Surface 3 Clean Install


  1. Posts : 216
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
       #1

    Surface 3 Clean Install


    Hi Everyone

    I have recently upgraded my Surface 3 to Windows 10 and I wish to do a clean install, to install a fresh copy of windows without having all the old data from Windows 8.1. Would I be fine following, "How to do a clean install" tutorial via Ten Forums or would there be a different process for doing this for a Surface?

    I am guessing since its basically a mini laptop I would just follow the same steps? I have made a boot-able USB for this. Also would my Surface automatically activate or should I note down the product key just in case it doesn't?

    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,937
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello Elliot, :)

    Yes, you will be able to do a normal clean install on a Surface 3 if you like.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

    Here are the drivers for Surface 3 Pro below from Microsoft to install afterwards.

    Download Surface Pro 3 from Official Microsoft Download Center

    Here's some more information if you like.

    TechNet Blogs
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 216
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks Shawn :).

    I don't actually have the Surface Pro 3.
    Just the Surface 3 but I found drivers for this here.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,937
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #4

      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #5

    I've done it numerous times. You'll need to create a flash drive unless you have an external USB CD/DVD drive, but the rest of the steps are identical.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 216
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    DeaconFrost said:
    I've done it numerous times. You'll need to create a flash drive unless you have an external USB CD/DVD drive, but the rest of the steps are identical.
    Great! Thanks
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
       #7

    You may want to look here for your Surface 3 image: https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/downloadablerecoveryimage

    On this site Microsoft has the image for Win8.1 and Woin10 now for the Surface Pro 3.
    I don’t have a Surface 3 so I cannot sign in and check. You might want to give it try.

    The image will have all the drivers and firmware for your Surface.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 216
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Metalman said:
    You may want to look here for your Surface 3 image: https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/downloadablerecoveryimage

    On this site Microsoft has the image for Win8.1 and Woin10 now for the Surface Pro 3.
    I don’t have a Surface 3 so I cannot sign in and check. You might want to give it try.

    The image will have all the drivers and firmware for your Surface.
    Thank you!

    Also people who are wondering how to boot from USB on Surface: Boot from USB Surface

    EDIT: To control menu's drop downs etc... I plugged both my USB and a mouse into a 4 port usb hub to work my way through the setup. To my knowledge the setup menu can't be controlled any other way.
    Last edited by Brink; 18 Apr 2016 at 09:41. Reason: updated link
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 216
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I have come up to the custom installation step and I can see "Drive 0 Parition 4: Windows RE tools."

    Should I keep this partition? Or if I remove all partitions, will it create a new one?

    Thanks in advance.

    EDIT: I have re-read guide and can see how to deal with Windows RE tools.
    Last edited by ellellell1; 18 Apr 2016 at 04:00.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 Pro
       #10

    Bumping this up!

    The info here was helpful in doing a clean install on a recently purchased Surface Pro 3. I was having problems updating to the current version of 10 because of a conflict with the USB driver.

    My install was a little different as I did not have to download the Pro 3 drivers beforehand. The touch screen was working during usb boot/install and all drivers were automatically updated after the installation was complete.
      My Computer


 

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