Old Guy Purchases Used Win10 PC- Clean Install, MS Account, etc.

You can download the media creation tool & create installation media which will give you 20H2 which is the latest version & clean install this.
MCT/USB: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10
.Iso: https://www.microsoft.com/software-d...d/windows10ISO
The license should be embedded in the BIOS. In order to remove the key from their account the original owner needed to use slmgr. vbs /upk within cmd prompt while being logged in.
It’s difficult to create a local account during setup, you have to disconnect from the internet to do this, a better way is to create a Microsoft account & use this to register the PC with the account then change this to a local account.

I have done a few and done clean install when it was activated before against a ms account and it activated ok on a new ms account

AZMedia said:

1) Will this "Reset" just be installing the 2018 Win10 version that came with the PC?

It will reset to the version that is currently installed, if it is 2018, then it will be it.
If you would use a recovery that came with PC then it would reset to the original.

AZMedia said:

2) Do I download a newer Win10 version to a bootable USB to do a clean install?

It would be preferable, the current install might be "altered" to fit the company or something else.

AZMedia said:

3) Does an OEM license require I create an MS account, or Local Account?.

No, it is tied to the hardware and will be activated automatically. The latest version wants you to use MS account, which you can create using any email, but you can create a local account, if you unplug the network.

AZMedia said:

4) Will the original owner need to release this license that is tied to his "MS Account"?

The license is tied to the device and the device is tied to the MS account.
Once sold, I believe he would remove devices, at least for security reasons.

AZMedia said:

5) Does anyone use the "Refresh Windows Tool" download from MS?

It is a good option, if you want to clean install/upgrade from within Windows.

You can create MS account right now, one less thing to worry about that could go wrong.

https://account.microsoft.com/account

Windows 10 don't need a key to reinstall (same version). On the first time Win 10 is installed and activated it creates a computer ID and sends to M$ to store on their servers (so called digital license).
When you are reinstalling, skip entering a key. It will check the ID on M$ servers and find out that the computer has already had windows and will activate.
All you have to do is to boot from a Win 10 installation on a USB drive and install the Pro version.
The easiest way to create a Win 10 installation on a USB drive is to use MCT

On BIOS
Reset or load defaults.
Set Disk mode to AHCI, not RAID
Disable fast boot and secure boot (you can turn it on after installation)

Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

As you have a new MB, you should install as UEFI-GPT
Detach any other drives (SATA or Power cable) from the MB.

During POST, press F12 to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name).
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the SSD till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.
If you don't want to use MS account, (that I recommend) don't enable updates or connect to the internet during installation.

Clean Install Windows 10

Any Win 10 version (Win 10 Version 2018 and Win 10 Version 2020 included) can be installed as Legacy - MBR or UEFI - GPT. It's up to you.

To create a Win 10 installation USB drive with Win 10 ver 20h2, I suggest to use MCT
To reinstall as Clean Install (Delete everything on the drive and install on a clean drive) you have to boot a Win 10 installation from a DVD or USB drive.

As explained, you can boot the Win 10 installation USB drive in two ways:
- Legacy and it will install as Legacy - MBR
- UEFI and it will install as UEFI - GPT

Thanks go to Megahertz, TairikuOkami, Bastet, and the rest. The Win10 202H clean install went smoothly, but not at first.

I was stunned Windows Update downloaded over 40 drivers to my Dell PC. So I started over with a better approach (below). I now control what drivers get download, and when. This particular PC needed to be Lean and Clean as a media player. It doesn't need fancy "Customer Experiences" or constant data sharing to Microsoft and others. Collect your drivers before hand, store on a USB drive.

After Clean Install and Windows 10 finally opens:
STAY OFFLINE:
1) Pause Windows Update: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Pause Updates for 7 Days.
2) Block Driver Downloads from Windows Update : Open gpedit.msc or, Local Group Policy Editor
Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
On right side find and enable “Do not include drivers with Windows Update”
3) Install your own drivers (Run each as Administrator, reboot after each)
4) Turn OFF Ads: Start>Settings>Personalize - Occasionally show suggestions in Start (OFF)
5) If you not using Edge browser, disable it's updates: Go to "Services". Look for Microsoft Edge Update Service (edgeupdate) and Microsoft Edge Update Service (edgeupdatem). Disable both. Here's 2 other methods.
6) Now connect to a Network
7) Run Window Update: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Remove Pause (reboot and run it again)
8) Enable Restore Points (Allows creation of points): Control Panel > Look on right side, System Protection > System Protection tab (Select and "Enable" your drive).
9) Install your preferred browser, as default.

Download and run O&O Shutup10. This great tools creates a long toggle list of privacy and other features you can turn off (Telemetry, Voice, Cortana, etc). Be Careful: As soon as it opens it shows all the toggles. The tendency is to start playing with buttons, but don't. This activates that step. Just go down the list and read each one - then decide, or view this demo first. In Menu>Actions avoid bulk changes of "Apply Recommended" as it doesn't know your circumstances. When done, export your settings list. O&O does create a restore point, thus step#7 above.

50+ SVCHOST Processes Running:
In Task Manager there are about 50 svchost processes running. Years ago they would share resources. But if you have more than 3.8GB of RAM they now run separately. By changing this 3.8 setting to your exact RAM size you can make these processes go back to sharing with each other. It goes from 50 to about 10.
Go to Registry Editor: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
Look for a DWORD SvcHostSplitThresholdInKB. Its value is set to 380000 (3.8GB) by default.
Change this number to your current memory size, then reboot. For instance, 8GB Memory = 8 × 1024MB x 1024KB = 8388608 (new setting). 16GB is 16777216. You can always change it back to 380000.

I use Firefox and not interested in Edge, which is integrated into the OS. Every link in the OS like "Learn More" will always launch Edge, not default browser. Edge updated itself and installed numerous extensions like Outlook, Excel, PPT - without asking. Note: there are many sites that list Services that could or should be Disabled, or at least set to Manual. I do this step too but very carefully. I create a document listing every change and the date.

Hope this helps some people.