What type of installation would you use to replace an existing operating system without retaining any user data?

A clean installation is the process of installing a new operating system while completely removing any existing operating system and all user data from the device. This approach is used when a user wants to start fresh, clearing out any potential software issues, files, or configurations from the previous installation. It is particularly useful for troubleshooting, improving system performance, or transitioning to a different operating system entirely without the necessity of retaining old data.

In contrast, an upgrade installation would keep the existing user data and applications while updating the operating system to a newer version. A dual-boot installation allows for multiple operating systems to be installed on the same machine, preserving each system’s data and settings. A custom installation typically provides options for keeping certain features or data from the previous installation, which also does not align with the requirement of not retaining any user data. Therefore, the clean installation option is the most appropriate choice for this scenario.