how to safely format and reinstal windows 8.1 on my SSD

[Randa Ranoosh]

i have only my sumsung 850 evo 120 gb with windows 8.1 on it
I want to reinstall a fresh clean windows ?

what is a safe way to do it ?

 

[random stalker]

1, backup your files to external drive
2, format c: /q (do a quick format)
3, reinstall

 

[Randa Ranoosh]

but windows is already installed on that SSD
how can I do a quick format then ?

 

[random stalker]

there should be a "format drive before install" option on your install disk /at least on the newer windows/,
or you could go to the recovery console and preform the format from there...

just don't forget to backup your files...
/also, having a picture of your desktop, program files and start menu helps a lot /

 

[Randa Ranoosh]

do you mean the quick format here

does that do q quick format and NOT a full format ?
I don't want to destroy my ssd with full format


THAT IS NOT MY PICTURE I JUST FOUND IT ON GOOGLE

 

[random stalker]

well,
quick format just marks the space as not used, it will just remove the information on file location and directory structure,
full format accesses every sector of the drive, scans it for trouble and writes zeroes into it.

the practical difference is:
quick is cheap and easy /and good if you plan on use that drive, also since it doesn't physically delete the files, the recovery options are really good/,
the full format is more thorough /will find errors and make recovering the files a pita/, but since ssds have a certain life circle depending on number of writes, I guess it wouldn't be a good idea to do the full format /unless you want to sell that drive, that is/