Clean install or what

Davee3 said:

Windows 10 upgrade seems to have messed up my profile files . I can login but get a profile warning notice & after ok I get to a messed up desktop No users, only icon recycle bin & no key strokes do anything even on windows button . I have downloaded a file to allow USB boot & not sure what options to follow . I tried a setup.exe but result left me in same boat as before . If I clean install will I lose my license identification ? The upgrade was to be the last thing before making a machine specific bootable stick

Hello, Dave:

The first thing you should know is that once Windows is legitimately installed on a computer the license sticks until that computer no longer runs. The only thing you have to remember is that if you have a license for Home, you can't install Pro unless you buy an upgrade. So, go ahead and do a clean install of the same license type.

Here are some links to TenForums Tutorials that may help you:

This one should give you everything you need: Download Windows 10 ISO File | Tutorials

This one will help if you want to create a bootable Flash Drive for installing Windows: Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

EDIT! Messed up and doubled up on the bootable flash drive! URL now corrected:

And, finally, here's one that will help you to activate: Activate Windows 10 | Tutorials

Davee3 said:

Thanks team! I have created a USB drive for reinstall & Changed BIOS to boot from that - which it does but then??
i END UP LOGGED IN AS BEFORE So I opened task mangager > new Task Entered location of usb with setup.exe & everything moves ahead as an install BUT end up with same original issue Now I am modifying what is saved B4 install so maybe?? So I tired also with the option NOTHING saved & it still comes up "Installation windows 10 Failed". I will build a new USB & try again I guess

You may not be booting correctly from the USB Flash Drive; here's another tutorial:

Clean Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

As an example, I have an HP Desktop, and in order to boot into the BIOS, I have to press Esc a few times as follows:

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Plug in the Bootable USB Flash Drive
3. Restart the computer and immediately start pressing Esc, Esc, Esc, Esc until I'm booted into the BIOS.
4. I see the Blue Startup Menu with:
F1 - System Information
F2 - System Diagnosis
F9 - Boot Device Options {This is the one you want to choose}
F11 - System Recovery
F12 - Network Boot
Enter - Continue Startup

5. Choose F9, which will give you several Boot Sources
6. Choose the Boot Source that matches your USB Flash Drive (Mine is a Lexar USB Flash drive, so I choose that)
7. Once you choose the Flash Drive, just follow the rest of the tutorial mentioned above.

Hope this will get you where you want to be.