So no image to reinstall from ??
If you previously let MCT tool create your USB I would just go with that. I don't really think one is better than the other. Some people create their own USB and can create some issue.
When you turn on device tap F9. Should bring up boot menu. Does on all of mine.
I would just install 1909. It is very stable.
When 1809 was running and I encountered issues, I looked at using a restore point, but there were only 2. Attempted the earlier one but problems were still evident. Did not create an image prior to the update attempt. My thought was why invest time to go back to a problem if the update didnt work?
The HP laptop came with a recovery partition for the original OS--Win 7. Is there any benefit in keeping this if I am going to do a clean install of 10 v1909?
In my opinion, no reason to keep.
Once you get your installation up and running I would look at Imagining. I keep several versions and can restore to any point in time.
Not wanting to make your life or installation more complex but you might consider having your data on a separate partition.
This allows for a smaller system image and should you need to restore it doesn't overwrite your data. Of course you still need to backup or Image your data.
I was thinking of removing the OEM recovery partition. IIRC, its around 30 gig. Your post makes me wonder if I can vacate the OEM files from there and reuse it as a "data partition" or to store an image backup? The drive is 750 gig total, so I have room to expand the other partition.
The only media creation tool that I find is for v 2004. I assume there is one specifically for 1909.
Last edited by Davidb4775; 18 Jun 2020 at 09:32.
I would delete all partitions and let windows do the setup. Then shrink c: to some appropriate number 200-250GB and then allocate the freed up space as a data partition.
Minitool partition wizard is what I use. Watch during the install, lots of little check marks to remove as they have taken to installing add on crap.
Once d: is ready to take data you can use this series of tutorials to "Move" your libraries and locations to d:
Thinking Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos (libraries) and desktops / downloads (locations). I say series as there is a tutorial for each. You see links at bottom of each tutorial. They are all the same except the thing you are moving. So the Music one is the same as documents tutorial except for the word document or music.
Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10
Beware of mistakes if moving location like that. Note the tutorial warns you should create a disk image before doing that just in case. It gets messy if you get the destination wrong. My personal view: create your own folders and use those- add them to the libraries if you wish (tutorial available).
Done carefully I haven't had any issues.
I will agree with you though, we've had some screw ups.
This has turned into a multi-day event. With the botched upgrade, I decided to go with a clean install. The problem was that it appears the MCT tool on the MS site only lets one create the latest release...2004. The downloading of the tool from MS shows a file name including v2004. Ran it anyway and it does not give one a version option. Seems like all the online witeups and reviews about how great v1909 is, provide a link to here. Sometime later, found a repository for older versions. Downloaded and made a boot disk. As someone else pointed out, I just stepped away and let the installation do its thing.
It is amazing how fast the laptop boots up and powers down. Am now in the middle of reinstalling programs and will make sure to create periodic restore points and a recovery disk.
Periodic Images too.... restore points are good but ......
Certainly an Image after machine is all setup. You can store this one away and use it as a very fast "Clean" restoration.
Yes clean installs really do bring out the best in Windows.
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