Windows 10 clean install.

Windows 10 clean install.

Windows 10 clean install

Windows 10 clean install: Sometimes a Windows device may encounter an error or problem while using it, which could be due to an incorrect program update or installation, or worse, a spyware or virus infection. If you have been using the same Windows configuration for a long time, it may be time to reinstall the operating system, because it is easier to configure a fresh operating system than to apply an old malfunction.

Preparation for clean installation

First, you will need a Windows 10 product key. If you have purchased a new computer and want to install Windows 10 on it or try to upgrade to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, you must purchase a valid license from the Microsoft Store or another reseller. It is recommended that you buy Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, as it includes all the features of Windows 10 Home + built-in security against threats, includes BitLocker, Windows Defender antivirus and many other features that support the creation of the virtual environment, that is to say virtual machines at no extra cost you can create and run Hyper-V.

Activating Windows 10 requires a 25-digit code or a digital license called a product key. The code looks like this and all the others are similar, consisting of numbers and letters: C9C9C-C9C9T-C97C9-C9C9T-C9C9T. Buy Windows 10 product key ...

Quick tip: Reinstalling Windows can cause problems if you do not know where the system license key is. If you have already purchased a license key and activated Windows, it is stored in the system and can be found with the ProduKey software. It can be used without installation and has a clear and easy-to-use interface, which does not require any more detailed description. Just download it, click on the icon to launch it, it will immediately display the Windows serial number found in the main window. Download the ProduKey software (the download link is at the bottom of the web page)

Secondly, you will need the ISO Windows 10 image. Download the software Rufus.exe Version 11.11.2019: Rufus 3.8 (1.1 MB) to download from the Microsoft site the latest Windows 10 or Windows 8.1. Rufus is a small program, but it is smart and can be used without installation.

Quick tip: If you already have a USB flash drive (or USB drive) that already includes Windows 10, scroll down, you can skip this section:

1. Left-click on the Rufus.exe program icon.
2. Click the small down arrow next to the SELECT button and select DOWNLOAD from the drop-down menu. (click the Download link again, as it will not start automatically)
3. A small window will appear where you can select the Windows version. Click Continue. Another window popped up.
4. Select the architecture, 32 bits or 64 bits. Click Continue. Another window popped up.
5. Select Language, in this case English. Click Continue.
6. Finally, click the DOWNLOAD button in the last window.

Save it to your desktop using the file manager window that appears, because with Rufus software it will immediately be written to a flashdrive or USB drive of at least 8 GB. After downloading and saving, close the Rufus program.

Quick tip: After writing, you can delete the ISO file if you do not need it, or you can save it to another partition or drive where you can easily re-access it later.

Create boot system

Connect to an empty USB port, a USB device of at least 8 GB flashdrive (4 GB is not enough).

Restart the Rufus program to write the downloaded ISO file to the USB device, which will be automatically recognized and listed at the top, under Device Properties (Drive Properties). Click the SELECT button (SELECT) in the main window and in the file manager (file explorer), locate the Windows ISO file. In the file manager window, click Open (Open), on the right side, below. The Rufus program loads the ISO file. Select the settings as follows:

1. In the Image Properties (Image option), select Standard Windows installation (Standard Windows installation) from the drop-down menu.
2. In the Partition scheme, select GPT from the drop-down menu, then, to the right in the Target system, select UEFI (not CSM).
3. Under Format Options you can leave the Volume Label Name set by the program.
4. Under File system, change FAT32 by default to NTFS.
5. Finally, click the START button

It completes the Windows system, in 4-5 minutes ready to start

After you have taken the right steps, your computer must be able to boot from USB. Please note: If you want to install UEFI, and have created a UEFI USB installation system with Rufus, the program warned you to turn on Secure Boot in Bios before installation. Since the stages of access to the BIOS vary depending on the manufacturer and even the model of the computer, it is difficult to describe exactly how to access this option. The image below shows the option available in the Assus Bios menu, but other Bios look the same, with a slight difference. If no such option is available, UEFI installation is NOT supported on that computer.

Quick tip: The main failure of the UEFI installation is if you do not delete the old MBR partition (main boot record). More details can be found here …

Clean installation of Windows 10

First, you must complete the installation process, which allows you to delete the partitions, which ensures its cleanliness, which removes any spyware, viruses, configures the partitions and installs.

Installing

After you have done a lot of preparation, from the recommended preparation steps to backing up data and creating a USB bootable media, you can continue with the next step, completing the clean installation of Windows 10.

Quick tip: Note: This is a reminder that it will be deleted all data on the partition on the computer where the system is installed. A suggestion: If you have not saved your important data, proceed now, and then start the installation.

