Download “Refresh Windows Tool” to Perform Clean Install of Windows 10
SHORT INFORMATION:
“Refresh Windows” tool is a new official program released by Microsoft to help users in performing clean installation of Windows 10 operating system. This tool will reset Windows 10 and will remove any extra app installed by the user or came pre-installed by the manufacturer in the PC. After resetting, it’ll install a clean copy of Windows 10. So you’ll get a fresh clean installation of Windows 10 in your computer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
If you remember when Microsoft released Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems, both the OS came with 2 new and very useful features: Reset PC and Refresh PC.
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“Reset PC” feature in Windows 8/8.1 works like “Reset to default” or “Restore factory settings” options present in mobiles, tablets, etc. It formats the drive and clean installs Windows OS. It doesn’t keep any personalized setting, documents, installed apps, etc.
“Refresh PC” feature in Windows 8/8.1 repairs Windows OS. It doesn’t remove everything from the PC. It reinstalls Windows but keeps your personal files, settings and apps.
You can read more details about these features at following link:
Reinstall or Repair Windows 8 and Later Using “Reset PC” and “Refresh PC”
With the release of Windows 10, Microsoft removed “Refresh PC” feature from the OS. Windows 10 comes with “Reset this PC” feature only which can be considered as a combination of previous “Refresh PC” and “Reset PC” features.
Now to bring the standalone “Refresh PC” feature back to Windows 10, Microsoft has released this new “Refresh Windows” tool which performs clean installation of Windows 10 in your computer and helps you in keeping your personal files in your computer.
At the moment this tool has been released for testing purposes and works on Windows 10 Insider Preview builds only. You must be using Windows 10 Insider Preview build 14342 or later to be able to use this tool. It happens because Microsoft has released this tool in preparation for the upcoming Windows 10 Anniversary Update build which will be released next month if everything goes per Microsoft’s plan.
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This tool downloads the latest available build of Windows 10 from Microsoft servers, so you’ll need a working Internet connection to download Windows 10 setup ISO file of about 3GB in size.
This tool will allow you to keep personal documents but it’ll remove all 3rd party software and store apps (modern or metro apps) which do not come bundled with Windows by default. It’ll remove all apps installed by the user or installed by the computer manufacturer (OEM) company.
After performing clean install of Windows 10 using this tool, you’ll need to install all 3rd party software, apps and drivers manually.
At the moment only 3 languages are supported by this tool: English (EN-US), Chinese (ZH-CN) and Japanese (JA-JP).
You can download this official tool from following link:
Download “Refresh Windows” Tool for Windows 10
This official tool might come handy when you are having problems with Windows 10 and want a fresh start. Sometimes the built-in “Reset this PC” feature doesn’t work properly, in such conditions this new tool will become very useful.
I hope they provide an option to use an ISO from the PC itself,the idea of downloading the ISO from MS seems useless.
This also removes all of the modern apps on the system, correct? The Refresh feature in Windows 8.x kept those.
hi VG
recently i have try to update my window 7 sp1 ultimate via windows update
but unable to update via windows update
only showing checking for updates message on screen
i have already try all method which u can post on ur website
but not working….
plz help me ….
srry for poor english
reply fast….
@Akshay
Try this you have not already,
https://www.askvg.com/fix-windows-7-keeps-checking-for-updates-for-hours/
@Akshay
You can also use this tool : microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10/
I only use that. You have the choice to upgrade only your PC or install a complete new Windows 10 version (without keeping your files). For this last option, you’ll need to have a USB stick.
@VG!
Windows 10 apps (like “Check for updates” etc.) from system settings is not being opened from Cortana search result. Please help…
Thanks & Regards
Hi VG! I have W8 upgraded to W10 Pro on HP2000 notebook. 5 days ago I got problem on it. When i switch it on it only show the starting logo a dots in circular motion and hp logo. After a few minutes a message appeared that goes: “Program:C:\WINDOWS\system32\LogonUI.exe
This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. Please contact the application’s support team for more info. ”
When i klick “Ok” only the starting logo appeared for about 2 days still in a circular motion, so i decided to turn it off through the power button and then turn it On but the problem was still the same. The big problem is I don’t have any windows back up. Please help me so that i can start my pc again. My best interest is to restore my O.S. regardless of my files to lose.
^^ You can download Windows 10 ISO and then try to repair Windows.
https://www.askvg.com/tip-get-direct-download-links-of-windows-10-iso-from-microsoft/
https://www.askvg.com/download-windows-10-offline-iso-files-and-create-installation-media/
using refresh window tool will remove the license of windows? thanks in advance
^^ If your Windows is already activated, it’ll re-activate after refreshing.
Is it necessary to keep the ISO file after i refresh my pc
^^ No. You can safely delete the ISO but it’s a wise idea to keep the ISO for future use.
Hi VG
I have win 10 running on my laptop and it has become slow, has 100% utilisation of HDD for initial 8 to 10 minutes after booting and minor issues have started popping in (eg I am unable to do media streaming) and I am unable to fix it or get it fixed. I would like to refresh windows BUT without deleting my installed programs and data. Once successfully done, I would like to clone my HDD to a SSD of same capacity. I have downloaded the latest windows ISO (Nov ’19).
Can you guide me how can I proceed.
Regards
^^ If you want to refresh/reset Windows 10, it’ll remove programs and data stored on C: drive.
Hi VG
Not very helpful, this reply of yours. How about some alternate solutions/suggestions from your side? This 100% disk usage is bugging me really. The laptop grinds to a crawl during this time. I need it especially since I will be migrating to a new SSD soon anyway and do not want to carry a burden of bad data to the new drive.
I had upgraded my laptop from win 8.1 which can installed by default. It still has a partition to restore it ti Factory fresh conditions. So: Would it be a good idea to do a factory reset to Win 8.1 (so that all my programs are properly restored) > clone the HDD to new SSD (to migrate the default installed programs) > Upgrade to Win 10 in the SSD > Reinstall all the programs??
If you suggest this, what will be the best way to migrate the programs which will be deleted (MS Office, Visio and games).
Best regards
AJ
^^ Share your log file with me:
https://www.askvg.com/is-your-system-infected-with-a-virus-spyware-adware-trojan/