How can I do a full reinstall of Windows on my laptop?

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

  1. Posts : 36
    PC: Windows 7 / Laptop: Windows 10
       #1

    How can I do a full reinstall of Windows on my laptop?


    I have a Toshiba Satellite E45DW-C4210 (came preinstalled with Windows 10 so no disc obviously) & it came with some bloatware from Toshiba. I have no idea what other junk is on this machine.

    How can I do a "fresh" wipe or whatever you want to call it so only Windows 10 is on the laptop, I don't want any Toshiba software/bloatware on the laptop. Basically just barebones, as if I built my this laptop myself and put a copy of Windows 10 on it. That is what I'm looking to do. I just feel starting over again with nothing but Windows will improve the laptop.

    I know you can do a system reset where it wipes all your data & re-installs Windows 10 but then the Toshiba's software is just installed all over again. I don't know if this is possible but if it is how can I achieve this?

    I'm not tech savvy at all so I appreciate the help!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    Simply follow this Tutorial by Brink: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

    You can download Win10 install media direct from MS (nothing to do with Toshiba) and use the "Custom Install" option described in the tutorial, deleting all partitions.

    You'll want to either burn a DVD or dedicate a 4-8 GB flash drive to making the bootable install media.

    There are links in that tutorial to other tutorials for things you may not already know how to do.

    Post back here if you have questions.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 36
    PC: Windows 7 / Laptop: Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Word Man said:
    Simply follow this Tutorial by Brink: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

    You can download Win10 install media direct from MS (nothing to do with Toshiba) and use the "Custom Install" option described in the tutorial, deleting all partitions.

    You'll want to either burn a DVD or dedicate a 4-8 GB flash drive to making the bootable install media.

    There are links in that tutorial to other tutorials for things you may not already know how to do.

    Post back here if you have questions.
    Is there any negatives to doing this? Will I have to search for drivers? My laptop has Bluetooth and other features. Will I end up wiping something needed for my laptop to function properly (didn't know if Toshiba has installed stuff required for things to work)? The laptop is a touchscreen. I guess I'm asking is what is the worse that can happen?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #4

    budmonster said:
    Is there any negatives to doing this? Will I have to search for drivers? My laptop has Bluetooth and other features. Will I end up wiping something needed for my laptop to function properly (didn't know if Toshiba has installed stuff required for things to work)? The laptop is a touchscreen. I guess I'm asking is what is the worse that can happen?
    There are always potential negatives.

    The best thing you can do as insurance against that is to FIRST make a complete disk image with a reliable imaging software. One example is Macrium Reflect Free. You should have a complete disk image stored on a completely separate external disk.

    Before clean installing, you can save all of your device drivers by following the instructions in topgundcp's post here: How do I backup all of my PC drivers 2 my flashdrive?

    MS can do a decent job of installing appropriate drivers for your hardware in the clean install. You may need to follow-up by getting missing device drivers or more optimal drivers from Toshiba, or restoring the folder storing them from your disk image (or having them saved on separate media).

    Note that any software you DO want to keep will have to be reinstalled and of course any data you want to keep will need restored - prepare all of that ahead of time.

    Since your laptop came preinstalled with (and I assume was designed to run) Win10, you likely have much less chance of having driver difficulties or things going south on you than those who struggle to get much older laptops (with no manufacturer supplied Win10 drivers) upgraded.

    Clean install can resolve a multitude of problems, especially if you've tweaked things in the wrong direction or otherwise lost some bits and pieces - and much can be said for getting rid of excessive bloatware.

    I don't know how Toshiba is for bloatware but ONE THING you might consider is whether Toshiba provides a means of creating separate factory restore media for that laptop before you delete all partitions - there may be a partition there that contains the means to restore your laptop to the out-of-the-box state - some people consider that a valuable ultimate fallback to have - From your laptop's user manual - http://support.toshiba.com/support/s...mTOCLink=false
    See “Creating a recovery drive” on page 46
    A factory recovery USB separate from your computer is always a good thing to have early on (in my way of thinking) - I created and stored mine for my Dell in the factory box and store it in a separate safe and secure location. HOWEVER, that DOESN'T take away from the importance of just capturing a reliable complete disk image of where your laptop is NOW before embarking on the clean install.

    Executive Summary (aka to some as the "TL;DR")- Create a factory recovery USB, Completely image your disk before starting, Create a separate easily accessible backup of your current drivers for convenience's sake.
    Last edited by Word Man; 30 Jan 2016 at 21:01.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 36
    PC: Windows 7 / Laptop: Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Word Man said:
    There are always potential negatives.

    The best thing you can do as insurance against that is to FIRST make a complete disk image with a reliable imaging software. One example is Macrium Reflect Free. You should have a complete disk image stored on a completely separate external disk.

