What Is the Difference Between Reinstall and Reset
Resetting and reinstalling may sound similar and, in a broad sense, have similar functionalities, but they are not the same. You should resort to a reinstall if you’re facing critical errors and your PC is not functioning as it should. During a reinstall, all of the corrupted files are deleted, and any underlying issues that have been preventing your PC from operating normally, lowering its performance, are usually resolved. Resetting means going back to your PC’s default settings. It’s a much softer approach to repairing any problems or corrupted files on your Windows PC. Your files won’t be erased, but you’ll lose your apps.
How to Reinstall Windows Without Losing Your Files and Apps
If your computer is functioning abnormally or you’re seeing errors when executing programs or commands, you should first consider other methods that could fix the issue before deciding to reinstall Windows. However, if you’ve tried everything to no avail, then reinstalling Windows might be the best option for you. You don’t even risk losing any files or apps in the process if you follow the instructions below.
1. Create Installation Media
2. Reinstall Windows Using Boot Media
How to Reset Windows Without Losing Data
If you don’t want to reinstall Windows but simply take it back to its factory settings, then the reset option might be for you. If you opt for this solution, keep in mind that all your software will be removed. On the other hand, you do have the option to keep your files intact.
How to Prevent Losing Data on Your Windows PC
Even with these methods available, you might want to take some precautions to prevent data loss in case of unpredictable hardware malfunctions or file corruption.
Back up your files regularly: regular file backups are the simplest way to reduce your risk of losing important files. You can use Windows’s own backup and restore tool or a third-party tool like Macrium Reflect to create your backups. Make sure your computer is protected: Windows 11 ships with Windows Defender so you don’t need third-party antivirus software. However, you can install such software if you want access to more features or want to feel more secure against the threat of malware and other dangers online.Create an image backup: an image backup is basically creating a copy of your OS, your entire drive or a partition. This type of backup is useful if you want to make sure you can preserve your desktop or server in its exact state and recover it in case of an emergency. Use a surge protector/UPS: frequent power failure or surges can damage electronic items, and your computer is no exception to that. If you frequently experience such issues at home, protect your computer with a surge protector or use a UPS.
Image credit: Eduardo Dutra via Pexels. All screenshots by Abdul Moiz. If you are on Windows 11, open “Control Panel -> System & Security -> File History” for the first option. Click the “Turn on” button if your backup drive already shows up in the list. Next, go to “Advanced Settings” and select how often “File History” should create an incremental backup of your files. On Windows 10, go to “Settings -> Update & Security -> Backup” to find “File History.” As for the second option, it will create an image backup. Find it by going to “Control Panel -> System & Security -> Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” in both OS versions. If it has been more than 10 days and you want to downgrade, you will have to perform a clean install of Windows 10.
