If your Windows 10 system starts misbehaving, won’t load, or crashes frequently, a repair install may be necessary to fix damaged, lost, or corrupted system files. Performing a repair install can restore stability and performance without losing personal files, settings, or installed applications. Here are three methods to repair install Windows 10:
Method 1: Repair Install Windows 10 Using an ISO File
To repair install Windows 10 using an ISO file:
Download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s website and save it in your desired location.
Open File Explorer, navigate to the folder containing the ISO file, and double-click it to mount it.
In the mounted drive, double-click the setup.exe application to start the installation.
Click “Yes” at the UAC warning message and click “Next” to install Windows 10.
Accept the license terms and wait for Windows to check for updates.
At the “Ready to Install” screen, ensure the “Keep personal files and App” option is selected and click “Install”.
Wait for the repair install to complete.
Method 2: Repair Install Windows 10 via Media Creation Tool
To repair install Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool:
Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s website.
Run the tool and select “Create installation media for another PC”.
Choose your language, architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), and edition of Windows 10.
Select “USB flash drive” as the media to use and follow the prompts to create the installation media.
Boot from the USB drive and select “Repair your computer” on the first installation screen.
In the Advanced Startup Options menu, select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Repair”.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair install.
Method 3: Repair Install Windows 10 with USB Installation Media
To repair install Windows 10 using USB installation media:
Download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s website.
Create a bootable USB drive using the ISO file and a tool like Rufus.
Boot from the USB drive and select “Repair your computer” on the first installation screen.
In the Advanced Startup Options menu, select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Repair”.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair install.
Before attempting a repair install, ensure you have at least 9 GB of free space on your Windows drive and that the installation media matches your current Windows 10 edition, build, and language.
Performing a repair install can resolve many Windows 10 issues without losing personal data or installed applications. However, it’s always recommended to create a backup of important files before proceeding.