    Before clean installing, you can save all of your device drivers by following the instructions in topgundcp's post here: How do I backup all of my PC drivers 2 my flashdrive?

    MS can do a decent job of installing appropriate drivers for your hardware in the clean install. You may need to follow-up by getting missing device drivers or more optimal drivers from Toshiba, or restoring the folder storing them from your disk image (or having them saved on separate media).

    Note that any software you DO want to keep will have to be reinstalled and of course any data you want to keep will need restored - prepare all of that ahead of time.

    Since your laptop came preinstalled with (and I assume was designed to run) Win10, you likely have much less chance of having driver difficulties or things going south on you than those who struggle to get much older laptops (with no manufacturer supplied Win10 drivers) upgraded.

    Clean install can resolve a multitude of problems, especially if you've tweaked things in the wrong direction or otherwise lost some bits and pieces - and much can be said for getting rid of excessive bloatware.

    I don't know how Toshiba is for bloatware but ONE THING you might consider is whether Toshiba provides a means of creating separate factory restore media for that laptop before you delete all partitions - there may be a partition there that contains the means to restore your laptop to the out-of-the-box state - some people consider that a valuable ultimate fallback to have - From your laptop's user manual - http://support.toshiba.com/support/s...mTOCLink=false

    A factory recovery USB separate from your computer is always a good thing to have early on (in my way of thinking) - I created and stored mine for my Dell in the factory box and store it in a separate safe and secure location. HOWEVER, that DOESN'T take away from the importance of just capturing a reliable complete disk image of where your laptop is NOW before embarking on the clean install.

    Executive Summary (aka to some as the "TL;DR")- Create a factory recovery USB, Completely image your disk before starting, Create a separate easily accessible backup of your current drivers for convenience's sake.
    So before I do anything I should create a backup of my laptop in it's current state using some sort of imaging software and put it on a USB flash drive.

    Then I need to backup all my current drivers so all the FN buttons work (volume, brightness, etc.)? My laptop has Bluetooth, Touchscreen, I'm just worried I'll lose whatever "features" came with the laptop.

    I'm sorry but I don't understand this:
    I don't know how Toshiba is for bloatware but ONE THING you might consider is whether Toshiba provides a means of creating separate factory restore media for that laptop before you delete all partitions - there may be a partition there that contains the means to restore your laptop to the out-of-the-box state - some people consider that a valuable ultimate fallback to have - From your laptop's user manual - http://support.toshiba.com/support/s...mTOCLink=false
    All of this seems so overwhelming, anyways I appreciate the continuing help :)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    budmonster said:
    ..
    I'm sorry but I don't understand this:

    [QUOTE of factory restore instructions]

    All of this seems so overwhelming, anyways I appreciate the continuing help :)
    Understanding creating a factory restore is not necessary if you don't really want to do it. I mean if you really NEVER want to be able to get the laptop back to exactly the way it came from the factory - then forget it.

    I know you don't want the bloat/crapware but some people prefer to make this right after getting a new computer so they have the ultimate backup.

    The link I posted is simply a pointer to the user manual for your laptop - the instructions for creating a recovery drive to get you back to factory condition are given starting on page 46 of that manual.

    NOTE - Once you do clean install (including deleting all partitions), this will NO longer be an option.

    ...separate post on other questions....
    Last edited by Word Man; 05 Feb 2016 at 18:39. Reason: Clarified as limited option
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    budmonster said:
    So before I do anything I should create a backup of my laptop in it's current state using some sort of imaging software and put it on a USB flash drive....
    Yes.

    However, unless your flash drive is big enough, the complete disk image (backup, but including ALL partitions, including ones you don't normally see) may not fit.

    This is better done to an external USB disk.

    I recommend you check out Macrium Reflect Free, and take and image of your entire disk to an external USB disk before doing any of this. Make a Macrium Rescue DVD or USB flash drive that you can boot laptop (from if things get messed up) to restore the image to your laptop and puts things right back where they were. Check this link: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

    There are other imaging software alternatives with functional free versions, but Macrium Reflect is highly reliable and my recommendation.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    budmonster said:
    ....Then I need to backup all my current drivers so all the FN buttons work (volume, brightness, etc.)? My laptop has Bluetooth, Touchscreen, I'm just worried I'll lose whatever "features" came with the laptop....
    Right, drivers as supplied by the manufacturer, especially since it came with Win10 installed, are usually the best versions to have. It's a precautionary step to have backups of those drivers available in case the "clean install" of Win10 does not install all drivers or best version - you then have a way to follow the "clean install" with installing JUST the manufacturer provided drivers (that you have backed up) to get all features/functions working - alternatively, you can check the Toshiba support web site for the latest and greatest release of drivers they have for your laptop.

