Windows 10 re-install (clean install to fix errors)?

CmmTch · 26 Nov 2016

I needed direction on performing a clean install after replacing my motherboard. NavyLCDR helped do that, see the quote below from my post https://www.tenforums.com/installatio...questions.html If your laptop is not UEFI capable ignore the Step 9 instructions for creating a UEFI compatible USB in the link "Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive"

NavyLCDR said:

I would create a Windows 10 USB installation flash drive. Set up the flash drive using this procedure:
Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive

At step 9, make sure to use FAT32 to make it UEFI compatible (read the important note box):
9. To format the partition, type format fs=fat32 quick, and then click ENTER.

For step 12, mount the Windows 10 ver1607 ISO file and copy all the files and folders from the mounted ISO file to the USB flash drive.

Then I would convert the Windows 10 USB flash drive to boot into Kyhi's recovery tools (see my quote in the middle of the OP here):
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

Boot the computer into Kyhi's recovery tools, use the partitioning program included in Kyhi's Recovery Tools to delete all the partitions on the SSD and initialize it as GPT. When the SSD is empty (unallocated) and GPT, run setup.exe from the thumb drive to do a clean install of Windows 10 on the SSD. Skip entering the product key when asked for it - unless you have a full retail Windows 10 product key to enter.

After I was done I had to chat into Microsoft to activate W10, I still had my Win7 retail product key and should have put that in when asked for a product key. My existing W10 install (1511) was activated with a "digital entitlement" but that didn't follow with my MSA. Make sure you have your product key from the Win7 you upgraded from in case you need it.

NavyLCDR · 27 Nov 2016

Fixer said:

There shouldn't ever be any need to reinstall 10 from a disc. Why don't you use Reset?

The built-in Windows reset and refresh functions have proven to be extremely unreliable. If a person is going to do a reset anyway and not keep any settings for data files, clean install from USB flash drive or DVD is much better than taking your chances with the built-in reset function.

Willabong · 27 Nov 2016

Fixer: Fair Enough, but it will retain the same admin, and I want to change that as well, I tried User Accounts and it didn't work to remove the old Admin?

Fixer · 27 Nov 2016

Willabong said:

Fixer: Fair Enough, but it will retain the same admin, and I want to change that as well, I tried User Accounts and it didn't work to remove the old Admin?

Where have you got that from? NOTHING carries over, including the Admin account. As this isn't something you do every day, and in order to be be certain, I've just reset a system here and had to configure Windows entirely from scratch. Perhaps the Admin carries over if you choose to retain your files, I don't know. Anyway everything worked as it should so I cannot agree with NavyLCDR about reset being unreliable as it has worked every time for me.

Willabong · 27 Nov 2016

In that case I will give it a try! Where exactly would I find it on W10 please? Never mind found it! Will let you know how it turns out?

Fixer · 27 Nov 2016

Good, let us know, and remember to back up anything you want to retain first.

Willabong · 28 Nov 2016

All went well! The only drawback is the time it took to install W10 and all the updates including Threshold 2. It was a bit of a nightmare but it is now done.
So thanks to Fixer and everyone else who helped!:)

Fixer · 28 Nov 2016

Good news, and a good time to grab a disk image.