On Windows 10, a clean installation defines the process to wipe out the hard drive and start from scratch with a new setup when the device is having problems. For instance, this method can resolve memory, startup, shut down, apps, and performance issues. In addition, a fresh install can improve battery life, and it's perhaps the best approach to eliminating viruses and other types of malware.

It's also a good solution to start fresh with a new copy of Windows 10 on a new computer that may have come preloaded with bloatware, when you're readying a device for safely decommission, or when replacing a hard drive.

Furthermore, if you had the same setup for a long time, a clean installation is the better option to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10 or upgrade from an older version (such as Windows 7 and Windows 8.1), minimizing the risks of issues during and after the process.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the complete process to perform a clean installation, whether you want to upgrade to Windows 10 October 2020 Update, or you're about to make the leap to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.