How To Do A Clean Installation Of Windows 10
This tutorial was published by Tom's Hardware Community member darkbreeze. You can find a listing of all their tutorials here.
This tutorial is to help you, detail by detail, carry out a clean install of Windows 10 (Build 1709 or newer). It can be equally used on earlier installer versions that could simply lack many of the Cortana-assisted settings screens but must be similar in most other regards.
Information about the minimum system requirements for installing Windows 10 are available on the Microsoft website and they are located with the following link: System requirements and important notes.
Note: In addition for the information with the link above, it is recommended that you disable both Secure Boot and Fast Boot from the BIOS/UEFI settings, because some systems might not exactly support booting from USB or Flash drives with him or her enabled. Also, like a measure of protection against a failed installation, the following are strongly recommended prior to beginning the clean install process.
1. Clicking the url above will need you to your starting page for creating the Windows 10 installation media. Once there, overlook the first box, scroll on the next paragraphs a bit, and then click the "Download tool now" button.
2. Next, open the folder in which you downloaded the Windows media creation tool executable file and then click it.
4. If you were about to simply upgrade, you would click "Upgrade this PC now," but because you're conducting a clean install, you ought to click "Create installation media" and click "Next."
5. Verify the proper language, computer version (Windows 10), and if you want to fit the 32- or 64-bit version. If you've 64-bit capable hardware, we recommend always choosing 64-bit because 32-bit versions lack lots of the features of the 64-bit version and support in excess of 4GB of system memory. Then, click Next.
6. The next window ask you if you wish to create bootable flash media or create an ISO file. If you plan to set up from a usb flash drive, then certainly you will select this choice. If you must install Windows from DVD optical media, then you'll choose the solution to create an ISO file.
We will assume the use of a usb drive for the purpose of this tutorial, but when you choose ISO file, you will should burn it to disc afterwards. Make your selection and then click next. (You can find info on how to achieve this here: How to burn Windows 10 ISO image.) At now, you need to have bootable installation media, either using a USB usb drive or DVD optical disk.
Before you proceed with cellular phone, it could be necessary to go into the BIOS and place your machine boot order to USB or DVD drive as being the first bootable option. Otherwise, it'll likely simply try to boot utilizing the existing Windows boot partition on your own current primary drive, unless it is an installation to your drive which has not previously had any Windows installations on it--or unless you've got previously removed all partitions from the principal drive in planning for installation. Strictly speaking, which is not necessary because you'll try this a little further in the tutorial, as part of set up . process.
1. Start laptop, and after it completes the POST initialization process, it needs to identify and boot on the attached USB or optical drive containing set up . media and begin set up .. Verify which the language, time/currency, and keyboard input fields are correct. Click Next.
3. Next, you need to see the Windows product activation screen.
If you don't need a Windows 10 product activation key, or if you could have previously installed and activated Windows 10 and therefore are reinstalling, then click below where it says "I lack a product key."
(In some cases, notably if you are upgrading, you may use your valid product key from Windows 7 or 8.one inch place of a sound Windows 10 product key. We cannot guarantee it will work atlanta divorce attorneys situation or indefinitely, but currently this appears to still be a sound method of activating Windows 10 product installations. Alternatively, this indicates some users have determined through long-term testing that activating at all appears to not have any effect about the extended use of Windows 10 aside from being constantly nagged to activate.)
If you are conducting a new installation due to some change of hardware or from the event you could have a ought to do so from the future, the subsequent links could have information that'll be useful to you:
Windows build 1607 and activation after the hardware change
4. Now find the Windows 10 version you wish to fit. For most users this will likely, and is particularly recommended being, Home version. Educational along with users ought to decide according to the kind of license identified on the product packaging or information. Then, click Next.
6. On the another screen the thing is there will likely be two options. One allows that you simply get some new previous version of Windows when there is already one installed, as well as the other will allow one to proceed with a different installation. Unless you're only upgrading, which we don't recommend, then you definitely must click Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced).
