Is there a way to do a "fresh install" of Windows 10? Something went wrong with mine (can't find "Recent" folders) and I'd prefer to not continue messing with it. My current User ID is nested under a previous User ID and I'm not sure how the previous one got there. I've had suggestions to edit the registry but am concerned that will lead to weeks of tweaking.
I'd like to completely start over. Is this possible?
Wow, is it really that complicated? The computer in question had Windows 10 installed when I bought it. Does that mean I won't need a product key because one of the following will apply (from the instructions at the link above)?
"If this PC has a digital entitlement available for this Windows 10 on Microsoft's activation servers, then you will not be prompted to enter a product key.
"If this OEM PC has a valid product key embedded in its UEFI firmware chip, then you will not be prompted to enter a product key."
Based on your information, if it had 10 installed on it, you will not need to enter a key. It's really not complicated, just a little time. Make sure you have any and all of your personal files, pics, any data you will need (including other software keys you may have purchased) backed up and disconnected from your laptop. Then follow the instructions in the tutorial NavyLCDR posted.
Then maybe this would be easier?
Reset Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
But, for information, since your computer came with Windows 10 pre-installed, you would not be asked to enter a product key or which version of Windows 10 you wanted to install on a completely clean install booting from a Windows 10 installation USB flash drive or DVD. It would just read the product key from UEFI firmware and use that.
Navy, just for my clarity. Reset will use the Asus OEM recovery partition to set it back to fresh factory install, but clean install from a Tech Bench or Media Creation Tool would give a clean 10 without the Asus baggage. Am I correct? This is for my info.
That does look simpler. I could be wrong, but thanks!
The reset option will restore all of the ASUS software if the original recovery partition is there and reagentc osimage parameter is pointing to it.
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