A reinstall replaces the system software with a clean copy. It clears years of leftovers, damaged system files and most malware. It does not fix hardware, so the first question is whether the problem is software at all.
When a reinstall helps
- The laptop has slowed down gradually over years of installing and removing programs
- Pop-ups, a hijacked browser or other signs of malware
- Windows will not start after a failed update
- Crashes that began after a program or driver was installed
- You are selling the laptop or passing it on
When it will not
- A failing drive. It will be slow and unstable again within weeks, and each reinstall risks the files on it.
- Too little memory or an old mechanical hard drive. See our SSD and RAM upgrade guide.
- Overheating, or shutdowns under load.
- A hardware fault on the board. See laptop motherboard repair.
Back up before anything else
- Documents, photos, the desktop and the Downloads folder
- Browser bookmarks and saved passwords (sync them to your account, or export them)
- Email that is stored on the laptop rather than online
- Licence keys for programs you paid for
- Any authenticator app or security codes kept on this laptop
- Game saves and program settings you care about
Make sure you also know the password for the Microsoft or Apple account the laptop is signed in to. You will need it to sign back in afterwards.
The options on Windows
Windows has a built-in reset under Settings, System, Recovery. "Keep my files" removes programs and settings but leaves your personal files. "Remove everything" erases the lot. A clean install from a USB stick goes one step further and puts a completely fresh copy of Windows on the drive, which is the surest way to clear a badly damaged system.
You do not need to buy Windows again. On a laptop that came with Windows 10 or 11, the licence is tied to the hardware and activates by itself once the laptop is back online.
The options on a Mac
Recent Macs have "Erase All Content and Settings" under System Settings, General, Transfer or Reset. It returns the Mac to its out-of-the-box state. macOS can also be reinstalled from Recovery without erasing, which keeps your files and replaces only the system. Before selling a Mac, sign out of your Apple account and turn off Find My, or the next owner will not be able to use it.
Locks that cannot be removed
- Activation Lock on a Mac that is still linked to someone's Apple account
- A firmware password that nobody remembers
- BitLocker on a Windows drive when the recovery key is lost
- A laptop managed by an employer or a school
These exist to stop stolen laptops being wiped and resold, and a repairer cannot bypass them. You need the account password, the recovery key, or proof of purchase to take to the manufacturer.
What a reinstall with us involves
We check the health of the drive and the memory first, because reinstalling onto a failing drive only hides the problem for a few weeks. If you want files kept, tell us which, and they are copied off before anything is erased. The system is then installed fresh, updated, and checked before the laptop goes back to you.
What to tell us
- The make and exact model
- What is going wrong, and since when
- What must be kept
- Whether you know the account password, and the recovery key if the drive is encrypted
See everything else we fix on our laptop repair Brisbane page.
5% off every repair, or a 5% price beat
No competitor quote needed for the discount: every reinstall booked with CQ Electronics in Brisbane comes with an automatic 5% discount off the quoted price. And if you find a genuine lower price for the same job elsewhere, we will beat it by 5%. The price beat can't be combined with the 5% off, so you get one or the other.
Laptop slow, infected or stuck?
CQ Electronics reinstalls Windows and macOS for laptops in Brisbane, with a hardware check first. 5% off every repair, automatically applied to your quote.
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