8 Essential Steps to Take Before Installing Windows (That Most People Forget!)

Hey there! Today I want to talk about something a bit different but super important – what you should do before installing a new Windows system. These aren’t your typical “after installation” tips – these are critical pre-installation steps that will save you from major headaches (and maybe even some nightmares).

Why This Matters

Look, we’ve all been there. You decide it’s time for a fresh Windows install, format your drive, and then halfway through the new installation, that sinking feeling hits you… “Did I back up my documents?” or “Where were all my passwords stored?” Trust me, a little preparation goes a long way!

The 8 Must-Do Steps Before Installing Windows

1. Check Your System Partition for Errors

Before doing anything else, you need to make sure your C: drive (or whatever your system partition is) doesn’t have any underlying issues. If your old Windows is having problems because of bad sectors or file system corruption, simply installing a new Windows won’t solve anything.

The best way to do this is through Command Prompt. Open CMD as administrator and type:

chkdsk C: /f /r

When you press Enter, it’ll tell you it needs to restart your computer to run the scan. Press Y, then restart your PC and leave it alone until it completes the scan (this might take a while, so be patient).

What this command actually does:

• chkdsk is the disk checking tool
• C: specifies which drive to check
• /f finds and fixes file system errors
• /r locates bad sectors and recovers readable information

2. Back Up Your Desktop, Downloads, and Documents

This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget this step! Before formatting, make sure to copy all files from your Desktop, Downloads, and Documents folders to another partition or external drive.

When you install the new Windows, all these files will be deleted, and there’s nothing worse than realizing you’ve lost important photos, videos, or documents. Take 10 minutes to do this right – you’ll thank yourself later!

3. Create a System Backup (This Is Crucial!)

“But I’m installing a new system anyway, why back up the old one?” Great question!

Here’s why: Sometimes during installation, you might encounter errors due to missing Windows files. This can happen even with official ISO files from Microsoft, as antivirus programs might silently remove some files during the USB creation process.

If you encounter errors after you’ve already formatted your system partition, you’ll be stuck without a working system. Having a backup means you can quickly restore your old Windows, fix the issue, and try again.

Don’t worry – you can always delete the backup after successfully installing your new Windows.

4. Verify Your Account Logins

Make sure all your important accounts are properly logged in and synced. Check your browser (Edge, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) and verify that sync is enabled for your passwords and bookmarks.

This step isn’t mandatory, but it’s a huge time-saver when setting up your new system.

5. Take Screenshots of All Your Installed Programs

This tip is one I personally follow religiously. Take screenshots of all the programs installed on your current system so you have a reference list when setting up your new Windows.

Not all programs have desktop shortcuts, so it’s better to use something like “Revo Uninstaller” to see a complete list of installed software. This way, you won’t forget to reinstall any important applications.

6. Back Up Your Drivers

Driver issues can be a major headache after a fresh Windows install. Save yourself the trouble by backing up all your current drivers before formatting.

I recommend using “DriverBackup” – it’s simple and doesn’t require installation:

1. Open the program
2. Click “Backup” at the top
3. Click “Start Backup” at the bottom
4. Choose where to save your backup file
5. Wait for the process to complete

To restore your drivers after installing the new Windows:

1. Open DriverBackup
2. Click “Restore” at the top
3. Click “Open Backup File”
4. Select your backup file
5. Click “Start Restore”
6. Wait for the process to complete

This eliminates the need to search for drivers through Windows Update or third-party programs.

7. Choose the Right Windows Version for Your PC

If your computer has modest specs (especially if it has 4GB RAM or less), stick with the LTSC versions of Windows. They’re:

• Lightweight
• Official Microsoft releases
• Supported until 2032 (so you don’t need to worry about end-of-support issues)

For medium to high-end systems, regular Windows versions like Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro are fine.

Whatever version you choose, download it from the official Microsoft website or another trusted source.

8. Burn Windows Correctly to Your USB Drive

The final step is to properly create your bootable Windows USB:

1. Insert your USB drive (make sure it’s completely empty)
2. Download a burning tool like Rufus
3. Open the program and click “Select”
4. Choose your Windows ISO file
5. Under partition scheme, select either GPT or MBR based on your hard drive type

Not sure which one to choose? Here’s how to check:

1. Right-click on “This PC” and select “Manage”
2. Go to “Disk Management”
3. Right-click on the drive where you’ll install Windows
4. Select “Properties”
5. Go to the “Volumes” tab
6. Look for “Partition style” – it will show either “GUID Partition Table (GPT)” or “Master Boot Record (MBR)”

Select the matching option in Rufus, click “Start,” and your bootable Windows USB will be ready to use!

Final Thoughts

After following these eight steps, you can confidently install your new Windows system without worrying about losing important data or facing unexpected problems.

Which of these steps do you usually forget to do? Let me know in the comments!