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Clean install windows 10
This Forum Article explains how to perform a clean install of Windows 10 on a PC that has already been upgraded to Windows 10 previously or if you have purchased Windows If you have purchased Windows 10 with a Product Key, please have the Product Key handy as you will need to use it during the installation.
If you have not created installation media, this Forum Article explains how to create the media. Insert the installation media and boot from the installation media. Was this article helpful? Yes No. Sorry this didn’t help. Was this comment helpful? Choose where you want to search below Search Search the Community. Search the community and support articles Windows Windows 10 Search Community member. Microsoft Agent. Before you start: Make sure that you have backups of all data from the PC as the clean installation will remove all files from the PC.
Watch the video below to perform a Clean installation. Thanks for your feedback. How satisfied are you with this article? Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site. Previous Next. Andre Da Costa Article Author. Report abuse. Details required :. Cancel Submit. How satisfied are you with this comment? Microsoft Employee. In reply to Andre Da Costa’s post on August 9, Thank you for the contribution, Andre. I really appreciate it! In reply to PaulSey You are welcome Paul.
Hello Andre. Your articles are the very best. There’s no way the forum will allow us to communicate, but this is another great article. Microsoft should appreciate all you do my friend, and you should be on their payroll. A clean install is the best way to go my friend. Hii sir now we downloading the iso file after dowmloading the file we can remove the external hard drive frome the computer sir??
Styllah Killah. I think it maybe a corrupted drive. I had problems with my Windows on a new computer. I worked with Kaitlyn P. Given the information she provided i was able to reintialize my desktop.
It works just like it should. Thank you. The video doesn’t work. Is there any solutions to this? Nice article paul. Loved it. This site in other languages x.
Clean install windows 10. How to do a clean installation of Windows 10
Please be sure to follow me on Twitter adacosta for the latest tips, tricks and updates in the world of Windows Technical Level : Intermediate Summary If you have installed a recent release of Windows in the past 5 years, you pretty much know what it will be like to install Windows In this article, we take a look at performing a clean install.
Previously, Windows 7, Windows 8. For users who needed to perform a clean install of Windows 10 from the outset, it was a two step process of first validating the machine through the upgrade routine, ensure the Windows 10 Upgrade was activated, then proceed to perform a Reset.
Starting with versions Windows 10 or later, users no longer have to go through this process. When you upgrade from a previous version of Windows, what happens is the hardware, your PC , will get a digital license.
This is a unique signature of the computer which is stored on Microsoft Activation Servers. The Windows 7 or Windows 8 genuine license you were previously running will be exchanged for a diagnostics product key. Anytime you need to reinstall Windows 10 on that machine, just proceed to reinstall Windows It will automatically reactivate. The only exception where this applies is dependent on the license you upgraded from.
You will need to purchase a new full version license. So, there is no need to know or get a product key, if you need to reinstall Windows 10, you can use your Windows 7 or Windows 8 product key or use the reset function in Windows Learn more: How to install and activate Windows 10 using your Windows 7 or Windows 8 product key.
Once you have your Windows 10 installation media ready, all you need to do is boot from the disc or USB thumb drive to begin setup.
Once your computer is set to boot from the DVD, you should see this option. If you are installing from a retail Windows 10 USB thumb drive, you will be asked to select either 32 or 64 bit Windows Learn more here. The Windows logo will appear on screen, this might be here for a while, as long as you see the animating dots, everything should be ok. Windows 10 setup will prompt you for a product key during installation a couple times.
If you have a Windows 10 product key, you can proceed to enter it. Setup will also prompt you to select the edition you have a license for – Home or Pro. Please make sure you choose the right edition. If you choose the wrong edition, your only option will be to perform a clean install again. The copy of Windows 10 you download and upgrade from will correspond with the edition of Windows you have installed, if it does not, this is why you might be experiencing problems activating:.
You might get a driver missing error or something to that effect. If you do, restart setup, but this time, when you arrive at the following screen, disconnect your thumb drive then go through Custom options.
