What is the best sequence to Reistall Windows 10?

NavyLCDR said:

Correct. And after the restore is complete, the first step that I would do is uninstall it.

But, also, instead of doing a full restore using the HP restore disks, I would do a clean install of vanilla Windows 10 using a Windows 10 install USB or DVD created from the Media Creation Tool.
Windows 10

Cheers Navy. I just investigated how do do this on the Internet.
one question though.
The USB stick HP sent me is stamped with both 'HP'. And 'Microsoft'. so hopefully it should be 'good' and perhaps also include any special drivers that HP need to properly run their PC.
Is that a valid thought of mine please?
Having said that, the two reinstalls that I have tried haven't been much cop!
Perhaps the more basic the download, the less problems I will have.
I have just sent off to Maplin for an SSD drive, so I will have time to organise what I want to do.
Thank for your advice.

The HP restore USB will contain all the extra programs that manufacturers like to include. Some are nothing more than advertisements for full programs you must pay for if you want them. Some are programs that update the manufacturer's drivers and utilities.

Sometimes those included extra programs don't run very well in Windows 10 because a lot of them were originally written for Windows 7 or 8 and just carried over to Windows 10. In all cases the extra programs will take up space and some operating resources. Most of us here have little to no use for the manufacturer added programs and utilities. When I buy a new off-the-shelf computer they last maybe 24 hours before I do a clean, vanilla, Windows 10 only install.

As I stated in my recommended steps - the first two steps ensure that you have what you need to go back to the manufacturer's software and/or drivers if you need to. Create an image of the factory software and export the third party device drivers before proceeding to delete all the partitions on the hard drive to do a clean vanilla Windows 10 install to. Since you have the manufacturers restore USB you really don't need to create an image of the factory software unless you have added your own programs that you might need to restore. Exporting the device drivers will allow you to reinstall them if you do a clean vanilla Windows 10 install. Vanilla Windows 10 means only the Windows 10 install media downloaded from Microsoft - not the manufacturer's restore USB.

The new SSD drive will be the perfect time to start with a vanilla Windows 10 clean install because you will already have a backup image of the previous software on the hard drive you will be upgrading from. When you are ready to restore or install Windows 10 to the SSD, it is recommended that the SSD be the only drive connected to the computer. After you have it running Windows 10 by itself, then you can reconnect the old hard drive for storage space.

NavyLCDR said:

The HP restore USB will contain all the extra programs that manufacturers like to include. Some are nothing more than advertisements for full programs you must pay for if you want them. Some are programs that update the manufacturer's drivers and utilities.

Sometimes those included extra programs don't run very well in Windows 10 because a lot of them were originally written for Windows 7 or 8 and just carried over to Windows 10. In all cases the extra programs will take up space and some operating resources. Most of us here have little to no use for the manufacturer added programs and utilities. When I buy a new off-the-shelf computer they last maybe 24 hours before I do a clean, vanilla, Windows 10 only install.

As I stated in my recommended steps - the first two steps ensure that you have what you need to go back to the manufacturer's software and/or drivers if you need to. Create an image of the factory software and export the third party device drivers before proceeding to delete all the partitions on the hard drive to do a clean vanilla Windows 10 install to. Since you have the manufacturers restore USB you really don't need to create an image of the factory software unless you have added your own programs that you might need to restore. Exporting the device drivers will allow you to reinstall them if you do a clean vanilla Windows 10 install. Vanilla Windows 10 means only the Windows 10 install media downloaded from Microsoft - not the manufacturer's restore USB.

The new SSD drive will be the perfect time to start with a vanilla Windows 10 clean install because you will already have a backup image of the previous software on the hard drive you will be upgrading from. When you are ready to restore or install Windows 10 to the SSD, it is recommended that the SSD be the only drive connected to the computer. After you have it running Windows 10 by itself, then you can reconnect the old hard drive for storage space.

Absoluley excellent.
I think that I now have all the advice that I need.
Many thanks.
Is there a way that I can donate something to this site in appreciation?

MrChips said:

Is there a way that I can donate something to this site in appreciation?

You can click on the thumbs up icons on the bottoms of the posts that you find helpful. Also, always post back if something solved a problem for you so that others can benefit from what worked for you.

First, you should not post unique product keys on a public forum, they could get stolen and used by others to illegally activate their own copies of Windows.

Second, run showkey plus from this forum:
Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

Before you post the results, if you click on the product keys shown in the result it will blank them out automatically. Post the results here. The specific key itself is not nearly as important (although you will want to write it down) as is the OEM Edition. If your OEM Edition is showing as Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10, then the same version of Windows 10, current download, will read the product key from bios and not ask you for a product key. If you have an OEM Key for Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 and the Windows 10 install is asking you for a product key it is probably because you have downloaded the wrong version of Windows 10.

@MrChips
Please edit or delete your post #15 its shows your Windows key to everyone!!!

OldMike65 said:

@MrChips
Please edit or delete your post #15 its shows your Windows key to everyone!!!

Thank you . Done .. or at least, I have done more of them .... silly to put any correct ones up there, methinks. Won't do it again..

Navy.
SSD arrived, is installed and Windows is now on it in accordance with you list.
It went very easily. I am very pleased. All my drivers are updated. All my major applications are loaded
I have effected a Restore Point and backed up Windows, so hopefully, if things go belly-up again, recovery will be far less traumatic.

I am very grateful to you for all the time you spent on me and for your excellent advice.

Thank you

That is GREAT NEWS MrChips Glad you were successful and I'm sure @NavyLCDR will be pleased too.