Is a clean install your go-to for stubborn Windows issues? Think again. There are ample recovery options right at your fingertips.
I’ve gone through five generations of Windows OS, and even with all the improvements, it tends to go haywire sometimes. While I don’t care about small bugs and delays, I cannot ignore glaring issues that stop me from using the OS features or running my favorite apps. These two aspects are non-negotiable, and when one of them doesn’t work as intended, a clean install (reinstalling the OS and wiping all the data and apps on the system drive) comes to mind. You might share the same idea whenever your Windows OS breaks because it was the only solution back then.
However, attempting a clean install involves backing up keys and folders, and it takes 2–3 hours to recreate your personal system. I don’t rush to reinstall Windows (clean install) now because there are ample recovery and troubleshooting tools available natively. Instead, I try to use them and check if the problem goes away before wiping the slate clean. Let’s look at all the possible options you have before a clean install becomes necessary.
Rollback system update
Begone buggy releases
It’s the most trivial troubleshooting method because Windows updates tend to break things. It’s a reputation Microsoft built over the years with botched updates, and you are better off ruling out this possibility first. You can do so via the update settings page, and the rollback sometimes requires a restart.
It is useful because it has no impact on the system and is the quickest of all the methods. Even if you later realize that the update wasn’t causing any issues, you can reinstall it from the Settings app. No harm done to your files or settings.
Trying system troubleshooters, CLI tools, and Safe mode
Using native tools
Microsoft retired many legacy troubleshooters to make way for the Get Help app. It’s not the fastest, sleekest tool for you, and it takes a while to load and work.
