Microsoft 's Windows 10 already includes ways to clean up apps and data to repair misbehaving systems or prepare them for sale, courtesy of Refresh and Reset, features added in Windows 8. Microsoft is now adding a third option: a new refresh tool.
Currently only available to Windows Insiders, the new tool brings a copy of Windows online and performs a clean install.
The only option is whether or not you want to keep your personal data.
Any other software that is installed will be removed, including the various apps and utilities that OEMs still bundle with their systems.
The tool that is currently in preview has some quirks!
It installs a preview build from the fast track, but Microsoft notes that the new tool can sometimes install an older version than the one currently installed. When this happens, the option to keep your files has been removed.
The new app was released alongside build 14.367 for both desktop and mobile devices.
As Microsoft approaches the release date of the Windows 10 update and tries to nail down the last major bugs, users should expect a regular series of small changes that will clean up some of the leftovers. Insiders are also asked to complete certain “missions” to test specific parts of Windows and report their bugs.
These range from “using Cortana’s new broader language support” to “provisioning a device using enterprise development tools.”
