Windows 10: Reset or Clean install?

My brother has a Gateway SX2110G Win10 (x64) desktop that he got from a friend when it was on Windows 8. It’s now on Win10 1703 and runs well but the original owner’s account is still on the computer. I want to reset or clean install so he’s the only account on it. I’m thinking of using Reset Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
Option two: To Reset Windows 10 from Settings in Windows 10 and Remove everything.
--- Will that work since the OS wasn’t originally Win10?
--- His data has been saved.

Or is a clean install a better idea?
Download Windows 10 ISO File Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

Will I be able to set it up without a Microsoft account and just have him use an administrator local account?

Microsoft - Office Home and Student 2013 is on the computer and he has the original Product key card with the 25-character product key.
--- Should the Microsoft - Office Home and Student 2013 be uninstalled before resetting the computer and then re-installed afterward?

Is there a way to save the drivers?

There are probably more than 1 now useless recovery partitions on the hard drive, so I would do a clean install of Windows 10.

To save the drivers, open a Command Prompt (Admin) or Powershell (Admin) and run:

dism /online /export-driver /destination:E:\Drivers

The path in red will be to a folder that you create on an external drive to hold the drivers.

Do the clean install of Windows 10, erasing the hard drive in the process - delete every partition shown on the list of partitions on the screen after you select the Custom install option. When the drive is completely unallocated, click on the unallocated space and then next.

When you get to the first screen after the reboot that asks for the first account information, press CTRL + Shift + F3. That will enter audit mode and you will be logged in as local administrator. You can install drivers, do updates, and install Office and other programs. To use a browser, I think you have to search for Internet Explorer and use that because if I remember correctly Windows won't give you access to Edge as the built-in Administrator.

When you get it all set up, use the sysprep menu to shutdown to OOBE. There is no need to use the generalize option, but it won't hurt anything if you do. The next time the computer starts, it will boot into the screen that asks to create the first user account again and there will be no traces of the account you were in in audit mode.

On the useless recovery partitions on the hard drive, you are certainly correct. I'm not a hardware person but I can see what you mean.


Is this the correct tutorial for me to use audit mode as well as using the sysprep menu to shutdown to OOBE?
Customize Windows 10 Image in Audit Mode with Sysprep Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

MeAndMyComputer said:

Is this the correct tutorial for me to use audit mode as well as using the sysprep menu to shutdown to OOBE?
Customize Windows 10 Image in Audit Mode with Sysprep Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

No. That tutorial has many steps that you will not need to do. You will enter Audit Mode by pressing CTRL + Shift + F3 at the first screen when the computer reboots. I can't remember exactly which screen it is, but it is after booting from the USB flash drive, and after copying all the files over, the computer reboots from it's own hard drive, does some more setup, and reboots again from it's own hard drive - then it is waiting for you to input something. I can't remember if it is network connection info or account info or customize/express settings. But that is when you press CTRL + Shift + F3.

You will be logged in as the built-in administrator. Leave the Sysprep window open while you are setting the rest of the computer up. If you install a driver or a program that requires a restart, don't worry about it, just let it restart and it will go back into audit mode automatically. If you have to connect to WiFi that requires a password, you can do that. The WiFi connection and password will be erased when you exit audit mode.

When you get done setting up the computer, use the Sysprep window to "enter system OOBE", and Shutdown in the lower drop-down box. You do not need to check the box to Generalize. The computer will erase the built-in Administrator account that you were logged into - including the WiFi connection and password, and the next time the computer restarts it will be exactly like a brand new retail computer coming out of a box.

The upper drop down box also has an option to restart back into audit mode. You can use that, if you need to, to shutdown or restart the computer in audit mode and continue setting things up.

Thanks, I'm glad I asked first. Appreciate it.