Clean Windows 10 installation issues.

Athalwolf said:

I am attempting to do a reformat and clean install booting fromW10 USB. When its all done and Windows is ready I still have my old desktop wallpaper and a bunch of desktop files showing. I have gone through the process twice and used the Custom installation option and reformatted my SSD. What am I doing wrong?

The title of the opening post was "clean" and the paragraph indicated "custom".

When performing a clean install all data is removed.
When performing a custom install a windows.old is created that is restored.

Clean Install Windows 10
Custom Install Windows 10
How to Restore Files from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10

Hi zbook and thank you for responding.

I’m not getting the clean install option booting from the USB. When it asks Which type of installation do you want? the options are:

Upgrade: Install Windows and keep files or Custom: Install Windows only.

Should I be doing this via Settings/Windows Update/Recovery? It’s been awhile and I do not recall how I did it last time. Thanks

For clean install:
a) click or highlight each partition > delete
b) repeat until the drive is unallocated
c) install Windows allowing it to create the new partition structure


An additional option is reset remove files:
Reset Windows 10

Athalwolf said:

When it asks Which type of installation do you want? the options are: Upgrade: Install Windows and keep files or Custom: Install Windows only.

After you choose Custom, you're asked 'Where do you want to install Windows?'. On this screen, choose each partition and delete all until you have one unallocated space and proceed by clicking 'Next'. Here are screenshots so you can follow -

If possible take pictures with a smartphone camera and post images into the thread.

What were the steps performed on the SSD?
What were the steps performed in the HD?

Take Screenshot in Windows 10

How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums

Athalwolf said:

Well I deleted all the partitions until all that remained was my SDD which said unallocated and my HDD. I installed to the SDD and I still have my old wallpapers and desktop files. Darn.

If you sign in with a Microsoft account it may well be syncing your desktop from the cloud.

Enable or Disable Sync Your Settings in Windows 10

Maybe that’s what’s up because I am signing in each installation. So the clean install probably worked.

Athalwolf said:

Maybe that’s what’s up because I am signing in each installation. So the clean install probably worked.

You can check your Programs and Features in Control Panel. If there are no User installed programs, just Win10 apps, your clean install worked.
Also, if you go to the Settings/Update & Security/Recovery there will be no option to go back to previous version of Win10