7. This will be the step in which you remove any previous Windows installations and all of existing partitions about the drive in order that there can be no future conflicts in connection with Windows boot partition information. We recommend selecting, one-by-one, and deleting, all existing partitions within the primary drive until no partitions remain then there is only unallocated space.
(Do not delete any partitions showing that are for the USB usb flash drive you are using to setup windows from, if this shows up inside list of partition information. All others could possibly be deleted if you don't still have other drives connected.)
If you might have not disconnected all secondary drives as was suggested for the beginning of the tutorial, then use caution to not accidentally delete any partitions from those drives by accident.
If you still need other drives connected aside from the USB or optical drive as well as the target drive with the Windows installation, we endorse stopping now and starting over again from your beginning after turning off and disconnecting those drives. If there isn't any other computer drives connected, begin with removing every one of the existing partitions within the primary hard disk until only unallocated space remains, and click Next.
9. After the core installation files have finished installing, you may advance on the configuration portion of set up . and Cortana is likely to make its introduction. Cortana would be the Windows "digital agent" and should help you get things done to make navigating the entire content of the Windows installation, and Windows on the whole, easier.
(Or so says Microsoft. Some people choose not to use Cortana, disabling the many relevant features, including a variety of privacy related settings, whenever and whenever we can. You can assign settings as the thing is that fit.)
Using Cortana means surrendering at the very least some measure of privacy, hence the decision whether or not to use Cortana you aren't is strictly under your control. You will understand the following screen as soon as the main Windows installation has completed its process. Just hold off until prompted.
11. Select your keyboard layout and then click Next again.
12. The next screen asks about secondary keyboard layouts. Unless you use multiple keyboard layouts, please click Skip.
13. The next window will ask that you sign in together with your Microsoft account. What you do here's largely your decision, and you'll choose to develop a local account as opposed to creating one who attaches your Windows 10 installation and product activation in your Microsoft account. For most users, we recommend creating a brand new Microsoft account/ID if you can't already now have one.
This can make future installations of Windows 10 less of a challenge, notably if you change hardware later on, on account of your product key are able to be attached with you in lieu of to your hardware, and you are going to not have to experience a lengthy phone activation if someone makes major upgrades for a PC at a later time. For the sake of this tutorial, we made a decision to enter email addresses that obviously showed that yes, perform have a legitimate Windows 10 product activation.
14. The next window asks if you wish to attach a pin on your account. You may make your individual decision in any case.
15. The same goes for linking your phone number for your account. You can choose Do it later, nevertheless it makes no difference besides identify verification regardless of whether you make this happen.
16. Now it ask you about whether you need Windows to avoid wasting and sync your information to your Onedrive cloud. We generally recommend not accomplishing this, however some people like Microsoft having copies of almost all their files and settings, so this is under your control once again.
17. When you get to the following screen, you'll should make a determination as to whether you need to enable Cortana or otherwise not.
18. If you decided to use Cortana, you'll probably have to keep all the options about the next screen fired up,if not some features will not likely work (or won't work not surprisingly).
At this time, you simply ought to wait while Windows establishes the remainder of your hardware and configures whatever final settings it should configure.
This tutorial is to help you, detail by detail, carry out a clean install of Windows 10 (Build 1709 or newer). It can be equally used on earlier installer versions that could simply lack many of the Cortana-assisted settings screens but must be similar in most other regards.
Information about the minimum system requirements for installing Windows 10 are available on the Microsoft website and they are located with the following link: System requirements and important notes.
Note: In addition for the information with the link above, it is recommended that you disable both Secure Boot and Fast Boot from the BIOS/UEFI settings, because some systems might not exactly support booting from USB or Flash drives with him or her enabled. Also, like a measure of protection against a failed installation, the following are strongly recommended prior to beginning the clean install process.
- Check how the software and hardware you mostly use are appropriate for Windows 10 and have absolutely drivers available, whether or not your system has recently passed the compatibility check. Download and save these drivers into a suitable DVD, usb flash drive, or external disk so that within the event you ought to install them later, you can do so and not having to go locate them when it's don't convenient.
