Clean install of Windows 10

This seems to be the same as this.
Reinstall Windows 10Pro

Have you considered my post?

This part of it:

The HP recovery partition supports a factory reset- i.e. to 'as bought'. What O/S did the laptop come with? Might have been pre Win 10 or an early build of Win 10, and probably includes trialware.

It would be hard to think of a use for it.
https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c01512976

HP tools


If you need to download HP utilities or special drivers, have a look at HP's drivers download page for your laptop.
Then decide if you want to keep it.

janey6 said:

When I did the reinstall yesterday, I didn’t have to boot from a USB. I downloaded the MCT onto a blank thumb drive and ran setup from that. I just had to choose to save nothing and it reinstalled Windows 10.

Then that would not have been a clean install, just a repair/update (if later version). All the "imperfections" (if any) of the old system will be left in situ.

Are you advising that I should now create a bootable USB?

If you truly want to have a clean install, yes.

Do I have to start over?

im happy with the reinstallation but would like to get rid of D;\ & E:\ if they are no use now.

Yes, recommend start over. Delete all partitions when prompted, start with an unallocated drive (let W10 do the partitioning)


Disconnect the internet. No (re)connection until the system is installed and running (You will be asked 2x to connect - Windows thinks you lied the 1st time. Say no to both)


Also avoid all the MS offers of bells and whistles (even if you've got an X-Box and a Microsoft phone and a Microsoft Surface and a Microsoft this and a Microsoft that). Just say no to all the add-ons during the initial installation. Makes for a smooth job. You can then add the extras when you know it's working.

And for clarification- you can perform a clean install - which is started by booting from a Win 10 bootable disk, not after logging in- and keep other data partitions on the same drive should you wish.

Note that the clean install (tutorial available) is to unallocated space and requires you to delete all existing partitions forming part of your Windows O/S (typically 4 for UEFI, possibly 5 if there's a redundant Recovery partition (under 1Gb) and fewer for MBR).

Som laptops present a boot choice menu if you press a certain key.

Try researching instructions for your particular laptop.

Link in the tutorial for clean installing Win 10:
Boot from USB Drive on Windows 10 PC

See:
Clean Install Windows 10