How to reinstall an operaing system

Then, copy them to a USB thumb drive, and move them over to your computer. To determine which hardware needs drivers to be installed, check the Device Manager and look for the exclamation mark "! The exclamation point means drivers are needed for that device. After installing the necessary hardware device drivers, install any software programs on the computer that you want to use. Finally, download and install any available Windows updates.

Updating Windows improves the operating system's performance, the hardware in the computer, and the software programs you use.

It can also improve security by fixing potential security holes and flaws in Windows. Microsoft frequently releases new updates for Windows, so we recommend you check for and install available updates.

Doing so helps keep Windows running better and keep your computer protected. Also, periodically check for updated hardware device drivers from manufacturers' websites.

Keeping hardware drivers updated helps the hardware devices in the computer run at peak performance and improves compatibility with other computer hardware and software. Note If you're replacing the hard drive in your computer, you need to reinstall Windows again. Tip If you want to upgrade to a newer version of Windows on your computer, the steps on this page help you with the upgrade process.

Note The install guidelines for Windows for a server have additional steps based on the type of server and version of Windows. Note With early versions of Windows, you cannot download a copy of Windows to install on a computer. Warning Microsoft has Windows 10 and 11 available for download only from their website. Upgrade Note If you are upgrading to a newer version of Windows, select the Upgrade option instead of the Full Install option.

Tip You can use the erase all contents option to uninstall an existing version of Windows on the hard drive, then install Windows again. Tip If you cannot download drivers because your network card is not working after installing Windows, you can download the drivers on another computer.

Related information How to create a copy of Windows software. Otherwise you're offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. If the Mac logic board was just replaced, you might be offered only the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. If you just erased your entire startup disk, you might be offered only the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.

Use the App Store or a web browser to download and install an earlier macOS. Use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume to create a bootable installer. Published Date: October 25, Yes No. Character limit: Maximum character limit is Also, each operating system has different requirements for your computer to be able to run correctly. On this page, you'll find general steps and guidelines for installing an operating system on the hard disk drive of your computer.

First, you need to purchase the operating system that you want to install on the computer. The best place to purchase the operating system from is a retail store, like Best Buy, or through an online store, like Amazon or Newegg. Downloading a copy of the operating system is usually the most convenient way to obtain it. However, be sure you obtain the operating system from the publisher, like Microsoft.

Downloading it from another source may result in an unusable or illegal copy of the software. Some computers may also allow you to access the boot sequence directly at computer start up, without entering the BIOS, by pressing a specific key on the keyboard.