[Full Tutorial] How to Clean Install Windows 11 - Qiling  

[Step-by-step Guide] How to Clean Install Windows 11 Safely


Should I Clean Install Windows 11

Windows 11 offers enhanced touchscreen interactions, improved multi-monitor support, and multiple desktops on a single monitor, along with UI improvements such as a new setup screen, redesigned Settings app, and new icons. A clean installation is recommended to experience these features.

A clean installation of Windows 11 wipes the hard drive and installs a fresh copy of the OS, providing a clean start and potentially resolving issues caused by corrupted files or settings. This process can also help remove malware and other unwanted software. However, it's essential to back up important files and data before proceeding, as they will be deleted during the installation process.

Preparations for Clean Installation of Windows 11

Create backup

A clean installation of an operating system will erase everything on the target drive, so it's essential to create a backup to prevent data loss. On Windows 10/11, using third-party backup software to create a system image is the most effective and reliable method. Qiling Backup is a professional system backup software that can assist with this process.

Qiling Backup Home is a multi-purpose backup and recovery solution for Windows 11/10/8/7, automatically backing up files to an external hard drive and USB drive when plugged in, with 250G free cloud storage space and other features.

The following are the steps to create a system backup of your Windows computer.

Step 1. Launch Qiling Backup on your computer, and click System Backup on the home screen to start the backup process.

create system backup step1

Step 2. On Windows, you'll automatically select all system-related files and partitions, so you won't need to manually choose anything. Then, click on the illustrated area to choose a location to save the system image backup.

system backup

Step 3. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, network, cloud, or NAS. We recommend using an external physical drive or cloud to preserve system backup files.

create system backup step3

Step 4. The Windows system backup process can be customized with options such as setting an automatic backup schedule daily, weekly, monthly, or upon an event. Additionally, users can enable differential and incremental backups through the Options button. Upon clicking Proceed, the backup process begins, and the completed task is displayed on the left side in a card style.

create system backup step4

Confirm Windows 11 Requirements

Microsoft increased the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 to ensure security, performance, and stability. The minimum requirements include a 64-bit CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 64GB storage drive, and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip. Additionally, the CPU must support the SHA-2 hash algorithm and the system must have a UEFI firmware.

The clean installation of Windows 10 requires a good internet connection and a Microsoft account to help complete the initial setup.

Perform Clean Installation of Windows 11 from a USB Drive

The Windows 11 installation process involves two parts: setup and the out-of-box experience (OOBE). The first part is the clean installation process, which can be done using a USB drive created via the Media Creation Tool or other third-party tools. The second part occurs after the clean installation, where you can choose your settings, create an account, and confirm privacy settings.

📖To create a Windows 11 bootable USB, you can follow the steps outlined in the article. This process will allow you to install Windows 11 on a new computer or upgrade an existing one. The article provides a detailed guide on how to prepare the necessary files, download the Windows 11 installation media, and use a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.how to create Windows 11 potable USB drive.

To perform a Windows 11 clean installation using a USB drive, start by creating a bootable USB drive with the Windows 11 installation media. You can do this by downloading the Windows 11 installation media from Microsoft's website, and then using a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.

Step 1. Start the computer with the USB drive.

Step 2. The prompt "On the prompt, press any key to boot from the device" is likely referring to a boot menu or a BIOS setup screen. In this context, pressing any key (usually a function key, such as F2, F12, or Del) will allow the device to boot from a specific device, such as a USB drive, CD/DVD, or internal hard drive.

Step 3. On the "Windows Setup," click Next.

windows 11 clean installation-1

Step 4. Click Install now.

windows 11 clean installation-2

Step 5. If you're reinstalling Windows 10, select "I don't have a product key" to continue and click Next.

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Step 6. If you have a license key for Windows 11, choose the edition that matches your key. If you don't have a license key, you can choose the edition of Windows 11 that you want to install.

Step 7. I accept the license terms to continue and click Next.

Step 8. Click "Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced)" to proceed with a clean installation of Windows.

windows 11 clean installation-4

Step 9. Select the partition where the current Windows installation is located, usually labeled as "Drive 0", and click the "Delete" button.

Step 10. Choose the empty drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) and click Next.

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After completing the setup steps, Windows 11 will start installing a fresh copy of the operating system on the computer. If an Internet connection is detected, Windows 11 OOBE will check for updates to ensure the system is updated and ready when you reach the desktop. To complete the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) on Windows 11, follow the setup steps.

Step 1. Select your country or region and click Yes.

complete the OOBE-1

Step 2. Choose your keyboard layout setting and click Yes.

complete the OOBE-2

Note: Click Skip if you need to select a second layout.

Step 3. Give your device a name and click Next.

complete the OOBE-3

Note: If the device restarts, you can resume where you left off. If you do this step, the device will restart automatically.

Step 4. To set up Windows 11 Pro for personal use, choose the "Set up for personal use" option on Windows 11 Pro, click Next.

complete the OOBE-4

Step 5. To create a Microsoft account, confirm your email, phone number, or Skype identification by clicking "next" after entering the required information.

complete the OOBE-5

Step 6. Continue to enter your password, then click Sign in.

Step 7. A PIN is a secure and quick way to log into Windows 11, allowing a combination of numbers and letters to be used to create a personalized login code.

complete the OOBE-6

Step 8. Choose Set up as new device and click Next.

complete the OOBE-7

Step 9. Confirm the privacy settings suitable for your situation and click Next. To confirm the privacy settings suitable for your situation, click Next.

complete the OOBE-8

Step 10. You can let Windows optimize your Windows 11 device for a particular requirement or task or skip over it, depending on what you use it for.

complete the OOBE-9

Step 11. Choose whether or not automatically save your files to OneDrive and click Next.

complete the OOBE-10

Step 12. Click Decline to skip the Microsoft Office installation.

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Windows 11 will save your changes and complete the installation after finishing the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE).

The Bottom Line

To clean install Windows 11, start by backing up your data using a utility like Qiling Backup to avoid data loss, then proceed with the installation process. This will allow you to experience the new features of Windows 11 without any complications.

FAQs

1. Why is Windows 11 installation so slow?

Updating the graphics driver on your Windows 11 computer can help resolve slow performance issues, as outdated drivers can cause problems.

2. Why is it so hard to install Windows 11?

Windows 11 has stricter demands than its predecessor, requiring more RAM, storage space, and a more recent-generation processor. If you've tried installing Windows 11 but failed, it's likely that your PC isn't compatible.

3. Will I lose everything if I upgrade to Windows 11?

To upgrade to Windows 11, make a backup of your files first, as it's a safe and secure process that won't change your settings or remove installed applications. Your computer must meet the requirements, but the upgrade through Windows Update won't affect your installed software.

4. Can I install Windows 11 without boot?

Installing Windows 11 without Secure Boot can lead to system instability and prevent updates from Microsoft.

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