Finally, a very good idea: Open the Tools and Drivers window by clicking on This PC (MyComputer). Write the number and size, in Go, of the units, on a piece of paper to properly select the units during installation, when they will be deleted, and when to choose the unit you are installing. The wrong choice can lead to unpleasant data loss. For example: C:/=121 GB and the other D:/=119 GB.

Quick tip: If there is only one drive: just C:/, you do not have to write it, because it will be deleted anyway.

To install Windows 10, do the following:

1.) Start or restart your computer with the Windows 10 USB storage drive, which was created using Rufus software, as described above. If the BIOS settings are set up correctly and your computer starts from the USB device, the following window will ask you to press any key on the keyboard to get started. Warning: Just press any button now. At restart DON'T press again, even if prompted, because the installation will restart!

2.) If the language, currency, and keyboard settings in the "Windows Install" window are correct, click the Next button.

3.) In the next window, click Install Now

4.) Enter the Windows 10 Product Key using the keyboard, and then click Next

5.) To continue, select the I accept the license terms check box, and click Next

6.) In the next window, click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

7.) If you have written the size of the unit, according to the good advice above, now take the paper to identify the unit you want to delete, which in this example is C:/ 121 GB. Also delete the smaller associated units because they will be created automatically again.

8.) Click the drive you want to delete, and then click Delete button below. Then click on the next drive and then Delete. Do all the same. See how the deletion occurs as the partitions merge. The size increases.

Quick tip: The unit on which the data is stored DO NOT delete, because all data will be lost (in this example the D:/ unit.

9.) After deletion, only two units remain (in this example). One is the old D:/ 119 GB, which contains the data you saved on this unit before installation, and a "raw" one, ie the unformatted 121 GB unit, which will be the main unit after installation, ie C:/

10.) It was a good idea to note the size of the units before installation, now you can be sure of the installation. To finish, click the drive where you want to install the system, then click the New link below.

11.) The system automatically calculates the size. In this example, do NOT resize, just click Apply.

Quick tip: 121 Gb can be further divided (for example, into two partitions). In this case, you can change the given system number, but only to a smaller number (for example, half: 61,234, do not use 0), which is another unit approx. 60 GB. Format it by clicking the Format link below. Click the other drive to finish, then click the New link below. Here, however, in this window, do not change the size of the system at all, simply click Next and format it as before.

12.) Click on the Unalocated Drive (unformatted), then click on the Format link below, finally, when formatting is complete click Next. Warning: Only this unit will be formatted. Formatting other units smaller or larger is STRICTLY PROHIBITED!

13.) Ready. The actual installation of Windows 10 will start automatically. Patience. At the end of the list, at the Finishing up section, the system will restart.

Quick tip: Warning: After restarting, pressing the key on the keyboard IS PROHIBITED, even if you are prompted because it will restart the installation! It is a good idea to remove the USB drive immediately after the computer stopps. Next we do not need.

14.) After starting, the first window in which you configure the installed files appears. It only takes 3-4 minutes.

15.) Set the keyboard in the next window. If correct, click Yes.

16.) If you use a different keyboard, you can choose here. If not, click the Skip button (ie NO).

17.) Configuration of the installation done so far.

18.) Click Set up for personal use to select it. Then click Next. (Setup for an organization (Set up for an organization) means joining a domain based on Windows server, which is rarely configured even on corporate machines).

19.) If you have a Microsoft account, enter your email address and enter your password in the next window. In this installation example, we are not logging in, so please click the Offline account link, and then click Next

Quick tip: To complete the seamless installation, NO login in to your Microsoft account now. You can login after installation.

20.) In this window, click the down arrow to select a question, then enter the answer in the bar below (make sure you don't forget). Repeat and click Next.

21.) Click Yes to display additional information windows.

22.) You will see 5-6 windows where you can select, approve or disable Microsoft activities, such as Location Service, Device Tracking, Diagnostic data submission, typing or displaying ads. Read carefully and click to select all windows, then click Accept.

23.) It completes in the background the tasks installed so far. Patience.

24.) Ready. Installation is complete. Launch the Desktop and browser window where you can read more information and tips. Click the red close button on the top, right.

An important step after installation

Display the This PC (MyComputer) icon on your Desktop

1.) Right-click on a free desktop space and select Personalize.

2.) In the Settings window that appears, click the Themes link in the left bar.

3.) In the new window, under Related Settings, click the Desktop icon settings.

4.) In the next system window, select the Computer and User Files boxes on the top left and click the Apply button in the bottom right of the window, then OK.

Ready. Icons appear on your desktop, by clicking on This PC (MyComputer), you can easily access the most important items. Drivers, file manager, control panel, etc.

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