HELP - Idiot Msft Tech Fudged Up My PC

"Did I have to do something to the ISO before pasting it to my USB stick? "
You do have to properly prepare the usb stick -

1) download iso from MS
2) put usb drive in PC and prepare it like this-

Run an admin command prompt and type following commands exactly (hit Enter after each)

diskpart
list disk
select disk n (where n=number of USB drive)
clean (wipes drive - be CERTAIN right drive # has been selected)
create partition primary
select partition 1
format fs=fat32 quick
active
assign
exit
exit

3) Note assigned USB drive letter
4) mount iso as a drive (via r-click, file window opens)
5) copy & paste all files to USB drive
6) now, boot from USB drive

When the iso is installed on the disk in a copy and paste fashion it is not bootable.
For a Windows clean install you will need to use a bootable iso.

On a working computer download and install to the iso:
Download Windows 10
Download Windows 10 ISO File | Tutorials

There is an alternative and that is using Rufus to make a bootable flash drive:
Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

The best option is to download directly from the Microsoft website and make a bootable flash drive.

zbook said:

When the iso is installed on the disk in a copy and paste fashion it is not bootable.
For a Windows clean install you will need to use a bootable iso.
.

Thanks.. you and mrgear helped me install to the latest version. Thanks.

Everything works perfectly. But I wanted how to change the path 'C:\Users\david' to 'C:\Users\tom'. I ask this cuz before I clean installed to the new version my path was 'C:\Users\tom'. Let me know.. Thanks.

change the path 'C:\Users\david' to 'C:\Users\tom'.

You must have enter 'david' or signed in with MS account that begins with 'david'. You should have use offline or don't have MS account option in lower L, then entered any user name you wanted rather than have installation select it.

Here's a tutorial on how to change - Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10

If that's too complicated and you have not begun filling the folders under This PC (like Documents, Pictures, etc) after the perfectly working clean install, the easiest way is to create a new Local account under 'tom' ( Add Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 10 ), give it admin rights. Now, sign out of 'david', restart, sign in as 'tom'. Go to Settings/Accounts and delete 'david' as a User ('tom' has admin right to do this). Now all paths will lead to 'tom'. Note: if you already put content into any This PC folders under 'david', copy/move the content to the corresponding 'tom' folders or you will lose it when the 'david' account is deleted (you'll before warned too).
If you want to convert the new 'tom' account to MS email account, then change over in Settings/Accounts/Your info where it says use MS email instead, Good Luck

This is an additional method:
How to Change the Location of User Folders in Windows 10 - dummies

mrgeek said:

change the path 'C:\Users\david' to 'C:\Users\tom'.

You must have enter 'david' or signed in with MS account that begins with 'david'. You should have use offline or don't have MS account option in lower L, then entered any user name you wanted rather than have installation select it.

Here's a tutorial on how to change - Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10

If that's too complicated and you have not begun filling the folders under This PC (like Documents, Pictures, etc) after the perfectly working clean install, the easiest way is to create a new Local account under 'tom' ( Add Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 10 ), give it admin rights. Now, sign out of 'david', restart, sign in as 'tom'. Go to Settings/Accounts and delete 'david' as a User ('tom' has admin right to do this). Now all paths will lead to 'tom'. Note: if you already put content into any This PC folders under 'david', copy/move the content to the corresponding 'tom' folders or you will lose it when the 'david' account is deleted (you'll before warned too).
If you want to convert the new 'tom' account to MS email account, then change over in Settings/Accounts/Your info where it says use MS email instead, Good Luck

Hi zbook and mrgeek.. appreciate this big help.


3 other questions..

1) I currently have Nvidia as my display driver. But I have intel. Do I need to update intel display drivers regardless of my Nvidia drivers?

2) How can I update to the latest drivers? I contacted MSI about this and they said to check intel website for display and chipset drivers for intel. But intel has drivers that are too complicated for me to know which are specific for my drivers. Is there a program that can tell me which drivers are specific for me?

3) How do I remove some hidden icons in the system tray popup? See screen shot.




.

Windows will install default Microsoft drivers that are likely to have lower performance.
There may be settings in the BIOS if you want to turn off Optimus.
Some computers have these BIOS settings and other do not.
For example the HP notebook used in this post had the Optimus turned off in the BIOS.
It was a trial and error step that was made long ago to compare one computer to another.
There was no notable difference as there was no stress on the system.

In this link click on the Optimus whitepaper > save to file.
Optimus Technology|NVIDIA

If you need mobility and battery life, want to save on energy costs, or many use many monitors then install the best drivers for both Nvidia and Intel.
The best drivers are always from the computer or motherboard manufacturer as they are the most tested for the configuration.
The next best source is from the component manufacturer: Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Killer Networks, Realtek

For Intel there is a driver and support assistant that can be downloaded and installed:
Intel® Driver & Support Assistant

For Nvidia and AMD they have software to scan computers for optimal drivers
The Nvidia tool requires Java.
A compatible browser could be Internet Explorer
NVIDIA

zbook said:

Windows will install default Microsoft drivers that are likely to have lower performance.

The best drivers are always from the computer or motherboard manufacturer as they are the most tested for the configuration.
The next best source is from the component manufacturer: Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Killer Networks, Realtek

Thanks zbook. Appreciate the heads up.

mrgeek said:

3)
Easy. Go to Settings/Personalization/Taskbar/Notification area. Click 'Select which icons appear on taskbar'. On next screen turn off at top and flip switches for what you want to see or not. See screens below -

Thank you.

Hi zbook and mrgear... I installed macrium. Would you guys tell me if I should create a windows PE rescue media? If so, macrium gives me the option of choosing either one in the win 10 boot menu or as an iso file. See screen shot. Let me know.. thanks!