Doing a Completely Clean Install of Windows 10

If I create an ISO on a USB, it says it will destroy all data currently on the USB (like my backup data).  So I went ahead and created the bootable USB, but can I now backup my data on the same drive?  Will that be ok after I reboot with a new Windows?

Yes, just delete the Windows 10 installer and reuse the USB stick as normal.

 

If I create an ISO on a USB, it says it will destroy all data currently on the USB (like my backup data).  So I went ahead and created the bootable USB, but can I now backup my data on the same drive?  Will that be ok after I reboot with a new Windows?

 

 

Yes, just delete the Windows 10 installer and reuse the USB stick as normal.

 

I assumed he wanted to create a Windows install USB, and then before installing, and possibly formatting his partition, backing up his files to the same USB.  Yes, this can be easily done with no problems.  The simplest way to create an install USB for Windows is just to make sure it is formatted fat32 if you have UEFI, for BIOS either fat32 or NTFS will do.  Then mount your ISO, and copy everything to the USB drive.  That's it!

Edited by dhagerjohns, 31 March 2018 - 05:03 PM.

 

While I realize this is not a driver thread, I am experiencing, as well as seeing others having, so many problems with the drivers after the "upgrade". Now, I don't know if there is a way to clean install without having the drivers "updated". My bet is no. However I wonder if part of the process should or could be to make a back-up of the 8.1 or 7 drivers, reinstall after the clean install of 10 & then update through device manager? The idea being that the updates come from the manufacturer, not "generic" ones from microsoft. I don't know if this will work, however if it does, I feel it would be saving me a whole lot of headaches right now. & I will not be offended if this needs to be in some other thread or ????

Once you have your current install with the drivers all updated as you wish, and before you clean install, export the drives with this command.  Run all these commands in either Powershell as administrator or a command window as administrator.  DISM requires administrator privileges to function. 

dism /online /export-driver /destination:<path to folder to save drivers>

Then extract the iso with 7zip or WinRAR, and mount the install.wim like this

dism /mount-image /ImageFile:"<path to install.wim" /Index:<index number> /MountDir:<path to mount directory>

Now you can import your drivers.

DISM /Image:C:<path to mount directory> /Add-Driver /Driver:<path to folder of saved drivers> /recurse

Next you commit, and save your install.wim

dism /unmount-image /MountDir:<path to mount directory> /commit

After this you can either create an ISO, or if you have a thumb drive format it as fat32 for UEFI or if you have a legacy BIOS you can use NTFS.  Then just copy the files over, reboot, and select the USB drive as your boot device, and install.  Note:  If you are using fat32, this file system does not allow files larger than 4 GB, so before you copy your install.wim with all your drivers integrated, you must SPLIT the image like this

Dism /Split-Image /ImageFile:"<path to install.wim"> /SWMFile:"<path to where you want to save install.swm"> /FileSize:4096

There will be at least two of these files, and you will need to replace your original install.wim with them.  Have fun!

 

Thank you or this. I was under the impression one needed particular software to backup drivers. 

 

 

While I realize this is not a driver thread, I am experiencing, as well as seeing others having, so many problems with the drivers after the "upgrade". Now, I don't know if there is a way to clean install without having the drivers "updated". My bet is no. However I wonder if part of the process should or could be to make a back-up of the 8.1 or 7 drivers, reinstall after the clean install of 10 & then update through device manager? The idea being that the updates come from the manufacturer, not "generic" ones from microsoft. I don't know if this will work, however if it does, I feel it would be saving me a whole lot of headaches right now. & I will not be offended if this needs to be in some other thread or ????

Once you have your current install with the drivers all updated as you wish, and before you clean install, export the drives with this command.  Run all these commands in either Powershell as administrator or a command window as administrator.  DISM requires administrator privileges to function. 

dism /online /export-driver /destination:<path to folder to save drivers>

Then extract the iso with 7zip or WinRAR, and mount the install.wim like this

dism /mount-image /ImageFile:"<path to install.wim" /Index:<index number> /MountDir:<path to mount directory>

Now you can import your drivers.

DISM /Image:C:<path to mount directory> /Add-Driver /Driver:<path to folder of saved drivers> /recurse

Next you commit, and save your install.wim

dism /unmount-image /MountDir:<path to mount directory> /commit

After this you can either create an ISO, or if you have a thumb drive format it as fat32 for UEFI or if you have a legacy BIOS you can use NTFS.  Then just copy the files over, reboot, and select the USB drive as your boot device, and install.  Note:  If you are using fat32, this file system does not allow files larger than 4 GB, so before you copy your install.wim with all your drivers integrated, you must SPLIT the image like this

Dism /Split-Image /ImageFile:"<path to install.wim"> /SWMFile:"<path to where you want to save install.swm"> /FileSize:4096

There will be at least two of these files, and you will need to replace your original install.wim with them.  Have fun!

 

Thank you or this. I was under the impression one needed particular software to backup drivers. 

 

There are so many things that one can do with Windows which others have written programs.  I prefer to do as much as possible natively without relying on them.  It is also quite a learning experience.

alright!.

Edited by danielsom, 10 July 2018 - 10:19 AM.

