You can soon restore Windows 11 from scratch even if it can't boot up - here's how

Lance Whitney/ZDNET

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Microsoft is previewing a new recovery tool called Cloud rebuild.

This feature will cleanly reinstall Windows 11 from scratch.

Cloud rebuild can help if Windows itself is unbootable.

Have you ever run into a serious problem on your Windows PC in which the operating system refused to load? Me too. You probably panicked as you scrambled to figure out what to do. Even with the right recovery tools, coaxing Windows to start properly in this event is often a hit-or-miss affair. Well, now Microsoft is unveiling a new feature that promises to reduce your panic and bring Windows back to life.

Currently in preview mode, the new Cloud rebuild option aims to restore Windows to a clean state even if the OS won't boot up. The goal here is to provide a clean version of the OS without the drivers, files, or other items that may have caused the glitch in the first place. But there's more.

Also: Do you still need third-party antivirus on your Windows PC?

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