If I format & install fresh and it does not work - what then?

Ok, I have an answer here in the forum that I can format and install brand new with 1803. My new question is, if I do that and it doesn't work then there is no way to go back to a former install. How can a person pull out of that?

I could not get past 1703 for days on end, so I want to format and install 1803. But I did not keep any install media older that that. This is an older laptop and I have a brand new desktop so I only keep the current version on a usb stick.

Oh, this laptop is a friends and old enough that it does not even have a boot choice in the bios for a usb. It says something like FDD which is one choice I've never even bothered to investigate. <g>

Thanks - I will call her first to get her permission because it may be useless in the end without a way to go back

"FDD which is one choice I've never even bothered to investigate"

FDD = floppy disk !

There are at least 4 different methods that can be used to perform a clean install.
One is not a clean install but is considered equivalent.

If there are no significant problems with the underlying drive one or more of these methods should enable you to perform a clean install.

1) Use a bootable Windows 10 iso
2) Install directly from the Microsoft website without creating a USB
3) Use a DVD instead of a USB
4) Open the computer's Windows advanced troubleshooting menu > click reset and remove files

Download Windows 10
Clean Install Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

Wow, so FDD means floppy disk. How strange is that because that Laptop does not even have a floppy slot. Well thank you for the insert USB being plugged in. I certainly will check that out.

I actually did the original install on that laptop and in the pocket of the case, I did put the windows repair disk and also the Original install disk going from windows 7 to the free windows10 install. But if I must use that it will take it back to the beginning. But in any case it is a recovery if 1803 does not work.

I did see a day or two ago when I clicked on the update to begin and it checked things out the version 1803 did say the computer hardware was ok to install.

I will see if I can do a fresh backup before I begin. First I'll have to run out and get some DVD's because I'm all about USB now.

Thanks to all here!! Great help for sure

Bree said:

Some bios only offer the choice of usb as a boot device if a bootable usb is currently plugged in. If it indeed does not support booting from usb (there are a few older systems that don't) it should still have the option to boot from a CD/DVD optical drive. Again, you may need a bootable disk in the optical drive for the option to appear.

LadyDee said:

Ok, I have an answer here in the forum that I can format and install brand new with 1803. My new question is, if I do that and it doesn't work then there is no way to go back to a former install. How can a person pull out of that?

I could not get past 1703 for days on end, so I want to format and install 1803. But I did not keep any install media older that that. This is an older laptop and I have a brand new desktop so I only keep the current version on a usb stick.

Oh, this laptop is a friends and old enough that it does not even have a boot choice in the bios for a usb. It says something like FDD which is one choice I've never even bothered to investigate. <g>

Thanks - I will call her first to get her permission because it may be useless in the end without a way to go back

I haven't seen your previous post(s) but just to make sure...when you say you can't get past 1703, is that only from Windows Update...or did you try a manual install of 1709 and/or 1803? If Windows Update doesn't work, you can you can use the Microsoft Update Assistant Tool...look it up and it should take you to a link to update beyond 1703. Likewise, there is a Windows Update troubleshooter you can download (not the troubleshooting function in Windows) that might help.