- Create a backup associated with a important files and folders for an external source or cloud service. A better option can be to additionally otherwise create a whole system backup image by using a utility like Acronis True Image or Macrium Reflect so you're able to simply restore your previous installation to its exact self if something fails or fails out afterwards.
- If your only installation media for the current or previous operating-system is a factory recovery partition, it could be a good idea to also copy that image to an alternative location. External or secondary drives could well be good choices as locations just to save these types of images.
- Before you commence the installation process, it could also be recommended that you ensure that your BIOS is defined to UEFI or compatibility mode. Legacy modes that could have worked fine with Windows 7 may create installation or hardware issues during or after set up . of Windows 10.
- Temporarily disconnect other hard drives except the main drive onto that you can install Windows. With the power deterred, simply disconnect all the other internal drives from your motherboard SATA headers or external drives using their company USB ports, except the usb flash drive or optical drive to use during not hard to install process. This step may prevent the possibility of accidentally deleting any files or partitions from those drives when preparing the principle drive to the Windows installation.
- If you've got partitions within the hard drive which will be used to the new operating system and so are being useful for other, non-OS purposes, then support any information about there to a new location because you will be completely removing all existing partitions on the target drive. Do not forget this, because any existing partition information within the drive are going to be eradicated throughout this process.
Create Installation Media
1. Clicking the url above will need you to your starting page for creating the Windows 10 installation media. Once there, overlook the first box, scroll on the next paragraphs a bit, and then click the "Download tool now" button.
2. Next, open the folder in which you downloaded the Windows media creation tool executable file and then click it.3. The tool will open, as well as the following dialogue will probably be displayed. Click Accept.
4. If you were about to simply upgrade, you would click "Upgrade this PC now," but because you're conducting a clean install, you ought to click "Create installation media" and click "Next."
5. Verify the proper language, computer version (Windows 10), and if you want to fit the 32- or 64-bit version. If you've 64-bit capable hardware, we recommend always choosing 64-bit because 32-bit versions lack lots of the features of the 64-bit version and support in excess of 4GB of system memory. Then, click Next.
6. The next window ask you if you wish to create bootable flash media or create an ISO file. If you plan to set up from a usb flash drive, then certainly you will select this choice. If you must install Windows from DVD optical media, then you'll choose the solution to create an ISO file.
We will assume the use of a usb drive for the purpose of this tutorial, but when you choose ISO file, you will should burn it to disc afterwards. Make your selection and then click next. (You can find info on how to achieve this here: How to burn Windows 10 ISO image.) At now, you need to have bootable installation media, either using a USB usb drive or DVD optical disk.
Before you proceed with cellular phone, it could be necessary to go into the BIOS and place your machine boot order to USB or DVD drive as being the first bootable option. Otherwise, it'll likely simply try to boot utilizing the existing Windows boot partition on your own current primary drive, unless it is an installation to your drive which has not previously had any Windows installations on it--or unless you've got previously removed all partitions from the principal drive in planning for installation. Strictly speaking, which is not necessary because you'll try this a little further in the tutorial, as part of set up . process.
1. Start laptop, and after it completes the POST initialization process, it needs to identify and boot on the attached USB or optical drive containing set up . media and begin set up .. Verify which the language, time/currency, and keyboard input fields are correct. Click Next.
2. Click Install Now.
3. Next, you need to see the Windows product activation screen.
If you don't need a Windows 10 product activation key, or if you could have previously installed and activated Windows 10 and therefore are reinstalling, then click below where it says "I lack a product key."
Otherwise, enter your Windows product key and click Next.
(In some cases, notably if you are upgrading, you may use your valid product key from Windows 7 or 8.one inch place of a sound Windows 10 product key. We cannot guarantee it will work atlanta divorce attorneys situation or indefinitely, but currently this appears to still be a sound method of activating Windows 10 product installations. Alternatively, this indicates some users have determined through long-term testing that activating at all appears to not have any effect about the extended use of Windows 10 aside from being constantly nagged to activate.)