When setup is ready copy files, it will prompt you to reconnect the installation source your USB. NOTE : If you have multiple partitions listed, select each one starting at the bottom , then click delete until there is only a single one unallocated drive displayed in the window. Select the unallocated drive listed, click New , click Apply then OK. This will split the drive into multiple partitions, select the Primary partition then click Next. NOTE: The System Reserved partition is where recovery files are kept for diagnostics and repairing damaged Windows 10 files; or even reinstall Windows When this phase of setup is complete, Windows will automatically restart then reboot into setup again.
Windows is detecting and installing your hardware. After this is complete, Windows will restart one last time. The Out of Box Experience page is where you get to configure detailed settings in Windows, which includes creating a user account, configure privacy, sync PC settings and install modern applications. Install the Latest Windows Updates immediately. Learn how in the following article:. How to: Create a Recovery Drive for reinstalling Windows If you are running Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Depending on the version of Windows 7 installed, , , , you will see different wording beside the activation status:.
How To troubleshoot Product Activation in Windows How to: Install and Update drivers in Windows Was this article helpful? Yes No. Sorry this didn’t help. Fantastic article. Very clear. However, I’m having a problem that is not addressed in your step-by-step guide. I successfully get to the step right before the OOBE. Doing so gets me back to the setup on the DVD for another install. Not hitting any key causes my PC to just stop. By a combination of doing a PC Cleanup then removing the DVD just after the final setup step, I’m able to boot into the Tech Preview and finish setting up accounts, etc.
I’m up and running now. Threats include any threat of suicide, violence, or harm to another. Any content of an adult theme or inappropriate to a community web site. Any image, link, or discussion of nudity.
Any behavior that is insulting, rude, vulgar, desecrating, or showing disrespect. Any behavior that appears to violate End user license agreements, including providing product keys or links to pirated software. Unsolicited bulk mail or bulk advertising. Any link to or advocacy of virus, spyware, malware, or phishing sites. Any other inappropriate content or behavior as defined by the Terms of Use or Code of Conduct.
Any image, link, or discussion related to child pornography, child nudity, or other child abuse or exploitation. Details required : characters remaining Cancel Submit 48 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful? Try making your hard disk be the default boot device in the BIOS and see if allows you to boot into Windows 10 without going into setup again. I’m not sure what you mean by “default boot device”. My boot order is DVD then hard drive. The hard drive had an old Windows 8.
When I tried to install a bunch of updates, I could no longer boot from the hard drive. That’s when I decided to just scrap 8. But I’m not sure that’s my problem. If I pull the DVD and try to boot off the hard drive I get this error, in plain text on a black background:.
Details required : characters remaining Cancel Submit 14 people found this comment helpful. If you are in the OOBE for Windows 10, why would you need to be booting from the Windows 10 install media again except for installing Windows 10 again?
When this phase of setup is complete, Windows will automatically restart and reboot into setup again. Which means, all necessary files would have already been copied from the disc to facilitate the installation. As I said, and you quoted, I’m in the step before where I see the “Windows needs to restart..
I now have the Tech Preview running. Thanks for writing this up. Disappointed to hear that I cannot use the upgrade to do a clean install initially. Hope that changes, but probably won’t hold my breath.. I did the free upgrade of my Windows 7 and now want to reinstall Windows 10 using a clean install. I’m a bit anxious from nature so I first looked up whether my installation of Win10 is activated and which product key is used.
More curious:. I got even another key which is neither my Win7 key nor the Insider Preview key. What key should I put in when I’m prompted to activate Windows 10 after the clean install? Details required : characters remaining Cancel Submit 17 people found this comment helpful. What, when my hardware changes? Yes there’s much information about that but only from 3rd-party. Do I need to do the upgrade again? Do I still get the free upgrade? If not, can I at least use my ‘old’ Windows which I before used to upgrade to Win10 or is the license not valid anymore you say one can only ‘go back’ 30days lonng.
How’s all that with Germany: Here a hardware-change afaik cannot ‘invalidate’ the license. Choose where you want to search below Search Search the Community. What is the Digital Entitlement or Digital License? Learn more here The Windows logo will appear on screen, this might be here for a while, as long as you see the animating dots, everything should be ok.
Select your Language, Time and Keyboard method then click Next.
How to Clean Install Windows (Delete & Reinstall) – Forum Article Info
Before updating, please refer to the Windows release information status for known issues to confirm your device is not impacted. To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows You can then download and run the media creation tool.
For more information on how to use the tool, see the instructions below. Note : Before you install Windows 10, check to make sure your PC meets the system requirements for Windows We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer’s website for any additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility. After downloading and installing, the tool will walk you through how to set up Windows 10 on your PC.
All Windows 10 editions are available when you select Windows 10, except for Enterprise edition. Follow these steps to create installation media USB flash drive or DVD you can use to install a new copy of Windows 10, perform a clean installation, or reinstall Windows If you have Office or earlier and choose to perform a clean install of Windows 10, you will need to locate your Office product key.
For tips on locating your product key, check Find your Office product key or Enter the product key for your Office program. Select the language, edition, and architecture bit or bit for Windows After completing the steps to install Windows 10, please check that you have all the necessary device drivers installed.
Note: Drivers for Surface devices may be found on the Download drivers and firmware for Surface page. To open a boot menu or change the boot order, you’ll typically need to press a key such as F2, F12, Delete, or Esc immediately after you turn on your PC. For instructions on accessing the boot menu or changing the boot order for your PC, check the documentation that came with your PC or go to the manufacturer’s website.
If changing the boot menu or order doesn’t work, and your PC immediately boots into the OS you want to replace, it is possible the PC had not fully shut down. To ensure the PC fully shuts down, select the power button on the sign-in screen or on the Start menu and select Shut down. If you downloaded an ISO file for Windows 10, the file is saved locally at the location you selected. If you have a third-party DVD burning program installed on your computer that you prefer to use for creating the installation DVD, that program might open by going to the location where the file is saved and double-clicking the ISO file, or right-click the ISO file, select Open with and choose your preferred DVD burning software.
Right-click the ISO file and select Properties. Then right-click the ISO file and select Burn disc image. This will perform an upgrade of your current operating system to Windows Download Windows 10 Before updating, please refer to the Windows release information status for known issues to confirm your device is not impacted.
To get started, click Update now. Update now Privacy. Create Windows 10 installation media To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows Download Now Privacy. Select Download tool , and select Run. You need to be an administrator to run this tool. On the License terms page, if you accept the license terms, select Accept.
On the What do you want to do? Your copy of Windows 10 will automatically activate later using your digital license.
Select Change what to keep to set whether you would like to Keep personal files and apps , or Keep personal files only , or choose to keep Nothing during the upgrade. It might take some time to install Windows 10, and your PC will restart a few times.
Before you download the tool make sure you have: An internet connection internet service provider fees may apply. Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download. System requirements. Make sure the PC meets the system requirements for Windows We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer’s website for additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility. Language in Windows. You’ll need to choose the same language when you install Windows Edition of Windows.
You should also choose the same edition of Windows. For more info, go to the Volume Licensing Service Center. Microsoft Office products. If you just purchased a new device that includes Office , we recommend redeeming installing Office before upgrading to Windows For more information, check How to upgrade to Windows 10 on new devices that include Office Using the tool to create installation media: Select Download tool now , and select Run.
If you agree to the license terms, select Accept. Any content on the flash drive will be deleted. ISO file. After the file is downloaded, you can go to location where the file is saved, or select Open DVD burner , and follow the instructions to burn the file to a DVD. After the installation media is created, follow the steps below to use it. Restart your PC. On the Install Windows page, select your language, time, and keyboard preferences, and then select Next.
Select Install Windows. Right-click the ISO file and select Mount. Double-click the ISO file to view the files within. Double-click setup. Visit the Windows Insider site to download Insider Preview builds.
Visit the Download Academic Products page for Education editions product key required. Sign in to your subscription on the Visual Studio Subscriptions portal for available downloads. Give feedback Please select an option. Please select an option. Thank you for your valuable input.
