Hardwired IT performs Windows reinstalls on-site across Ottawa, sending a technician to your home to back up your files, install a fresh copy of Windows, restore your data, and set up drivers, updates, and security. The technician first confirms a reinstall is the right fix, then gives you an exact quote before any work begins.
A Windows reinstall isn't always the right answer — and we'll tell you when it isn't. A PC that's simply slow may only need a tune-up or an SSD upgrade. A single virus infection is usually removable without touching Windows. But there are situations where a fresh install is the cleanest, fastest path to a functioning computer.
We give you a clear recommendation before starting any work. If a tune-up or virus removal will fix the problem for less, we'll tell you that instead.
Windows offers multiple ways to restore or refresh your installation. Here's what each option actually does and when each is appropriate.
We assess your situation and recommend the right approach. You don't need to know which one you need — that's our job.
Here's exactly what happens from the moment we arrive to the moment your computer is running a clean, updated copy of Windows.
We examine the current state of Windows, identify what's wrong, and determine the best approach — clean install, repair install, or Windows reset. We also check your drive health to make sure a new installation isn't going onto a failing drive.
Before touching Windows, we back up all your personal files to an external drive: documents, photos, downloads, browser bookmarks and passwords (exported), email settings, and anything else you identify as important. Nothing is erased until you've confirmed the backup is complete.
We boot from a USB Windows installation drive and install a fresh copy of Windows 10 or Windows 11 — whichever is appropriate for your hardware. A clean install wipes the previous OS partition and starts completely fresh.
We install hardware drivers (display, network, audio, chipset), run Windows Update to bring the system fully current, and restore your personal files from the backup. This is often the most time-consuming step — driver installs and updates can take 30–60 minutes.
We help reinstall your core programs — browsers, Office, antivirus, printers — and walk you through what needs to be set up. We won't leave until you've confirmed that the programs you depend on are working.
We install a reputable antivirus solution, enable Windows Defender properly, confirm automatic updates are on, and walk you through any settings you want to know about. Then we answer your questions and leave you with a clean, fast, secure machine.
Not if you use us. File backup is the first step of every Windows reinstall we perform — before we touch the operating system, before we format anything. We copy your documents, photos, downloads, desktop files, and browser data to an external drive. We verify the backup is complete. Only then do we proceed.
We use both cloud-assisted and local backup approaches depending on your situation and internet speed. For most home users, a local backup to an external drive is fastest and most reliable.
What gets kept and what doesn't: your personal files transfer completely. Installed programs are a different story — after a clean install, programs need to be reinstalled from their original sources. This is expected and normal; it's part of what makes a clean install genuinely clean. We walk you through your program list before starting so there are no surprises. If you have licence keys for important software, we'll make note of them before wiping the old installation.
Browser bookmarks, saved passwords, and email settings can also be exported and restored — we handle this as part of the standard process.
In most cases, no. Windows 10 and Windows 11 on computers purchased since roughly 2015 use a digital licence that is tied to the hardware itself — specifically the motherboard's unique identifier. When Windows is reinstalled on the same hardware, it detects this licence automatically and activates without requiring any key input. You never need to find a product key for these machines.
Older computers — those with Windows 7 or 8 originally, later upgraded to Windows 10 — often have a product key on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop or on the back of the desktop tower. These may be needed for activation. We check for this before starting and note the key as part of our pre-install process.
If you've genuinely lost your product key and the hardware doesn't have a digital licence, there are legitimate options for purchasing a replacement licence. We'll advise you honestly on this situation if it applies.
The short version: for most Ottawa residents with a computer bought in the last 10 years, the product key question simply doesn't come up. We handle it either way.
A typical on-site Windows reinstall takes 2–3 hours from start to handoff. Here's what that time breaks down into:
Complex setups — multiple user accounts, large file backups over a slow connection, many programs to reinstall — can push the visit to 3–4 hours. We give you an honest time estimate after the assessment, before the main work begins, so you know what to plan for.
Transparent pricing — you get a firm quote before we start any work.
Windows reinstall labour covers the full process: assessment, backup, clean install, driver setup, updates, file restoration, program reinstall, and security setup. No hidden extras — what we quote is what you pay.
First service? Use code WELCOME25 for $25 off. Seniors, veterans, students, and first responders receive 10% off. Whichever saves you more applies — the two discounts are not combinable.
If the reinstall doesn't solve the problem, you don't pay. We assess the issue honestly before starting and won't recommend a reinstall if a faster, cheaper solution exists.
We come to you anywhere in Ottawa or Gatineau. No shop trip, no transport risk, no leaving your computer with a stranger. The technician works at your home or office desk.
Free estimate — no obligation. Call (613) 416-9482 or book online and describe your situation. We'll give you a price range before we dispatch.
We bring a Windows installation drive and all the tools we need to your home or office, anywhere in the National Capital Region.
Not sure if we cover your area? Call (613) 416-9482 — we'll confirm immediately.
A customer in Nepean called because his Lenovo desktop kept hitting a blue screen on startup and couldn't reach Windows. He feared losing years of documents. The diagnosis showed deep system-file corruption that removal tools couldn't repair, but the personal data was intact. We backed up his files, performed a clean Windows reinstall, restored his data, and set up drivers and updates — back to a working machine in about two and a half hours.
No — we always back up your files before starting. Documents, photos, downloads, and browser bookmarks are saved and restored after the fresh install. Programs usually need to be reinstalled, but your data is fully protected.
Most Windows reinstalls take 2–3 hours on-site, including backup, install, updates, driver setup, and file restoration. Complex setups or slow internet may take a bit longer — we'll give you an honest estimate before we start.
Usually not. Most modern Windows 10 and 11 installations use a digital license tied to your hardware — it activates automatically. Older machines may need the product key from the sticker on the bottom. We handle this as part of the process.
A Windows reset uses a built-in option to restore the OS to a factory-like state; it may keep your files or wipe everything depending on the option chosen. A clean install wipes the drive and puts a fresh copy of Windows. We choose the right approach based on your specific situation.
Reinstall makes sense when: malware survived multiple removal attempts, Windows is severely corrupted, the system is too slow to use, or you're setting up a device for someone new. For minor issues, a repair or tune-up is often faster and cheaper — we'll tell you which applies.
Yes — Hardwired IT is a mobile service. We bring everything needed (including a Windows installation drive) to your home or office anywhere in Ottawa or Gatineau. No shop trip required.
Core programs like Office, browsers, and most apps can be reinstalled from their original sources. We walk through what you need and help you get set up. Some licensed software may require you to have the original licence key.
We install the version that suits your hardware. Windows 11 requires a compatible CPU and TPM 2.0. If your machine meets the requirements, we recommend Windows 11. If it doesn't, we'll discuss whether to stay on Windows 10 or look at other options for your device.
A certified Hardwired IT technician comes to you — same-day in Ottawa and Gatineau. Files backed up, Windows reinstalled, programs set up before we leave.
Or call us directly: (613) 416-9482
Available 8am – 10pm, every day. English and French service.