How to Backup Windows 7 No Need to Install Windoews Again

Microsoft might have described Windows 10 as 'the last version of Windows' when it offset launched, but that's non turned out to exist the example.

Later on plans for a spin-off in Windows 10X were cancelled, Microsoft decided that 2021 was the time for a truthful successor. Predictably, it'due south known as Windows 11, although the changes introduced certainly aren't for everyone. The redesigned taskbar and Start menu have proven controversial, while new multitasking functionality and Widgets console accept some getting used to.

Just under the surface, not a huge amount has changed. Unless you value native Android app back up via the Amazon Appstore, you may have decided to stick with Windows ten. Later on all, information technology volition go along to be supported until October 2025.

However, these are your only two realistic choices in 2022. Windows viii doesn't technically reached terminate of life in January 2023, but nosotros wouldn't recommend anyone uses the outdated OS. The aforementioned can be said of Windows seven, which has been officially dangerous to employ for more than 2 years.

At this point, most people will be taking reward of the free upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows eleven. Installing it is a relatively unproblematic process, but so is reinstalling Windows ten. That'due south the focus of this article, as Microsoft has provided several different methods.

What to know before you lot start

There'due south fifty-fifty 1 which tin install the operating system fresh, without tampering with your files or some settings preferences. It also means you lot'll automatically be updated to the latest version of Windows 10, which is good news if you're a bit behind on software updates.

Every bit with and then many installation tutorials, the speed of this process will depend on the hardware y'all're working with. An SSD will be much faster than a mechanical difficult drive for reinstalling Windows x. Considering you'll exist downloading new software, it volition also accept a long time if you're net connection is dull. Read our tips on how to speed up your internet if yous recollect this might exist an issue.

Just don't expect to use the device for a while later on the reinstall process begins - your PC is likely to be out of action for upward to two hours.

Warning: Before you reinstall Windows using the process below, yous should too support all your files, music, photos, videos, relieve games and web bookmarks. Although these will all be kept, it's too great a gamble not to brand a backup of any documents that you cannot supervene upon.

You may already take a fill-in of those, but since all your apps volition be removed, you lot should also:

• Deregister any apps which will need to exist activated again after you reinstall them (such as older versions of Photoshop)
• Research how to back upwardly progress in your games so y'all don't have to first fresh
• Save web bookmarks (or sign into Chrome or Firefox then they are saved to the cloud)
• Wait for whatever activation keys you might need to reinstall apps once Windows is reinstalled
• Download and save drivers for your network adapter (either Ethernet or Wi-Fi) to ensure you tin can get reconnected to the internet

Link your Windows 10 product fundamental with your Microsoft account

There'south i more job before you offset. If you oasis't washed so already, you should link your Windows 10 product fundamental with your Microsoft business relationship. If you don't do this, Windows 10 might non be able to re-activate subsequently yous reinstall information technology. Only Windows 10 doesn't necessarily accept a product key and if y'all previously upgraded from Windows vii or 8, you certainly won't have ane.

Whether you accept a Windows ten production key or non, head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. If the status says "Windows is activated with a digital licence" but says no more, and so it isn't linked to your Microsoft account.

To fix that, go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info. Click "Sign in with a Microsoft business relationship" and follow the prompts. Once done, you can bank check under Activation and you should now meet that the message reads"Windows is activated with a digital licence associated with your Microsoft account".

However, this just applies to personal accounts - y'all may still come across the "Windows is activated with a digital licence" message if your employer manages your PC. Don't worry, you'll still be able to actuate Windows x once more after you reinstall.

How to reinstall Windows 10

Provided your estimator can boot into Windows ten, open the Settings app (the cog icon towards the bottom-left of the Start carte du jour), and so click on Update & Security. Click on Recovery, then 'Get started' under 'Reset this PC'.

From the pop-upwards that appears, click 'Keep my files'.

On the adjacent screen, cull whether y'all'd like to download and re-install Windows x from the deject, or based on existing files from your device. The former volition consume a lot more than data, but local installs typically take longer.

