Clean Install - Windows 10 used my old desktop wallpaper. How?

Hey all,

I have just installed the new Anniversary Windows 10 by clean installing, not upgrading over the previous version. Something odd has happened though, can't explain it.

My process:
1. Downloaded the latest build to a USB using the media creation tool;
2. Removed all the hard drives (physically unplugged them) except my OS drive (SSD);
3. Installed Windows 10 Pro in UEFI mode by selecting the custom option and deleting ALL partitions as per the guide in these forums;

My disk just shows the one "unallocated space".

Everything went fine BUT when Windows booted up to the desktop after installing, my original customised wallpaper was there. How can that be? Surely that is not possible on a CLEAN install? Where did Windows find this wallpaper and how did it know to load it?

Thanks in advance!

GregH said:

Hey all,

I have just installed the new Anniversary Windows 10 by clean installing, not upgrading over the previous version. Something odd has happened though, can't explain it.

My process:
1. Downloaded the latest build to a USB using the media creation tool;
2. Removed all the hard drives (physically unplugged them) except my OS drive (SSD);
3. Installed Windows 10 Pro in UEFI mode by selecting the custom option and deleting ALL partitions as per the guide in these forums;

My disk just shows the one "unallocated space".

Everything went fine BUT when Windows booted up to the desktop after installing, my original customised wallpaper was there. How can that be? Surely that is not possible on a CLEAN install? Where did Windows find this wallpaper and how did it know to load it?

Thanks in advance!

Possibly a synced theme.

Thanks Edwin, but sorry, don't know what you mean by a "synced theme"? Something to do with OneDrive maybe? I don't think I was actually using OneDrive on my previous installation, unless my PC was saving to OneDrive and I was not even aware of it?!

It's a setting in Settings > Accounts > Sync Your Settings > Theme. Although I haven't experienced it myself as I always have this setting off, due to not wanting phone/desktop themes syncing.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4...dows-10-a.html

Ah, thanks ARC1020. I guess this will explain it. I will also set this to off. I guess the default is ON.