    You would do this precisely BECAUSE of the worry you just expressed.

    Hope these 3 posts are helpful.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 36
    PC: Windows 7 / Laptop: Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I checked the link below but I just had a few questions. I guess I start here right? I'm not really sure were the tutorial for my needs start as I keep looking at it and I keep reading about different types of Win 10.



    Also, I clicked on #1 from "USB Flash Drive - Create to Install Windows 10". Which option do I choose?

    - Option One: Use Media Creation Tool to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
    - Option Two: Use "Rufus" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
    - Option Three: Use "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for only Legacy BIOS

    [b]Then on #3 it talks about "boot from the USB flash drive on your computer." Again do I choose option one two or three? I have no idea what fast boot or ultra fast boot is, same with UEFI. It talks about how the USB thumb drive has to have fast food and ultra fast boot off or something. I'm clueless on where to find it.

    Just a few more ?s lol.
    - What does my flash drive need to be formatted to before I put the creation tool on it? And the creation told goes on the flash drive and then it installs windows 10 on that same flash drive correct?
    - Before doing anything I should take image of my current computer and put it on my external hard drive using that software you recommended?
    - What software can I use to back up my drivers so everything works like the TN keys, the touch screen etc.? And is it OK if I put the drivers on the flash drive along with windows 10 or do I need a separate flash drive for the drivers?

    Edit: somebody over at the Toshiba forums told me not to do this because it can really mess up my laptop, the last post in the thread: http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/System-Recovery-and-Recovery/How-to-do-a-quot-fresh-quot-install-of-Windows-on-my-laptop/m-p/681701


    Word Man said:
    Simply follow this Tutorial by Brink: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

    You can download Win10 install media direct from MS (nothing to do with Toshiba) and use the "Custom Install" option described in the tutorial, deleting all partitions.

    You'll want to either burn a DVD or dedicate a 4-8 GB flash drive to making the bootable install media.

    There are links in that tutorial to other tutorials for things you may not already know how to do.

    Post back here if you have questions.
    Last edited by budmonster; 16 Mar 2016 at 11:26.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #10

    1. The most universal flash drive that just works, in my experience, has been Option 1. Download the media creation tool. Select the option for downloading an installation for another pc. Then select the option for USB flash drive. Let the media creation tool do all the work.

    2. You don't need to do anything with the flash drive first. The MCT will erase it, format it to fat32, and write the Windows 10 installation media to it.

    3. When you get ready to boot the laptop from the flash drive, there are several ways to do that. From the power icon off the start icon (like you would normally shutdown), hold down shift key and click restart. That will put you into the Windows Recovery Environment. Keep selecting the advanced and/or troubleshooting option until you see an option that says something about booting from a device. With the flash drive inserted, click that option, and you will get a list of what to reboot from. Select USB and you should reboot into the flash drive.

    Or, hold down shift key and click shutdown. That bypasses fast startup. Then, with the flash drive inserted when you power on your computer there will be a key you have to repeatedly press before the Windows logo comes up - might be ESC key, F2, F11 - depends on the hardware, you will have to look in the manual for it. That will take you to a list of boot devices to select from.

    4. To save your drivers before you re-install vanilla Windows, I recommend using a 16gb or 32gb flash drive to create the Windows install media with. Then AFTER you create the Windows install media on it, you can use it to store your drivers. Let's say flash drive gets assigned drive letter E: when you insert it. Create a folder on the flash drive, I like to call my DriversW10. Right click start icon, click command prompt (admin). That will open an elevated ("run as administrator") command prompt. Then you will run:
    DISM /online /export-driver /destination:E:\DriversW10

    The path in red will be the path to the folder you created on the flash drive. That will save all the hardware specific drivers you need that don't come with vanilla Windows.

    5. It is a very good idea to use Macrium Reflect Free to create an image of your entire hard drive onto an external hard drive just in case something goes wrong, you can go back to exactly where it was before. You will need a Macrium Rescue disk to restore the image so make sure to make one. USB flash drive, DVD or CD works for that.

    6. Once you boot from the Windows 10 flash drive, it should read the Windows 10 product key in bios and not ask you what version you want or for a product key. Select custom install, delete every partition on the hard drive - this is irreversible, it will erase everything on the hard drive Toshiba put on it. Then install to the unallocated space and let Windows do the work of creating the partitions that it wants.

    7. After you get installed, open device manager. Look for any "unknown devices". Select upgrade drivers, browse my computer, point it to the DriversW10 folder you created and it will install the drivers from there. Also any hardware with exclamation points for not working right can also be attempted to fix the same way.

    That should be it. Good luck!
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 21:15.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums