Best way to wipe laptop drive except Windows

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  1. scopio
    Posts : 495
    Windows 10 Home 64bit 22H2 OS 19045.3324
       New #1

    Best way to wipe laptop drive except Windows


    A friend has asked me to wipe his laptop drive except for Windows 10 as the drive is a mess and the laptop is very slow.
    Which is the best way to achieve this?
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  3. Paul Black
    Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       New #2

    Hello @scopio,

    scopio said:
    A friend has asked me to wipe his laptop drive except for Windows 10 as the drive is a mess and the laptop is very slow.

    Which is the best way to achieve this?

    We will need more information on this.

    [1] What do you mean the Drive is a mess. In what respect?
    [2] Has he got one Drive or two [ a Laptop can have the OS on an SSD, and the data on a HDD ]?
    [3] Has he got ANY Partitions on ANY Drive?
    [4] Does he want to keep ANY Programs or Files?
    [5] Does he want you to perform an In-Place-Upgrade [ Repair Install ]?
    [6] What Version / Edition of Win 10 is he running?

    Do you see where we are coming from?

    I hope this helps.
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  4. zbook
    Posts : 41,481
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       New #3

    These are some options:

    Reset Windows 10
    Custom Install Windows 10
    How to Restore Files from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10
    Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade
    Clean Install Windows 10
    Refresh Windows 10
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  6. scopio
    Posts : 495
    Windows 10 Home 64bit 22H2 OS 19045.3324
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Paul Black said:
    Hello @scopio,




    We will need more information on this.

    [1] What do you mean the Drive is a mess. In what respect?
    [2] Has he got one Drive or two [ a Laptop can have the OS on an SSD, and the data on a HDD ]?
    [3] Has he got ANY Partitions on ANY Drive?
    [4] Does he want to keep ANY Programs or Files?
    [5] Does he want you to perform an In-Place-Upgrade [ Repair Install ]?
    [6] What Version / Edition of Win 10 is he running?

    Do you see where we are coming from?

    I hope this helps.
    I will have more information once he has brought the laptop to me. I will post later when I have more information.

    - - - Updated - - -

    zbook said:
    These are some options:

    Reset Windows 10
    Custom Install Windows 10
    How to Restore Files from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10
    Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade
    Clean Install Windows 10
    Refresh Windows 10
    Thanks @zbook

    I think that Reset Windows 10 removing everything is what he wants so he can reinstall the apps he really needs as his data is saved in the cloud.
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  7. Paul Black
    Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       New #5

    scopio said:
    I will have more information once he has brought the laptop to me. I will post later when I have more information.

    I think that Reset Windows 10 removing everything is what he wants so he can reinstall the apps he really needs as his data is saved in the cloud.
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  8. scopio
    Posts : 495
    Windows 10 Home 64bit 22H2 OS 19045.3324
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Update to my original post.
    I have the laptop in my possession now and my friend now wants to upgrade the HP Probook 4330 from Windows 7 to Windows 10 keeping his data but not the apps which he can install himself.
    I have an SSD which I would like to replace the HDD. Is it best to change the HDD with the SSD install Windows 10 and then copy the data to the SSD or do an inplace upgrade with the HDD and then clone it to the SSD?
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  9. Paul Black
    Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       New #7

    Hello @scopio,

    scopio said:
    I have the laptop in my possession now and my friend now wants to upgrade the HP Probook 4330 from Windows 7 to Windows 10 keeping his data but not the apps which he can install himself.

    I would create a System Image BEFORE you start.
    I assume that he has Backed Up EVERYTHING that he does NOT want to lose???

     Upgrade [ From Win 7 or Win 8 or Win 10 To Win 10 ]

    These Tutorials are listed in alphabetical order as opposed to relevance order.

    > How to Directly Clean Install Windows 10 without having to Upgrade First
    > How to Upgrade to Windows 10
    > How to Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free <<< Look at this.
    > Windows 10 - Test & Try with No Risk, No Install - SevenForums

    Additional:

    > Can You Still Get Windows 10 for Free? Yes! Here’s How [ Updated ] - GroovyPost

    scopio said:
    I have an SSD which I would like to replace the HDD. Is it best to change the HDD with the SSD install Windows 10 and then copy the data to the SSD or do an inplace upgrade with the HDD and then clone it to the SSD?

    Determine the License Type Installed:

    If you intend to use the same Product Key, or you are trying to determine the License Type installed [ OEM, Retail, or Volume ], you can use the slmgr [ Server License Manager ] command . . .

    • Press the Win + X keys together > Command Prompt (Admin).
    • Type slmgr /dli in the Administrator: Command Prompt > Enter.

      Once the above command has finished processing, a Windows Script Host dialog box will appear.
      Look at the Description line for confirmation of the License Type installed.

    • Click OK.

    I hope this helps.
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  10. scopio
    Posts : 495
    Windows 10 Home 64bit 22H2 OS 19045.3324
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Thanks @Paul Black Creating the image at the moment and I will then have a look at what steps to take later.
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  12. itsme1
    Posts : 1,068
    windows 10
       New #9

    "change the HDD with the SSD install Windows 10 and then copy the data to the SSD"

    it's better it's a real clean install especially when you change the hdd for an ssd, with an inplace upgrade windows can have problem of reactivated and therefore reduce the benefit of a ssd.
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  13. Heins707
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       New #10

    scopio said:
    Update to my original post.
    I have the laptop in my possession now and my friend now wants to upgrade the HP Probook 4330 from Windows 7 to Windows 10 keeping his data but not the apps which he can install himself.
    I have an SSD which I would like to replace the HDD. Is it best to change the HDD with the SSD install Windows 10 and then copy the data to the SSD or do an inplace upgrade with the HDD and then clone it to the SSD?
    I think clean install is a better solution in this case. You could create an Windows 10 installation media with the MediaCreationTool for upgrading, then pick effective disk backup software to back up the HDD or selected partitions/folders.
    After installing Windows 10 on the SSD, you can then restore the data you want.
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