There are many things you could do to prevent your operating system from becoming slow and unstable from having to format your pc and reinstall Windows .
However, if you do not follow simple tips, such as using virtual machines , backing up regularly , checking which programs load when Windows starts , removing unnecessary programs, paying close attention to choosing and installing new applications, avoiding downloading unnecessary or harmful ones , it is normal for your PC to slow down
In this guide we will present some procedures that will allow you to format your PC quickly and without problems, regardless of the version of Windows.
Before starting formatting, we recommend that you create an image of everything your PC contains or make a backup of your data and settings .
Make sure the operating system is not activated with digital rights
If you have Windows 10 or the new Windows 11 and intend to reinstall it on the same PC, it is advisable to check if the operating system is activated by a digital right . It is a kind of signature that records the type of hardware configuration you have on the PC.
It is stored on Microsoft servers and allows you to automatically reactivate Windows an unlimited number of times .
If you want to use the digital right on the same PC, just reinstall Windows 10 or 11 and the enabling will be activated immediately, without the need to enter the Product Key .
Use Fresh Start or Fresh Start
The entire range of Windows 10 and 11 supports Fresh Start . This feature is also very useful for removing so-called bloatware , i.e. software pre-installed on a new PC.
Either way, a full system restore - equivalent to a fresh install from scratch - can remove all Windows 10 or 11 software.
However, compared to traditional formatting, both Fresh Install and Flash Start can potentially save your personal files and prevent them from being erased.
To run Fresh Start on all versions and editions of Windows 10 or 11, you must use the key combination Windows + R , type in "Open" the words:
systemreset –cleanpc
and press the CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER keys on your keyboard to run the utility built into Windows with administrator rights.
Download and create Windows 10 or 11 installation media before formatting your PC
If you want to format your pc and reinstall Windows 10 or 11, you need to download the latest version of the installation media currently available.
It's best if you arm yourself with an 8GB or larger USB stick to format your computer as quickly as possible and remove all content.
From the same Windows 10 system or from a computer that has the same operating system, you can create a bootable USB stick using, for example, Media Creation Tool .
Alternatively, you could download an ISO image of the installation media and insert it into the bootable USB PenDrive using the free “ Rufus ” utility.
Download drivers and configure hardware
Before starting the reinstallation, it is advisable to download and save separately (on a USB stick or other removable media) all the drivers of the hardware devices of the PC.
You need to make sure that you have downloaded the drivers for the version of Windows 10 or 11 and the correct architecture ( 32 or 64-bit Windows ) you are reinstalling for.
In many cases it may not even be necessary to install several drivers, as Windows 10 and 11 are able to detect the different hardware components and proceed to install the necessary ones.
Either way, you should download and save the ones on your network card, so you can reinstall everything after reinstalling Windows.
Format the PC and reinstall Windows
Booting the system from a USB stick can only take place if the boot sequence is set correctly at the BIOS / UEFI level . If so, you have to press the "Start" button after turning on the computer.
Once you have set the language and keyboard layout , press the "Install" button and then click "I don't have a product key".
Accept the license terms and then choose the Custom installation option: install Windows only .
If you are sure what you are doing, at this point you can select each partition and press “Delete” to delete them. This you need to do if you want to completely erase the contents of the disk or SSD and reinstall Windows from scratch.
The wording " Unallocated space " will appear which will indicate the available space, which corresponds exactly to the capacity of your SSD or hard disk.
Once you have selected this blank, you need to click "Next" to allow Windows to configure itself within the storage media .
When the installation is complete, you will need to start Windows Update by typing the word in the search box of the operating system. This will allow you to download and install any updates that are available the moment you do so.