How to do a clean install of Windows 10?

octechno95 · 26 Jun 2017 at 17:43

(so ignoring data files and all applications installed after Windows)

Okay, so back in the days of Windows 7 (and earlier), if my PC was completely non-booting, I was able to insert the original installation CD/DVD and do a clean install.

So with Windows 10 this has changed. If you can still get into Windows then you can use the Windows 10 reset function to do a clean install. But what if you can't even boot into Windows 10?

I'm not in this position yet but it crossed my mind. Should I be taking a full drive image of PC such that I can restore it if I can't even get into Windows?

TIA

mrk · 27 Jun 2017 at 11:51

You can create a Windows 10 startup disc or USB stick to do exactly that. You get the same tools and reset functions. It's worth creating one anyway and keeping it stashed somewhere safe.

Start > Run > recdisc.exe with a USB stick or blank disc inserted.

octechno95 · 27 Jun 2017 at 12:02

mrk said:
You can create a Windows 10 startup disc or USB stick to do exactly that. You get the same tools and reset functions. It's worth creating one anyway and keeping it stashed somewhere safe.

Start > Run > recdisc.exe with a USB stick or blank disc inserted.

Ah great, thanks. Does it make a difference whether this is done on a fresh Windows 10 install or if it's done after things have already been installed?

mrk · 27 Jun 2017 at 12:10

octechno95 said:
Ah great, thanks. Does it make a difference whether this is done on a fresh Windows 10 install or if it's done after things have already been installed?

It won't matter, but you can (or should) also create a system image every now and then as a means to do a complete restore should your drive fail or you have a catastrophic failure somewhere that tanks the OS.

I use Windows Backup and Restore (Start > Run > sdclt.exe) to create a system image. This creates a VHD image which can be browsed like a drive using apps like VHD Attach, and the startup disc/stick can be used to call up system restore to reload the OS if normal rollback fails, or you need to completely restore the state of your PC in the even of an above mentioned major failure. It doesn't take long to create an image, and I do this once a month out of habit!

Richy888 · 8 Jul 2017 at 09:47

mrk said:
You can create a Windows 10 startup disc or USB stick to do exactly that. You get the same tools and reset functions. It's worth creating one anyway and keeping it stashed somewhere safe.

Start > Run > recdisc.exe with a USB stick or blank disc inserted.

Mrk, can I do this off a win 10 laptop to boot a none booting desktop?

mrk · 8 Jul 2017 at 10:12

The startup repair media is standard, so you could create it off any windows 10 machine yup.

Richy888 · 8 Jul 2017 at 11:58

Good. My desktop won't boot currently. I don't know if it's been left on and gone into hibernation and now unable to boot. I've not had time but I'll check bios settings. Occasionally forgets which is boot disk. A while since I built it. May be time to roll up sleeves and do some shopping at Overclockers, of course

First thing is to find out why it's not booting. Don't get any error messages.

Confused Stu · 9 Jul 2017 at 09:09

You can also create a fresh Win10 installer disc or USB from any Windows PC by downloading the Microsoft Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/15088/windows-create-installation-media

During the install, you'll be asked for the Product Key but if this PC has previously been Activated and online, you can elect to skip this screen and the PC should be automatically activated once you go online at the end.