A page published by Microsoft is in the picture below.

Instead of mounting the iso file, I find extracting it to a usb drive works better.

See picture---

Your not "extracting it to a usb drive" your Mounting it from the USB Drive.

Your not "extracting it to a usb drive" your Mounting it from the USB Drive.

And if one is trying to do a completely clean install of Windows 10, I would not want to be mounting an ISO file that's on the same physical HDD that's about to be wiped as part of the process.  That seems to be what the instructions shown by medlab1 are showing you how to do.

For doing a feature update or other repair via the ISO, I'd certainly consider it, but it you're going the completely clean slate on the drive route then you need to have the bootable USB media or a bootable DVD.

Edited by britechguy, 10 July 2018 - 12:29 PM.

 

Your not "extracting it to a usb drive" your Mounting it from the USB Drive.

 

And if one is trying to do a completely clean install of Windows 10, I would not want to be mounting an ISO file that's on the same physical HDD that's about to be wiped as part of the process.  That seems to be what the instructions shown by medlab1 are showing you how to do.

 

For doing a feature update or other repair via the ISO, I'd certainly consider it, but it you're going the completely clean slate on the drive route then you need to have the bootable USB media or a bootable DVD.

 

I have a small partition set aside, extract the ISO to that, then boot to the partition.  It acts just like a USB or DVD, but is easier.

I have a small partition set aside, extract the ISO to that, then boot to the partition.  It acts just like a USB or DVD, but is easier.

Whatever floats your boat.

This would hardly "be easier" for those who wouldn't know how to partition a drive to save their lives.

It seems that the very concept of writing broadly applicable instructions, usable by virtually anyone who has basic skills and follows them step-by-step, is lost.  The audience isn't tech experts.

 

I have a small partition set aside, extract the ISO to that, then boot to the partition.  It acts just like a USB or DVD, but is easier.

 

Whatever floats your boat.

 

This would hardly "be easier" for those who wouldn't know how to partition a drive to save their lives.

 

It seems that the very concept of writing broadly applicable instructions, usable by virtually anyone who has basic skills and follows them step-by-step, is lost.  The audience isn't tech experts.

 

Yea, actually I am proficient in writing SOPs, but they are a long, and painful process.  If someone wants to do this let me know, and I will put one together.

Hey Brian, thanks for the guide. I have a used laptop running Windows 10 (preinstalled/shipped) and before I give the step-by-step a go, will the prompts after Step 3 allow me to redo the partition (C, D, E and so on)?

As the instructions state in the pertinent step (3 if you're using the MCT to create your bootable USB media, 6 if you download the ISO):

When you get to the screen that asks for language, press Shift + F10 (or the Applications/Context Menu key if your keyboard has it) to open a Command Prompt or PowerShell session (depending on how your system is configured).  

I cannot tell you precisely what the prompt will be, but in Command Prompt it will be of the form, C:\Users\{system user name}>, and in PowerShell, PS C:\Users\{system user name}>.

You will then enter the command sequence noted in the exact order noted for the drive that you're trying to wipe in anticipation of cleanly installing Windows 10 on it.  Those commands will wipe all partitions from the drive, so if the drive was partitioned into multiple logical drives (C:, D:, E:, etc., plus usually an unnamed one or two) they will all be wiped.  This is why you must do a complete system image backup and separate user data backup before doing this procedure just in case there's a slip of the finger or something else goes really, really wrong.

Edited by britechguy, 07 October 2018 - 09:58 AM.

 

I decided to update these instructions and make downloadable versions available so that those who want to use them can have a copy right next to them to refer to when using them.  You can use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool either to create bootable USB media directly, or if you want to have a copy of the ISO file, to download that and use a separate utility to create the bootable USB media.  Either way will work.

 

It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway, that if you have a functioning, even poorly functioning, system that you're hoping to wipe clean to get a fresh start that you should definitely do a full system image backup and a separate user data backup before following the instructions for doing a completely clean reinstallation.  It also makes sense to use a utility such as Belarc Advisor to create an inventory of the software you have installed and the license keys for same so that you have a handy list when it comes time to put them on your brand, spankin' new Windows 10.

 

These instructions are current as of this writing on September 9, 2018.

 

Doing a completely clean reinstallation of Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool (MCT):

 

A) To create a bootable USB drive using the MCT itself:

         - MS-Word Format:  Completely Clean Win10 (Re)install Using MCT to Create a Bootable USB Drive

 

         - PDF Format:  Completely Clean Win10 (Re)install Using MCT to Create a Bootable USB Drive

 

 

To download the Windows 10 ISO file and use Rufus to create the bootable USB

         - MS-Word Format:  Completely Clean Win10 (Re)install Using MCT to Download Win10 ISO File

 

         - PDF Format:  Completely Clean Win10 (Re)install Using MCT to Download Win10 ISO File

 

This is very helpful, please keep update if you will have anything new update.

Its frustrating that you have to download WIndows 10 every time you run the MCT. Why doesn't it allow you to use an ISO or download from a day or two before?

I'm having problems getting some laptops to recognise USBs done using the Rufus method. is there a way of doing it with DISM?