How can I do a full reinstall/factory reset of Windows on my laptop?

I have a Toshiba Satellite E45DW-C4210 (came preinstalled with Windows 10 so no disc obviously) & it came with some bloatware from Toshiba. I have no idea what other junk is on this machine.

How can I do a "fresh" wipe or whatever you want to call it so only Windows 10 is on the laptop, I don't want any Toshiba software/bloatware on the laptop. Basically just barebones, as if I built my this laptop myself and put a copy of Windows 10 on it. That is what I'm looking to do. I just feel starting over again with nothing but Windows will improve the laptop.

I know you can do a system reset where it wipes all your data & re-installs Windows 10 but then the Toshiba's software is just installed all over again. I don't know if this is possible but if it is how can I achieve this?
I'm not tech savvy at all so I appreciate the help!

 

1) Find your Windows Product Key with any tool you wish (Google Windows Product Key Finder)

2) NBR Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide

 

Its way simpler to just use W10 build in reset feature and choose to not keep any files..you get fresh installation and no bloatware.
Its the better option for non tech savvy person imo, it takes 5 clicks or so.

http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/ - check "Option Two".

The option suggested by @Phoenix is probably better but its more complicated.
Anyway, take your pick and good luck.

 

Ditto, the method I posted is a full clean installation but requires a lot of patience/steps to get it right if you have the time.

Otherwise, the method which Mr. ATG recommended is probably the best for non-tech savvy people or if you want a shortcut to getting a clean install.

 

I personally prefer doing everything blank slate like the method suggested by Phoenix, but if it is your first time doing something like that, take your time as in reserve half a day to a full day for this. I can personally do a clean install in 2-3 hours because I know what I need to have ready and what I am doing, but my first few ones were definitely much longer than that. Before you do anything: backup any important data.

 

I don't have that particular laptop, but there may be some Toshiba software that needs to be downloaded separately and I would suggest OP finds and download those as well ahead of time: for example program to control special FN keys, sound volume, screen brightness, touch pad etc.

 

If I do ATG method won't the Toshiba software just be re-installed? I'm pretty sure I already tried that on a Dell I just returned last month. I did a reset, all my personal files where wiped, the laptop went back to factory but the bloatware was also installed. Are you sure ATG's method will basically put a fresh Windows 10 on my Toshiba leaving out the bloatware as well that it came with?

 

I have never personally done that and never will. I always do clean installs. You need to grab the drivers off the Toshiba website under your laptop's model number first. There's no harm in trying ATG's method it only takes a few minutes to test. If you still see the Toshiba bloatware installed, then do the full clean install as per the NBR Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide. Remember to clean the disks and boot off the USB stick in UEFI mode so it you install Windows 10 in UEFI mode and thus the disks by default would be initialized as GPT disks although you need to run the diskpart/clean command first in case they were initialized as MBR by Toshiba initially. Everything is mentioned in the guide with details so you won't be lost.

Other than GPT disks being able to support 2TB+ partitions which I don't really care about, they take 0.5 seconds less to initialize during the boot process.

 

I've used this option on my Dell tablet and it didn't restore any of the Dell apps or any other external apps...

 

There should be a folder where all of the Toshiba drivers and software are stored at. It usually located in C: named Toshiba. If you find it make sure you backup that entire folder