How to format an Asus Vivobook laptop?

Formatting your Asus Vivobook laptop, often referred to as a factory reset or a clean installation of Windows, is an effective way to resolve performance issues, remove stubborn malware, or prepare the device for a new user. The process essentially restores your laptop's software to its original state or installs a fresh copy of the operating system.

There are primarily two common methods to achieve this: using the built-in Windows "Reset this PC" feature or performing a clean installation with a bootable USB drive.

1. Resetting Your Asus Vivobook Using Windows Settings (Recommended)

This method is the simplest and most commonly used, allowing you to either keep your personal files or completely wipe the drive. It's ideal for resolving software glitches or preparing the laptop for sale.

Steps to Reset Your PC:

Open Settings: Press the Win + I keys simultaneously to open the Windows Settings window.
Navigate to Recovery: In the Settings window, select Update & Security (or Windows Update on Windows 11, then Advanced options, then Recovery). From the left-side panel, choose Recovery.
Initiate Reset: Under the "Reset this PC" section, click on the Get started button.
Choose Your Reset Option: You will be presented with two main options:
- Keep my files: This option reinstalls Windows but preserves your personal files (documents, pictures, videos) while removing apps and settings. It's useful if you want to refresh your system without losing personal data.
- Remove everything: This option completely erases all personal files, apps, and settings, performing a clean reinstall of Windows. This is ideal if you're selling or giving away your laptop, or if you want a completely fresh start.
Note: If you choose "Remove everything," you may also get an option to "Clean the drive fully." Selecting this is more secure for disposing of a laptop, as it makes data recovery much harder, but it takes significantly longer.
Confirm and Proceed: Windows will prepare for the reset. You might see a list of applications that will be removed. Review the information and click Reset to begin the process. Your laptop will restart and the reset will commence. This can take anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours, depending on your chosen options and laptop specifications.

2. Performing a Clean Installation of Windows via USB

A clean installation from a bootable USB drive offers the freshest start possible. It can sometimes resolve issues that a standard reset might miss and is often preferred by advanced users or for upgrading Windows versions.

What You'll Need:

A USB flash drive: At least 8GB in size.
Another working computer: To create the bootable USB.
Windows Media Creation Tool: Downloadable from Microsoft's website.

Steps for a Clean Installation:

Backup Your Data: This is crucial, as this method will erase everything on your laptop's drive.
Create Bootable USB:
- On a working computer, download the Windows Media Creation Tool.
- Run the tool, accept the license terms, and choose "Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC."
- Select your language, edition, and architecture.
- Choose "USB flash drive" as the media to use and select your USB drive. The tool will download Windows and create the bootable drive.
Boot from USB on Your Vivobook:
- Insert the created bootable USB drive into your Asus Vivobook.
- Restart your laptop. As it starts up, repeatedly press the F2 key (or sometimes Esc, F10, F12 depending on the model) to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings or the Boot Menu.
- In the BIOS/UEFI, navigate to the Boot tab and change the boot order to prioritize your USB drive, or select your USB drive directly from the Boot Menu. Save changes and exit.
Install Windows:
- Your laptop will boot from the USB drive. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows.
- When prompted to choose an installation type, select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
- You'll see a list of partitions. To perform a clean install, select each partition related to your main drive (usually C: drive, System, Recovery partitions, etc.) and click Delete. Be extremely careful here not to delete partitions from other drives if you have them.
- Once all related partitions are deleted, select the unallocated space and click Next. Windows will install onto this clean space.
Complete Setup: After installation, follow the on-screen prompts to set up your region, keyboard layout, Microsoft account, and other preferences.

Essential Pre-Formatting Checklist

Before you begin any formatting process, it's vital to take certain precautions.

Task	Description	Importance
Back Up Your Data	Copy all important documents, photos, videos, and other personal files to an external hard drive, USB stick, or cloud storage service (e.g., Google Drive, OneDrive).	CRITICAL
Charge Your Laptop	Ensure your laptop is plugged into a power source and fully charged to prevent unexpected shutdowns during the process.	High
Gather Drivers (Optional)	For a clean install, you might need to manually install network or chipset drivers from the Asus Support website after Windows is installed.	Medium
Note Down Software Licenses	If you have paid software, ensure you have product keys or account details needed for reinstallation and activation.	High
Sign Out of Accounts	Log out of any cloud services (OneDrive, Google Drive), social media, or other linked accounts, especially if you're giving away the laptop.	Medium

What Happens After Formatting?

After the formatting process is complete:

Initial Setup: You will go through the initial Windows setup process, just like when you first bought the laptop.
Driver Installation: Windows will automatically install most essential drivers. However, for optimal performance, consider visiting the official Asus support page for your specific Vivobook model to download and install the latest drivers, especially for graphics, chipset, and specialized Asus utilities.
Software Reinstallation: You'll need to reinstall all your preferred applications and software.
Data Restoration: Restore your backed-up personal files.
Windows Updates: Run Windows Update to ensure your system is fully patched and secure.

Formatting your Asus Vivobook is a powerful tool to revitalize your device. By following these steps carefully, you can ensure a smooth and successful process.