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Formatting can remove applications, settings, drivers and, in a clean install, data on the Windows partition. There is no universal bundle of “must-have” programs: first make Windows stable and recover your accounts, then install only the software your work requires. This updates the original 2023 framing for 2026: Windows 10 reached the end of ordinary support on October 14, 2025, so a compatible new installation should generally be Windows 11.
Use this order: activate Windows, install updates and hardware drivers, confirm security and backups, install a browser and a few baseline tools, then restore personal applications.
What kind of reinstall did you perform?
A clean installation normally removes applications and settings and may erase the Windows partition. A factory reset may restore the manufacturer’s image and bundled utilities. An in-place reinstall can preserve files and applications, depending on the option selected. Replacing a drive or setting up a new PC follows the same basic sequence, but you may need every manufacturer driver.
Back up personal files before reinstalling, and reinstall the Windows edition that matches your license (for example, Home or Pro). Microsoft’s installation guidance covers these requirements at Microsoft’s Windows reinstall instructions.
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- Make the most of your screen space with snap layouts, desktops, and seamless redocking.
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Do these things before ordinary applications
- Connect to a trusted network. If Wi-Fi is unavailable, use Ethernet or download the exact network driver on another computer and transfer it by USB.
- Check activation and edition. Windows usually reactivates online when its digital license is recognized. A motherboard change can require activation troubleshooting. Home and Pro licenses are not interchangeable by default.
- Run Windows Update repeatedly. Install updates, restart, check again, and review applicable optional driver updates. Microsoft recommends this process in its Windows performance guidance.
- Inspect Device Manager. Unknown devices or warning icons identify hardware still needing attention.
- Install manufacturer drivers only when needed. Use the PC or motherboard support page first, then the GPU vendor (NVIDIA, AMD or Intel). Prioritize chipset, graphics, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, audio, touchpad and card-reader drivers. Avoid generic “driver updater” programs.
Keep Windows Security enabled while doing this. It is built into Windows and provides real-time protection; Microsoft also recommends keeping Windows, browsers and regularly used software current (Microsoft security guidance).
The genuinely useful baseline
| Need | Good default | When it is optional |
|---|---|---|
| Malware protection | Windows Security | Managed business or high-risk systems may have separate requirements |
| Web browsing | Edge, Firefox or Chrome | Edge is already installed |
| Archives | 7-Zip | Windows handles basic ZIP files |
| Passwords | Bitwarden, 1Password or KeePassXC | Use a built-in manager only if its recovery process suits you |
| Cloud files | OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox | Install only if you use that ecosystem |
Browser
Edge needs no download. Install Firefox for a non-Chromium option, or Chrome when Google-service integration or site compatibility is important. Mozilla documents installation choices at its Firefox guide. Install from the vendor, sign in only after verifying the source, and review extensions individually. Store and direct-download Firefox installations can have separate profiles; see Mozilla’s Store-installation note.
7-Zip and archives
7-Zip is a free, open-source choice for ZIP, 7z, TAR and many other archives, including downloaded driver packages. NanaZip, PeaZip and WinRAR are alternatives. Use the official project site rather than download aggregators.
Password manager
Install the official desktop app and browser extension, recover the vault before retiring old devices, save emergency information offline, and enable multifactor authentication. Never keep the only recovery key inside the vault it unlocks. Bitwarden suits many users seeking a cross-platform free tier; 1Password offers a polished paid service; KeePass or KeePassXC keeps a local database but makes synchronization and backups your responsibility.
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- OEM IS TO BE INSTALLED ON A NEW PC with no prior version of Windows installed and cannot be transferred to another machine.
- OEM DOES NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT | To acquire product with Microsoft support, obtain the full packaged “Retail” version.
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Cloud storage and backup
OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox primarily synchronize files; synchronization can replicate deletion or ransomware. Maintain a separate external or versioned cloud backup and test restoring a file. Windows Backup can restore selected files, settings, Wi-Fi information and some installed-app information when you use the same personal Microsoft account, but it is not a complete disaster-recovery plan (Windows Backup documentation).
Install these only when your work requires them
Media playback
VLC is useful for broad audio/video format support, subtitles and network playback, but Windows already plays common media. VLC does not guarantee playback of every file, codec or DRM-protected stream. MPC-HC, MPC-BE and PotPlayer are alternatives; MusicBee and foobar2000 focus on music libraries.
