After a fresh Windows 10 installation, your previous settings remain intact.
After a fresh Windows 10 installation, your previous settings remain intact.
Yes, it’s possible to perform a fresh installation on a new drive while preserving your existing configurations. You can migrate your data and settings before switching, which avoids reconfiguring everything from scratch. While syncing isn’t always straightforward, some methods allow you to retain most of your preferences after the upgrade. Microsoft does offer such options, so it’s not unusual for users to seek them.
Anything, really. Security, appearance, tiles, boot behaviour, anything Cortana-related, etc. I actually didn't know that the Microsoft account might save anything concerning this. Considering how well Microsoft services usually function I won't keep my hopes up.
It mainly comes down to how much you think you need to adjust. Using your Microsoft account should fetch the standard settings you mentioned earlier. Every year I reinstall everything, which takes around 15 minutes to return to the desktop and another 20–30 minutes to reinstall apps. It’s not a major issue for me.