Re-install Windows 10 without removing anything (Documents, games, videos etc)

FrankCai · March 7, 2020

From my understanding, if I create an media image with the official tool on my USB, I can then use the USB to reinstall windows and windows only without affecting anything else. I just want to make sure before I accidentally deletes the important things.

If anyone knows for sure, that would be great.

Electronics Wizardy · March 7, 2020

FIrst thing, make a backup, there can always be something that goes wrong.

Normally when reinstalling from usb, it will delete everything and start fresh. Id then copy all the files back to the new system.

SupaKomputa · March 7, 2020

It's called refresh install, it will still retain the documents and settings, but all your installed programs will be deleted and you have to reinstall one by one.

Better if you manually backup the documents and do a clean install.

Metallus97 · March 7, 2020

Does the system boot up fine? If so you can do a refresh and "keep your stuff" but idd not trust that 100%

homeap5 · March 8, 2020

13 hours ago, FrankCai said:

From my understanding, if I create an media image with the official tool on my USB, I can then use the USB to reinstall windows and windows only without affecting anything else. I just want to make sure before I accidentally deletes the important things.

If anyone knows for sure, that would be great.

First question should be - why do you want to reinstall system? Maybe you have very easy problem to fix and we can help?