Office and documents
Choose Microsoft 365 or a perpetual Office license for full Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook compatibility. Microsoft 365 is subscription-based, while free web apps and perpetual licenses have different features; Microsoft notes that apps and subscriptions can be sold separately (Windows app information). LibreOffice is a capable free desktop suite, but complex layouts, macros, fonts and advanced Excel features can differ. Google Docs/Sheets/Slides suit browser collaboration; OnlyOffice is another Microsoft-format-focused option.
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Edge and other browsers read PDFs. Add Adobe Acrobat Reader, PDF-XChange Editor or PDF24 only for forms, annotation, signatures, OCR, page rearrangement or PDF creation.
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PowerToys and utilities
Microsoft PowerToys adds FancyZones, PowerRename, PowerToys Run, Text Extractor, Image Resizer, Keyboard Manager and other productivity features. It is not a general speed-up tool. Microsoft documents installation methods and requirements at the PowerToys installation guide. WinGet commands are:
winget install Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget
winget install --scope machine Microsoft.PowerToys -s wingetOther optional tools include Everything for filename search, Notepad++ for text and code, ShareX for capture, and FreeFileSync for synchronization. None is required for a normal PC.
Choose software by role
- Student or office user: Microsoft 365 or LibreOffice, a password manager, cloud storage and a PDF editor only if assignments require it.
- Gamer: install Steam, Epic, GOG, Xbox or Discord only when used; restore game saves before deleting old profiles.
- Creator: install OBS Studio, GIMP, Krita, Blender, DaVinci Resolve or Audacity according to the project. Obtain GPU software from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel.
- Developer: add the required editor, runtime, Git and containers rather than a generic “developer pack.”
- Privacy-focused user: choose a browser and password manager deliberately, minimize extensions and review account sync.
- Older or low-powered PC: limit background launchers, cloud clients and heavy suites; use lightweight tools where they meet the need.
Do not install these by default
- Third-party driver boosters or automatic driver repositories.
- Registry cleaners and “PC optimizer” tools promising unsupported speed gains.
- Several full-time antivirus products at once.
- Pirated software, activation scripts, fake codec packs or wrapped download-portal installers.
- Every application that happened to be on the old installation.
If you use Malwarebytes, treat it as an optional second-opinion scanner or separately chosen security product. Its Windows application is documented at Malwarebytes support and is also available through the Microsoft Store (availability announcement). Inspect trial and real-time-protection settings so you do not unintentionally run overlapping antivirus engines.
A safe installation sequence
- Confirm Windows edition and activation.
- Run Windows Update, restart, and repeat until important updates are finished.
- Resolve Device Manager warnings with the PC, motherboard or GPU manufacturer’s drivers.
- Confirm Windows Security, automatic updates and firewall protection.
- Sign in to the correct Microsoft, Google or other trusted account.
- Restore the password manager and record recovery information offline.
- Reconnect cloud storage only after checking the destination folders and backup state.
- Install one preferred browser, then restore bookmarks and passwords from trusted sync.
- Install 7-Zip, VLC, Office or LibreOffice, PowerToys and a PDF tool only as needed.
- Restore personal applications from your old inventory, Store library, game libraries and license records.
- Test printers, scanners, webcam, microphone, Bluetooth, monitors, audio, VPN, email, file associations and game saves.
- Create and test an independent backup before considering the setup complete.
Fix common post-format failures
No Wi-Fi or Ethernet
Download the exact model and architecture driver from the manufacturer on another device, transfer it by USB, install chipset and network drivers, restart, then run Windows Update again. Also check that the adapter is enabled.
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Activation failure
Verify that the installed edition matches the digital license. If the motherboard changed, sign in to the Microsoft account associated with the license and use Windows activation troubleshooting.
Passwords or browser data missing
Check that you used the correct sync account, that synchronization was previously enabled, and that you did not install a separate Store and desktop browser profile. Locally stored passwords cannot be recovered without a prior export or backup.
Cloud folders are wrong or files disappear
Pause synchronization. Check the provider’s web recycle bin and version history before deleting local files, then correct the folder mapping.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Windows 10 remains installed
Microsoft’s ordinary Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Treat it as a migration problem: verify hardware compatibility with Windows 11, or understand the security and support consequences of remaining on an unsupported system.
The Bottom Line
After formatting, the essential “software” is mostly a disciplined sequence: updates, correct drivers, Windows Security, account recovery and a tested backup. Add a browser, archive utility and password manager, then install media, Office, creative, gaming and utility programs only when a real task justifies them.
Quick Recap
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