From the post-obit screen, select 'Change settings'.

Now, click the toggle under 'Restore preinstalled apps?' to select No. Click 'Confirm' to save your changes.

You lot'll now be returned to the previous screen, simply this fourth dimension the get-go bullet indicate will read 'Do not restore apps and settings that came with this PC'. If that'due south the case, click 'Next'.

After a few seconds, you'll see a summary of the reset y'all're about to perform. If you're happy with this, click 'Reset' to begin the procedure.

Subsequently 20-xl minutes, Windows will be reinstalled and y'all'll see the login screen. Once more, follow the prompts as for a new PC to choose your region, language, keyboard layout, password and the other data that Windows 10 needs before you are taken to your fresh desktop.

As this really is a make clean installation, no drivers will be installed for your hardware. That isn't a problem with Windows 10, as it should exist able to automatically install and configure everything automatically - then long as information technology can connect to the internet.

To cheque, click the icon to the left of the speaker (volume) icon every bit shown below. The ane beneath will show if you're connected via ethernet, only Wi-Fi connections volition display looking like the icon next to 'ICO Guest WiFi'.

If there are no Wi-Fi networks in the list and a bulletin saying at that place are no connections available, either wait and come across if Windows manages to install network drivers automatically, or install them manually (provided you downloaded them as advised earlier).

In one case yous have a working internet connection, leave Windows to do its thing for at least one-half an hour. And then bank check Device Director (right-click the Windows icon at the bottom-left of the desktop to run across information technology in the menu). If all is well, there will be no yellow exclamation marks side by side to any devices. Here, you tin encounter that the driver is missing for the network controller.

If yours is like this, double-click on the name of the network controller to bring up the backdrop. Click Update Commuter in the window that opens and direct it to the drivers you downloaded earlier - yous may have to unzip the files if the download had a .zip file extension. And to exercise that just double-click on the downloaded file and choose where to extract the contents.

What if I can't access Settings?

If y'all can't kicking into Windows 10 and so cannot follow the steps above and so try the following.

Outset, plough on your computer and look for whatever messages which appear earlier the Windows logo. Some laptops and PCs come with a 'hidden' hard drive on which is a full backup of Windows. Typically in that location will exist a message such every bit "Printing F10 for restore options". Each PC is unlike, just you may find an option to reset the PC to manufacturing plant settings. What this does is to delete everything on the hard drive and copy the subconscious version of Windows back on to the hard drive then your computer volition be exactly the aforementioned as the mean solar day it left the factory.

You can too try pressing the F8 central to access the advanced boot options menu, which should include a 'Repair Your Computer' selection.

If none of that works, try these steps:

one. Download Microsoft's Media Creation tool which will create a bootable USB wink drive with Windows 10 on it. You may need to use a working computer to do this if yours won't kicking into Windows. Keep this drive safe for future reinstalls, also. Y'all can also use the drive for upgrading an existing Windows installation simply by running Setup.exe from the drive when running Windows 7 or 8.

2. Boot the non-working PC from your USB wink drive. But before you do, ensure y'all've backed up everything, as the process will wipe your C: drive. If you haven't backed upwardly any files, yous may have to remove the hard bulldoze and connect information technology to a working PC in lodge to copy them off.

3. If the PC won't kicking from the USB drive, enter the BIOS past pressing Delete, F2 (or the key shown on the boot-up screen) then look for 'kick' or 'startup' options where you tin select a removable USB drive as the get-go boot device.

4. When the PC has successfully booted from your USB flash drive, you lot'll run across a Windows logo and and then a screen like the one below where yous cull your language. Only follow the instructions and but make sure you lot choose the correct hard drive and partitioning on which to install Windows. If it's a new drive, it volition be bare, and then you choose the only option available: the large unallocated space.

4. Once the installation starts, your PC will reboot. You'll see a Windows logo and a large circular progress indicator. Keep an heart on the install as it volition reboot your figurer several times and may ask you to remove the DVD or flash drive.

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Source: https://www.techadvisor.com/how-to/windows/how-reinstall-windows-3535423/

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