Best way to Have a Clean Installation on a new Windows 10 tablet

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  1. Posts : 13
    Windows 10
       #1

    Best way to Have a Clean Installation on a new Windows 10 tablet


    Hi everybody! I recently got a great deal on an HP Pavilion X2 10- 2 in 1 that came with Windows 10. As it is a secondary computer and going to replace an Android tablet as my primary portable solution, I'm trying to achieve the max. amount of free storage space own the embedded 32gb flash storage.

    After uninstalling some bloat and running Windows update, I'm left with a whopping 11.6 gb of free space. I'd read there was a solution to reseting the pc minus the bloat, but I believe that article was incorrect. I would like to ditch the HP recovery partition completely as I have no need for any of their crapware and reclaim that space. (It's a 5.?gb partition where they are hiding the HP junk.)

    Is the only solution to purchase a retail Windows 10 license or can I install Windows 10 from USB and the serial automatically transfers? (I doubt that would work.) or is there any other solution to achieve a slimmed down install so I can ditch the partition and just have pure Windows 10?

    Thanks!
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  2. whs
    Posts : 1,935
    Windows 7
       #2

    If and when you get rid of the recovery partition, I would recommend to first make an image of the system so that you always have some fallback. And make sure you include the partition with the bootmgr.
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  3. Posts : 15,442
    Windows10
       #3

    bbeelzebub said:
    Hi everybody! I recently got a great deal on an HP Pavilion X2 10- 2 in 1 that came with Windows 10. As it is a secondary computer and going to replace an Android tablet as my primary portable solution, I'm trying to achieve the max. amount of free storage space own the embedded 32gb flash storage.

    After uninstalling some bloat and running Windows update, I'm left with a whopping 11.6 gb of free space. I'd read there was a solution to reseting the pc minus the bloat, but I believe that article was incorrect. I would like to ditch the HP recovery partition completely as I have no need for any of their crapware and reclaim that space. (It's a 5.?gb partition where they are hiding the HP junk.)

    Is the only solution to purchase a retail Windows 10 license or can I install Windows 10 from USB and the serial automatically transfers? (I doubt that would work.) or is there any other solution to achieve a slimmed down install so I can ditch the partition and just have pure Windows 10?

    Thanks!
    You do not need to buy another licence. According to MS, as you have bought a new pc (doesn't matter that it is a tablet), you should have a conventional product key supplied with pc on card or coa sticker.

    Activation in Windows 10 - Windows Help


    This means you can reinstall 10 using standard MS iso, creating a usb installation stick from here

    Windows 10

    and you will need your windows 10 key. Not 100% certain, but I think devices that came with preinstalled Windows 10 are like Windows 7 i.e. they use a generic key, but to reinstall you need the COA key (see first article above).

    So the key question (no pun intended) is do you have a windows 10 key?
    Come back if you do not have a key before you start.

    ALSO, BE CAREFUL. Tablets often use special drivers not included in the standard MS iso. Before you reinstall Windows 10, it is advisable to backup your 3rd party drivers first using link below (works on windows 10)

    How to Export Drivers Using Powershell in Windows 8.1 U1 | Windows OS Hub

    With reference to your recovery/bloat partitions etc., you can normally delete them but I strongly advise you install Macrium Reflect Free, and create a full image backup to an external drive first (a 32GB usb stick is big enough). You will also need to create a 1GB Rescue drive as well (you can put both on one 32GB drive normally, but you need to create Rescue Drive first). With this backup in place, you can safely delete partitions, and revert if any problems.

    Note: Tablets sometimes use 32bit OS to save space, even though the cpu can handle 64bit. You need to check this before you reinstall (look on system info page from control panel). You might be able to install a 64bit version, but it depends on the tablet eg Linx tablets will only allow 32bit installs.
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  4. Posts : 13
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks for the info! I double checked my box when looking to see if a COA sticker was on or in it, nothing. I looked up what shows in Windows in the properties tab for my computer and it appears to be a generic OEM product key there (Last three digits are OEM). Nothing else on the product or in the packaging.

    Funny enough though, there is a sticker on the box stating that in order to use 64 bit features, a separate purchase of a 64 bit OS is required. However, it is the 64bit version of Windows 10 installed on it. (I know in the past with HP products, they've been known to install a 32 bit OS on 64 bit hardware.) I hadn't even thought of that this time, but am happy to see it is a 64 bit OS included.

    I'm guessing the best idea is to backup everything with Macrium first to a separate drive, backup the drivers, then attempt to do a clean install w/ downloadable Windows 10. I'll use this: Download Windows OEM Product Key Tool - NeoSmart Technologies to extract my actual product key, and if it all takes, I should be home free. If not..... Then I need to restore the partitions and data that I backed up with Macrium. Sound right?
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  5. Posts : 15,442
    Windows10
       #5

    Not sure why you do not have a key, as new device?

