Re-Installing Windows 10 Home

elusiverunner · 25 Apr 2020

Hi All,

I have a huge request. I have an HP laptop that I have tried to restart several times with no such luck in fixing. What I want to do is wipe the hard drive with a propriety HDD wiper/cleaner. I need to partition the hard drive, get the computer to acknowledge it has a CD/DVD. Basically the computer needs to be wiped clean as it is picking up items from the previous installs of Windows.

First I need to know is this possible ? I have a USB with windows 10 on it. My Windows Version Number is 1909 OS Build 18383.815. I hope that this helps. I also think I will be coming back here if I need further help.

zbook · 25 Apr 2020

Run these to confirm licensing:
Activation troubleshooting

The license should be on Microsoft servers.

HP in many computers has tools to clean HD and SSD as they have many government contracts.

For example:
Disk Sanitizer for SSD (typically modify system configuration > device configuration: change SATA device mode to IDE or ACHI to use this tool)
Secure Erase for HD > typically used prior to repurposing or donating

For less superficial cleaning you can perform a clean install (deletes all partitions making an unallocated drive):
Clean Install Windows 10

An additional option is reset remove files:
Reset Windows 10

NavyLCDR · 25 Apr 2020

All you need to do is boot from your USB Flash Drive, do the custom install option, and on the next screen delete all the partitions on the drive you want to install Windows to, then select the unallocated space and click on next.

elusiverunner · 27 Apr 2020

Hello All,

I have read and followed the articles on getting Windows. However following the instructions for re-installing the Operating software there was no way displayed how to reset partitions.
So I have Window back on my laptop with the partitions in the mess they were in before the re-install. There is also the issue of bringing back my HDH/CD drive which, if I can, say this is know to the computer, but the lack of control or display the drive.
Can someone please help me with little complication.

Try3 · 27 Apr 2020

This tutorial procedure deletes all those pre-existing partitions

For less superficial cleaning you can perform a clean install (deletes all partitions making an unallocated drive):
Clean Install Windows 10

Is there some mis-communication in play here?

Denis

idgat · 28 Apr 2020

elusiverunner said:

Hello All,

I have read and followed the articles on getting Windows. However following the instructions for re-installing the Operating software there was no way displayed how to reset partitions.
So I have Window back on my laptop with the partitions in the mess they were in before the re-install. There is also the issue of bringing back my HDH/CD drive which, if I can, say this is know to the computer, but the lack of control or display the drive.
Can someone please help me with little complication.

You don't "reset" the partitions - you delete them. See image with step 11

Select the old/existing partition(s) - choose Delete. Do it for every partition
Leave the drive unallocated
Proceed

zbook · 28 Apr 2020

If you intend to perform a clean install and have questions or difficulty you can take pictures with a smartphone camera and post images into the thread.
The BIOS may have disk sanitizer and secure erase.
These can be used for drive problems after clean install or before repurposing the drive.

AddRAM · 28 Apr 2020

You can make new/other partitions after you have W10 installed using Partition Wizard. And Oh look at that, a new version is out, you get to be the Guinea Pig

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

You can use Disk Management, but that`s no fun

AOMEI Partition Assistant is very good too.

Free Partition Manager Software for Windows - AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard

Please post a full shot of Disk Management, before you go any further.

Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of

Try3 · 28 Apr 2020

AddRAM said:

You can make new/other partitions after you have W10 installed using Partition Wizard. And Oh look at that, a new version is out, you get to be the Guinea Pig

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

On that webpage, click on the Download now button then, in the webpage that now appears, hover over the Download partition wizard button in the upper-right of the window & select Free edition: Download.

Windows defender will block it from running because it contains a Potentially Unwanted Program [PUP]. Open the Windows defender interface. It will show the warning and you can choose to allow the program.
- When you try to install it, you'll see options for also installing their ShadowMaker [backup utility] & for joining their Customer experience improvement program. I de-selected both.
- Installation then ran smoothly.

Re-Installing Windows 10 Home-mt-pw-installation-options.png

Its online help is at MiniTool Partition Wizard User Manual

Denis