TOTAL REINSTALL: START FROM CLEAN

1 Back everything up using Windows’ tools (or your preferred method). You’re going to erase your hard drive, so make absolutely sure you have copies of all your personal files first. It’s worth creating a system image backup ( see p34) so that you can revert your PC to how it was, should anything go wrong.

2 Make a list of all the programs you want to keep – you’ll need to reinstall them after you’ve reinstalled Windows, so have the discs or installation files to hand. Use Belarc Advisor ( belarc. com) to print a list of your product keys, including the one for Windows itself. They’ll be listed under “Software Licenses”.

3 Get hold of all the drivers for your hardware. Then go to pcpro.link/277win10, click “Download tool now” and run the tool. Choose the “Create installation media” option, then select the version of Windows 10 you need and choose whether to download to a USB flash drive or an ISO file (to burn to DVD).

4 Boot to the Windows 10 USB flash drive or DVD, choose your language, time and keyboard options, then click “Install now”. Enter the Windows 10 product key you got from Belarc, then select the version of Windows 10 you want to install, accept the licence agreement and choose the Custom option on the next screen.

5 Choose your partition options – you could, for example, delete existing partitions and create a new one for your clean installation of Windows. Select the partition you want to install to, then click Next and sit back as the installer lays down your fresh installation. Your PC may restart a few times.

6 Eventually, your PC will boot to Windows 10’s Cortana-based setup procedure. Select your region and keyboard options, then follow the remaining steps, logging in with your Microsoft account when prompted. Now you have the job of restoring your files from backup, reinstalling apps and updating drivers. Lucky old you.