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This post recommends reinstalling Windows 11 from an ISO while keeping all files and apps to solve slow search indexing.

I downloaded and burned to thumb drive the latest Windows 11 Enterprise ISO, which matches the variant of Windows 11 installed on my box. But when I go through the introductory screens, the only options I see are "Install Windows 11," which requires me to check the box "I agree everything will be deleted including files, apps, and settings" or "Repair my PC". "Repair my PC" seems to be different from the suggestion to reinstall while keeping files and apps.

Is the option to keep all files and apps no longer present in the ISO install image, or do I need to actually click the box "I agree everything will be deleted" and then I will later have an option not to actually delete anything?

Installation screenshot

Adam J. Kessel
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1 Answers1

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I downloaded and burned to thumb drive the latest Windows 11 Enterprise ISO, which matches the variant of Windows 11 installed on my box. But when I go through the introductory screens, the only options I see are "Install Windows 11," which requires me to check the box "I agree everything will be deleted including files, apps, and settings" or "Repair my PC". "Repair my PC" seems to be different from the suggestion to reinstall while keeping files and apps.

You need to launch setup.exe from within Windows. This can be done by mounting the ISO file within Windows and launching the setup executable on the virtual disk.

Is the option to keep all files and apps no longer present in the ISO install image, or do I need to actually click the box "I agree everything will be deleted" and then I will later have an option not to actually delete anything?

Windows upgrades to a newer build of Windows cannot be done from outside of Windows. If you proceeded with the installation, from outside of Windows, the installation process would result in a clean install of Windows. Your existing install would be migrated to the Windows.old folder.

Your personal files and installed applications would all be moved to the Windows.old directory. Windows.old would then be wiped after the configured timeframe automatically.

Ramhound
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