How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 10 Home - Viruses et al.

Hi All,


I tried to re-install Windows 10 again. It was working really well and then a "Stop Code: Clock Watchdog Timeout."

Is this a hardware problem?

Thanks

High there. A BSOD I assume? If so, I suggest you post here for better help instead: BSOD Crashes and Debugging - Windows 10 Forums

Bugcheck 0x101 is Clock Watchdog Timeout
This indicates that an expected clock interrupt on a secondary processor, in a multi-processor system, was not received within the allocated interval.
The specified processor is not processing interrupts. Typically, this occurs when the processor is nonresponsive or is deadlocked.


These were reported as 1 time fixes so there is no basis on making these universal fixes.
Reset the BIOS
Updating the BIOS
In the bios look for AHCI or SATA mode.
Change the setting to AHCI or Both.
Unplug DVD drive during windows installation

If you are able to boot and launch windows 10 see if you can restart while holding down the shift key. This should boot to windows advanced troubleshooting menu. Navigate to startup options > restart > select safe mode with networking > run the DM log collector > post a zip into the thread.

BSOD - Posting Instructions - Windows 10 Forums

Please indicate the steps that worked and the steps that did not work to get windows to boot.
This may be useful to others that have this problem after malware and viewers reading the thread.

For this test when it has completed please use a camera or smart phone camera to take a picture and post an image into the thread:

Run memtest86+ version 5.01 for at least 8 passes.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
This may take hours so plan to run it overnight.
Please make sure you use the Memtest86+ version 5.01 with the link below.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
The testing is done not by time but by passes.
The more passes the better.
There are a significant number of false negatives if fewer than 8 passes are made.
A false negative is a test pass when there is malfunctioning RAM.
Memtest86+ version 5.01 testing takes approximately 1 - 2 hours /GB RAM
Just 1 error is a fail and you can abort testing.
If there are multiple RAM modules that fail during testing then test 1 RAM module at a time in the same DIMM each for 8 or more passes.
When Memtest86+ has completed 8 or more passes use a camera or smart phone camera to take a picture and post an image into the thread.
Memory problems. - Microsoft Community
MemTest86+ - Test RAM BSOD Tutorials

Hi zbook, bobkn, NavyLCDR, Jimmyb, Matthew, HippsieGypsie and Axe0:

I believe the clean install wiped everything but didn't re-install Windows 10?? Too many BSODs.

This is way beyond my skill level. Therefore, I'll need to take my desktop tower to my local computer chap to fix.

Thank you every so much for all your help. zbook many many thanks.

Cheers,

Your welcome. Let us know what they find. If you need additional help let us know.

Hi Axe,

A clean install wipes everything and reinstalls Windows 10 as new. Unfortunately, there are types of malware that stay present on your system even after a clean install.
For example with the security vulnerabilities in the Intel Management Engine, Intel Server Platform Service and Intel Trusted Execution Engine.
The Intel Management Engine, for example, has a separate processor that allows access to the CPU. Access to the ME is possible even when the CPU itself is off due to the separate processor When malware can access it, there is complete control over the system. A clean install or BIOS update won't resolve this infection.

This may truly be the problem. The system was extremely buggie and not running properly prior to the clean install.

My system was attacked by ransomware, key logger programme and other viruses. I've made sure my computer chap understands this as well.

Thanks again for everyone's help, suggestions, etc.

Cheers, S:):):):):):)