Does a Windows 10, clean install, create the necessary partitions?

Whatrymes · 06 Aug 2015

I have upgraded my Windows 8.1 system to Windows 10 through the Windows update app and have created an installation media USB stick. I want to clean install, something I am very familiar with, but not since the new uefi, gpt, legacy etc. that I'm not familiar with. If I do a clean install and delete the entire disk, Windows will create the partitions and install the necessary "data" to run the computer correctly? I don't need to save the data on the hidden partitions that are present now?

Thanks,
Ed

NavyLCDR · 06 Aug 2015

The hidden partitions may contain a factory image that the bios would boot to to restore you computer with all the software from the factory. If you don't mind possibly losing something like that, you can delete all the partitions off the disk in the advanced options of Windows setup and it will create a recovery partition (for Windows 10 only) and the system partition. The short answer you don't need to save the data on the hidden partitions.

Whatrymes · 06 Aug 2015

Thanks. That part was really confusing me. I don't want to save the factory image, old OS and bloatware.

Appreciate it NavyLCDR,
Ed

topgundcp · 06 Aug 2015

MBR: You can only create 4 primary partitions per HD with maximum size of 2TB.

GPT: New partitioning scheme, readable only by Windows XP x64, Server 2003 SP1, Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10.

Support a HD up to 2^64 blocks in length. (For 512-byte blocks, this is 9.44 ZB - zettabytes. 1 ZB is 1 billion terabytes) but restricted by Windows to 256TB
It can also support theoretically unlimited partitions. Windows restricted to 128 Partitions

It is up to you whether you want to install Windows using MBR or GPT and you need to set the option in the BIOS for MBR or GPT style installation.

Having said that. Here's the steps:

Disconnect all HD/SSD except the one you will be installing Windows
From the boot menu, Select #1 for GPT or select #2 for MBR to boot up the Windows Installation

NOTE: The screen is an example and might look different from yours
Once the Windows Installation started. On the first screen, Press and hold SHIFT Key + F10, a command Windows will popup then type:
- diskpart
- select disk 0
- Clean
- Exit
- Exit
Click Next to continue.
Select Custom
Select the first unallocated partition and click next. Windows will create all needed partitions to install Windows 10
Follow all the rest of the instruction to complete.

MBR installation:

500MB System Reserved partition
C: Drive

GPT installation:

450MB recovery partition
100MB EFI System Partition
16MB MSR partition
C drive.

Whatrymes · 07 Aug 2015

Excellent, thank you. I prefer and my BIOS is set for GPT (UEFI) style boot.

When you say "100MB System Partition" this would be what is listed as "Healthy (EFI System Partition)" in my Disk Management?

genet · 07 Aug 2015

Whatrymes said:

I have upgraded my Windows 8.1 system to Windows 10 through the Windows update app and have created an installation media USB stick. I want to clean install, something I am very familiar with, but not since the new uefi, gpt, legacy etc. that I'm not familiar with.

On the Where do you want to install Windows? screen, select a partition and click on the "Delete" option for each partition.

You must delete all the partitions until you only see Drive 0 Unallocated Space.

- Once you have deleted all of the partitions, click on the "Next" button. The installation of Windows will begin. All the required partitions are created automatically during the install.

- Or, if you know what you're doing, you can click on the "New" button and create a separate data partition.

- Recovery 450 MB - The Windows Recovery Environment tools.
- System (EFI system) 100 MB or 260 MB - The Boot Configuration Data (BCD).
- MSR (Reserved) 16 MB - Microsoft Reserved.
- Primary - Where Windows is to be installed to.

Here is info about UEFI Boot Mode (installing using the GPT partition style) and Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (installing using the MBR partition style). -> link

tamo · 07 Aug 2015

Hi , brilliant replies , Without hijacking the original thread can I ask a similar question ?
In my sony vaio notebook there is a 30GB SSD and a 500GB HDD ( I,m not sure if its a hybrid drive or 2 separate drives .) I lost my recovery partition Months ago when I installed/uninstalled win10 technical preview so I just use the ssd for the OS and the mechanical drive for storage . My question is this " is it possible to set the both drives up as raid or have the system see them as a combined drive" ?. Alternatively how do I map certain folders such as downloads , pictures ,documents to store on the bigger drive .
Thanks for any help .

Does a Windows 10, clean install, create the necessary partitions?-disc-management.png

genet · 07 Aug 2015

tamo said:

Alternatively how do I map certain folders such as downloads , pictures ,documents to store on the bigger drive.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html

Kyhi · 07 Aug 2015

Attachment 29190

genet · 07 Aug 2015

tamo said:

In my sony vaio notebook there is a 30GB SSD and a 500GB HDD ( I,m not sure if its a hybrid drive or 2 separate drives. )

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/ar...D-Caching-148/

For example, this model:

Sony VAIO T14 Ultrabook Review - Out With Express Cache In With DataPlex For SandForce Driven Speed | The SSD Review

"Sony’s new VIAO touchscreen T14 arrived last week, complete with hybrid hard drive and Windows 8."