Reinstalling Win 10 with Teamviewer

GerryPeters · 28 Oct 2020

I have a client who has a laptop which is 1.5 years old with a Celeron processor. It's acting extremely sluggish. I used Teamviewer to log into his computer. I looked at the startup items and Programs installed and it didn't look like that much stuff.

Sometimes the CPU usage goes to 100% from System interrupts, maybe other things too. He has plenty of HD space and only 1 HD. He's very low tech and maybe has shut his computer down without closing Apps. I saw that he has McAfee virus protection.

We can't get his music recording program to playback or record. I just see a blue ring around the mouse pointer that never seems to go away. I told him we may need to reinstall Win 10. Since I'm using Teamviewer and he only has 1 HD I need to know what the options are and what to try first.

I think I can do some kind of Windows file fixer or something or Clean install. If needed I'll get him to buy a USB drive to help with the reinstall or fixing. Since Win 10 version 2004 is problematic for some, I'd rather install 1909.

Of course we're on the phone the whole time, so I can advise him while we're doing things. The only thing he has are some pics, everything else can be replaced. Any suggestions on what to start with?

Matthew Wai · 29 Oct 2020

Start with the following:

Download Windows 10 ISO File
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

GerryPeters said:

he only has 1 HD

So do I. I need only one USB stick and one HDD to clean install Windows 10.

GerryPeters said:

He's very low tech

I am even lower.

Ztruker · 30 Oct 2020

Couple things you can do, but don't expect miracles. Remember you are working with a very low end system to start with.

Follow this tutorial: Clean Install Windows 10

It gives you the entire process, step by step.

Instead of a Clean Install, how about doing a Reset saving everything for a first attempt. This basically replaces the Operating System and leaves everything else. It's the least painful way to go.

See here: Reset Windows 10

Or you could do a Reset and delete everything, effectively doing a Clean Install without the hassle of creating a USB flash drive to install from and walking your friend through the process.

GerryPeters · 30 Oct 2020

Ztruker said:

Couple things you can do, but don't expect miracles. Remember you are working with a very low end system to start with.

Follow this tutorial: Clean Install Windows 10

It gives you the entire process, step by step.

Instead of a Clean Install, how about doing a Reset saving everything for a first attempt. This basically replaces the Operating System and leaves everything else. It's the least painful way to go.

See here: Reset Windows 10

Or you could do a Reset and delete everything, effectively doing a Clean Install without the hassle of creating a USB flash drive to install from and walking your friend through the process.

I got to thinking about this and the guy isn't very clear on the phone, maybe it's a cheap phone, but it's hard to communicate and thought it would be more practical for him to go to Staples and have them do it. Considering I'm charging him by the hour on Teamviewer, I think that would be cheaper and less a hassle since I'm not there in person.

Yet this Reset maybe worth trying. Can I do this on Teamviewer? He doesn't have anything except a few files to backup like pics. He said he'd get a USB HD.

Ztruker · 30 Oct 2020

You can do most of it but at some point it will restart and the TeaMViewer connection will be lost. Then he just has to sit and wait for to to complete.

Ztruker · 30 Oct 2020

Sounded to me like he's trying to save the guy money, or at least that's how I took it. If he can do this via TeamViewer and a Reset that has to be a lot cheaper than having him take it to Staples and have them do it.

Maybe I'm just an optimist ...

GerryPeters · 30 Oct 2020

Yes I'm trying to save him money and I imagine Staples would change a flat fee. If I do the reset we can hang up and he isn't paying me while he's waiting for it to complete and will call me once it does. Can we do the reset online and not use a USB HD?

Ztruker · 30 Oct 2020

Read through the link I gave you. It explains the process in full detail. Very straight forward.

GerryPeters · 30 Oct 2020

Ztruker said:

Read through the link I gave you. It explains the process in full detail. Very straight forward.

You're right. This sounds like a good solution

Ztruker · 31 Oct 2020

Good luck. Let me know how you make out.