If you are conducting a new installation due to some change of hardware or from the event you could have a ought to do so from the future, the subsequent links could have information that'll be useful to you:
Reactivating Windows 10 following a hardware change
Windows build 1607 and activation after the hardware change
4. Now find the Windows 10 version you wish to fit. For most users this will likely, and is particularly recommended being, Home version. Educational along with users ought to decide according to the kind of license identified on the product packaging or information. Then, click Next.
5. Check the box indicating you consent to the license terms and click on Next.
6. On the another screen the thing is there will likely be two options. One allows that you simply get some new previous version of Windows when there is already one installed, as well as the other will allow one to proceed with a different installation. Unless you're only upgrading, which we don't recommend, then you definitely must click Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced).
7. This will be the step in which you remove any previous Windows installations and all of existing partitions about the drive in order that there can be no future conflicts in connection with Windows boot partition information. We recommend selecting, one-by-one, and deleting, all existing partitions within the primary drive until no partitions remain then there is only unallocated space.
(Do not delete any partitions showing that are for the USB usb flash drive you are using to setup windows from, if this shows up inside list of partition information. All others could possibly be deleted if you don't still have other drives connected.)
If you might have not disconnected all secondary drives as was suggested for the beginning of the tutorial, then use caution to not accidentally delete any partitions from those drives by accident.
If you still need other drives connected aside from the USB or optical drive as well as the target drive with the Windows installation, we endorse stopping now and starting over again from your beginning after turning off and disconnecting those drives. If there isn't any other computer drives connected, begin with removing every one of the existing partitions within the primary hard disk until only unallocated space remains, and click Next.
8. Windows installation will commence.
9. After the core installation files have finished installing, you may advance on the configuration portion of set up . and Cortana is likely to make its introduction. Cortana would be the Windows "digital agent" and should help you get things done to make navigating the entire content of the Windows installation, and Windows on the whole, easier.
(Or so says Microsoft. Some people choose not to use Cortana, disabling the many relevant features, including a variety of privacy related settings, whenever and whenever we can. You can assign settings as the thing is that fit.)
Using Cortana means surrendering at the very least some measure of privacy, hence the decision whether or not to use Cortana you aren't is strictly under your control. You will understand the following screen as soon as the main Windows installation has completed its process. Just hold off until prompted.
10. Select your region and then click Next.
11. Select your keyboard layout and then click Next again.
12. The next screen asks about secondary keyboard layouts. Unless you use multiple keyboard layouts, please click Skip.
13. The next window will ask that you sign in together with your Microsoft account. What you do here's largely your decision, and you'll choose to develop a local account as opposed to creating one who attaches your Windows 10 installation and product activation in your Microsoft account. For most users, we recommend creating a brand new Microsoft account/ID if you can't already now have one.
This can make future installations of Windows 10 less of a challenge, notably if you change hardware later on, on account of your product key are able to be attached with you in lieu of to your hardware, and you are going to not have to experience a lengthy phone activation if someone makes major upgrades for a PC at a later time. For the sake of this tutorial, we made a decision to enter email addresses that obviously showed that yes, perform have a legitimate Windows 10 product activation.
14. The next window asks if you wish to attach a pin on your account. You may make your individual decision in any case.
15. The same goes for linking your phone number for your account. You can choose Do it later, nevertheless it makes no difference besides identify verification regardless of whether you make this happen.16. Now it ask you about whether you need Windows to avoid wasting and sync your information to your Onedrive cloud. We generally recommend not accomplishing this, however some people like Microsoft having copies of almost all their files and settings, so this is under your control once again.
17. When you get to the following screen, you'll should make a determination as to whether you need to enable Cortana or otherwise not.
18. If you decided to use Cortana, you'll probably have to keep all the options about the next screen fired up,if not some features will not likely work (or won't work not surprisingly).
At this time, you simply ought to wait while Windows establishes the remainder of your hardware and configures whatever final settings it should configure.
