A desktop specialist needs to prepare a laptop running Windows 10 for a newly hired employee. Which of the following methods should the technician use to refresh the laptop?

An internet-based upgrade typically refers to upgrading to a newer version of Windows, which would retain existing data and applications, contrary to preparing a "clean" laptop for a new employee.

A repair installation attempts to fix problems with the existing Windows installation while preserving user data and applications, which is not suitable for giving a new employee a fresh start.

A clean install completely erases all data on the hard drive and installs a fresh copy of the Windows operating system. This method is ideal for preparing a device for a new employee as it removes all previous user data, applications, and configurations, ensuring a secure, stable, and unencumbered environment from scratch.

USB repair involves using a bootable USB drive to access recovery options or perform repairs on an existing installation, not to provide a fresh, clean operating system for a new user.

An in-place upgrade involves upgrading the operating system to a newer version or rebuilding the current one while keeping files, settings, and applications, which is not a clean slate for a new user.