Get a Fresh Start
This tip is for Windows 10 (all currently supported versions)
Windows 10 Fresh Start has been a part of Windows 10 since version 1703, but it’s one of those Windows 10 features that seems to have been forgotten. But, it shouldn’t be. It can be useful, especially for those who buy a new Windows 10 PC that comes loaded with manufacturers’ bloatware and trial software.
We think that Windows 10’s Fresh Start feature should be on your list of things to do if you:
a.) Have a new computer loaded with bloatware and trialware.
b.) Have an older computer that’s running very poorly.
While most of us think of Windows 10 system reset as the answer to severe and/or complex Windows problem, Fresh start is an equally good – and sometimes better option.
Here’s how to access Windows 10 Fresh start.
1.) Type Fresh start in Windows 10 taskbar search and click on “Device performance & health”; “System settings” when it appears at the top.
2.) When you do you’ll see the following window appear. Click on “Additional info” at the bottom.
3.) The following window will open. Read the information, then click “Get started” to start Windows 10 Fresh start.
4.) If you want more information about Fresh start, before you “Get started”, click the “Learn more” link at the bottom and you’ll open a Microsoft Webpage with the following information and warning.
Use Fresh start to install a clean version of Windows 10
Verify that you meet the system requirements. To access Fresh start, your device must be running Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, and you must be signed in as an administrator. Learn more about Windows 10 specifications.
Gather all reinstallation media (such as CDs), product keys, license or sign-in information, or anything else you’ll need to manually reinstall and reactivate the apps or app-related content you want to keep using. For Microsoft apps, see Find your Microsoft downloads and product keys.
(Optional) Back up your files. We recommend this precaution, even though Fresh start keeps your data intact…
Clean manufacturers bloatware and trialware from a new Windows 10 PC
We think the best use of Fresh start is to use it to clean manufacturers’ bloatware and trialware from a brand new Windows 10 computer as long as you do it as soon as you bring your new computer home and before you install any programs. This will give you a brand new computer that will be clean – and really “brand new”.
It’s also an alternative for Windows 10 System Reset / Keep my files option.
In our tests, a Fresh start takes between 45 to 75 minutes to complete. Your results may vary. Fresh start gives you a chance to clean install Windows while keeping your personal files and some of your settings. It also allows you to clean up the bloatware and trialware on a brand new Windows 10 computer.
I’d do a Fresh start tomorrow if it would leave my Office and other apps alone, when MS address this you will see a spike in use.
That will never happen and Microsoft will never address it because Fresh start does a clean install of Windows – which is the point. If Microsoft decided to allow users to keep programs, like Office, then if malware, badware, PUPs were installed those would also be kept and that would defeat any benefit from Fresh start. And while Office may be perfectly fine, you can’t expect Microsoft to tell you what you can have installed or not.
The idea of Fresh start is to fix serious computer problems.
If you want to keep all your files AND programs, do a repair install.