Next.

Click Install now

Windows 11 setup will prompt you for a product key during installation a couple times. If you originally upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 click the option 'I don't have a key' and 'Do this later' . If you have a Windows 10 or Windows 11 product key, you can proceed to enter it.

Setup will also prompt you to select the edition you have a license for - Home or Pro. Please make sure you choose the right edition. If you choose the wrong edition, your only option will be to perform a clean install again.

The copy of Windows 11 you download and upgrade from will correspond with the edition of Windows you have installed, if it does not, this is why you might be experiencing problems activating:

Windows 10 Home > Windows 11 Home

Windows 10 Pro > Windows 11 Pro

If you are running specific editions of Windows 10 such as N, Single Language, Education, Pro Edu or Pro for Workstations, make sure you select the correct edition.

Accept the license terms then click Next

Click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) 

NOTE: Sometimes Windows 11 setup can become confused if it see's a thumb drive. You might get a driver missing error or something to that effect. If you do, restart setup, but this time, when you arrive at the following screen, disconnect your thumb drive then go through Custom options. When setup is ready copy files, it will prompt you to reconnect the installation source (your USB). 

Select the drive then click New

NOTE: If you have multiple partitions listed, select each one (starting at the bottom), then click delete until there is only a single (one) unallocated drive displayed in the window.

Select the unallocated drive listed, click New, click Apply then OK

This will split the drive into multiple partitions, select the Primary partition then click Next.

NOTE: The System Reserved partition is where recovery files are kept for diagnostics and repairing damaged Windows 11 files; or even reinstall Windows 11.

Wait while Windows installs

When this phase of setup is complete, Windows will automatically restart then reboot into setup again.

Windows is detecting and installing your hardware. After this is complete, Windows will restart one last time.

Out of Box Experience

The Out of Box Experience page is where you get to configure detailed settings in Windows, which includes creating a user account, configure privacy, sync PC settings and install modern applications.

Perform a Clean Install Using Reset, Recovery Drive or Refresh Tools (Start Fresh) in Windows 11

If you already have Windows 11 installed, you can use the built in Reset function, Recovery Drive or Refresh Tools (Start Fresh) in Windows 10 do so.

How to Perform a Clean Install by Starting Setup from Within a Running Version of Windows

If you are running Windows 7 or Windows 8.0, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, launch Windows 11 setup using ISO Media:

During setup, at the Ready to install screen, click Change what to keep link

Select Nothing

Click Next to being the installation