    Worst case is you have to restore current OS installation using Macrium and upgrading rather than a reinstall.

    Edit: reading your link, it would seem preinstalled oem windows 10 keys are embedded in bios in same way as Windows 8.1 was. This is news to me and seems to slightly contradict MS's activation link. I hope it is correct as that makes life much easier. Does anybody know for sure?
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  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    The Windows 10 product key is stored in the bios of the tablet. Clean installing Windows 10 version 1511, build 10586 will read the product key in bios and install and activate the version of Windows 10 the stored product key is good for. You get to choose 32 bit or 64 bit (if the processor will support 64 bit). Make sure and make a complete image with Macrium reflect on a USB flash drive or an SD card. You will likely need to load drivers from the image that you make.

    The downloaded Windows 10 from either the Media Creation Tool or Tech Bench will install just fine. Just make sure you get the matching edition to what is installed now - plain Windows 10, Windows 10 Single Language, or Windows 10 N. Running showkeyplus from this forum will show you the Windows product key that is stored in bios.

    Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

    When you do the clean install with the downloaded Windows 10 from MCT or Tech Bench - after you make a complete image with Macrium Reflect - select the custom install option, delete all the partitions in the eMMC, then point setup to the unallocated space. With 32gb eMMC, Windows 10 will install automatically in a compressed state.

    Once you get Windows 10 installed, then you install Macrium Reflect, mount the C: drive partition in the image file you created earlier, and in device manager point any unknown devices to install device drivers from the Windows directory of the mounted image file.
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  7. Posts : 13
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thank you, NavyLCDR. That sounds exactly what I wanted to do.

    I chatted with MS online and the rep attempted to give me a product key, but after running the commands he asked for, said I would have to call HP or grab the product key from the bios myself.

    Both you and Cereberus have been very helpful! Now to let the fun begin!

    The MS chat rep tried to convince me a reset of Windows was just as good, but when I brought up the 5.5gb of lost space and the HP Crapware, He changed his tune and gave me instructions similar to what was said in this thread. LOL
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  8. Posts : 15,442
    Windows10
       #8

    NavyLCDR said:
    The Windows 10 product key is stored in the bios of the tablet. Clean installing Windows 10 version 1511, build 10586 will read the product key in bios and install and activate the version of Windows 10 the stored product key is good for. You get to choose 32 bit or 64 bit (if the processor will support 64 bit). Make sure and make a complete image with Macrium reflect on a USB flash drive or an SD card. You will likely need to load drivers from the image that you make.

    The downloaded Windows 10 from either the Media Creation Tool or Tech Bench will install just fine. Just make sure you get the matching edition to what is installed now - plain Windows 10, Windows 10 Single Language, or Windows 10 N. Running showkeyplus from this forum will show you the Windows product key that is stored in bios.

    Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

    When you do the clean install with the downloaded Windows 10 from MCT or Tech Bench - after you make a complete image with Macrium Reflect - select the custom install option, delete all the partitions in the eMMC, then point setup to the unallocated space. With 32gb eMMC, Windows 10 will install automatically in a compressed state.

    Once you get Windows 10 installed, then you install Macrium Reflect, mount the C: drive partition in the image file you created earlier, and in device manager point any unknown devices to install device drivers from the Windows directory of the mounted image file.
    Thanks for this - have you a link about oem 10 keys being biods embedded, as I could not find anythingvother than a mention in the neosmart tool?

    This also explains a case I saw on another forum where a user upgraded to 10 pro from oem 10, but did a clean install of 10586, but only got home installed.
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  9. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #9

    cereberus said:
    Thanks for this - have you a link about oem 10 keys being biods embedded, as I could not find anythingvother than a mention in the neosmart tool?

    This also explains a case I saw on another forum where a user upgraded to 10 pro from oem 10, but did a clean install of 10586, but only got home installed.
    Again, run showkeyplus. It will show you the Windows product key stored in bios and what version of Windows it is for:
    Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

    Windows 10 clean install will install whatever version matches the product key stored in bios unless it is overridden by a different product key contained in a PID.txt file copied to the install media.
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  10. Posts : 15,442
    Windows10
       #10

    NavyLCDR said:
    Again, run showkeyplus. It will show you the Windows product key stored in bios and what version of Windows it is for:
    Showkey - Windows 10 Forums



    Windows 10 clean install will install whatever version matches the product key stored in bios unless it is overridden by a different product key contained in a PID.txt file copied to the install media.
    I understand this. It's just I have never seen any actual documents despite searching that actually say preinstalled oem windows 10 keys are done in same way as Windows 8.1.

    Older oem Windows 7 used a generic key and a bios id, but if you wanted to clean install from a standard iso (rather than a recovery drive) you needed a unique coa key.

    It make sense that preinstalled oem 10 works like 8.1 but I have never actually seen it written down anywhere.

    I accept it is that way but like to actually read it myself.
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