Windows 10: Clean w/o Install - Only OS to Remain

Discus and support Clean w/o Install - Only OS to Remain in Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade to solve the problem; I have been asked to help, and am clueless. I've been given a working laptop and a tower to prepare for a yard sale and if not sold to donate to... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade' started by MourningStar, Oct 29, 2020.

  1. MOURNINGSTAR
    MourningStar Win User

    Clean w/o Install - Only OS to Remain


    I have been asked to help, and am clueless. I've been given a working laptop and a tower to prepare for a yard sale and if not sold to donate to Salvation Army. It is desired to wipe the drives and leave only the OS. No way to find OS recovery discs so install not possible, must leave OS unaffected. How to do?
    (hopefully a tutorial?)

    -thx

    :)
     
    MourningStar, Oct 29, 2020
    #1
  2. JIMMY 2004
    Jimmy 2004 Win User

    Clean Install Workaround for Vista

    You may remember this news story on techPowerUp! a couple of days ago relating to the lack of clean installs when using the Upgrade Editions of Vista, which required an old OS to be installed. However, Paul Thurrott has managed to find a workaround for this issue, which ironically lets users do a clean install Vista without any previous version of Windows, albeit a little tedious. Here are the steps:
    • Boot from the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD as normal
    • When prompted for a product code, leave this blank
    • Select the version of Vista you have purchased and let Vista install
    • When you boot to your desktop for the first time, run the Vista setup from Windows
    • This time enter your product key
    • When asked whether you want to do an Upgrade of Custom install, select custom and choose a clean install
    • Windows will now install for a second time and you should be able to activate it
    Remember, these steps are only advised for use in order to achieve a clean install of Vista, it is only legal to use the upgrade editions if you have previously purchased the appropriate version of Windows.

    Source: DailyTech
     
    Jimmy 2004, Oct 29, 2020
    #2
  3. GHOT
    Ghot Win User
    EDIT :Clean - w/o Install Only OS to Remain

    @MourningStar

    I wouldn't leave them with no OS. Hard to sell if someone can't SEE it work.
    I would just do a clean install of Win 10, with no internet hookup.

    Then you will be able to demonstrate they work, but won't have to worry about the original user's data.

    If you they are really paranoid... use something like DBAN to write 0's to the entire drive(s), then do a clean install of Win 10 with no internet.
     
    Ghot, Oct 29, 2020
    #3
  4. GHOT
    Ghot Win User

    Clean w/o Install - Only OS to Remain

    EDIT :Clean - w/o Install Only OS to Remain

    You can't clean AND leave the OS.
     
    Ghot, Oct 29, 2020
    #4
Thema:

Clean w/o Install - Only OS to Remain

Loading...

  1. Clean w/o Install - Only OS to Remain - Similar Threads - Clean Install Remain

  2. PC crashes and boots bios w/o OS ever 24 hours

    in Windows 10 Software and Apps
    PC crashes and boots bios w/o OS ever 24 hours: Hi, I need help, for some reason at around 1am pst my computer freezes and crashes for know obvious reason. My PC the boots in bios and and reports “no boot device found”, then I hard reboot and it works fine for another 24, at which point it repeats the cycle I’m running a...

  3. how Can I Install Windows "Instant software downloads" w/o an OS?

    in Windows 10 Gaming
    how Can I Install Windows "Instant software downloads" w/o an OS?: how Can I Install Windows "Instant software downloads" w/o an OS? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-can-i-install-windows-instant-software/c53b81d9-b071-4f3c-8224-0c98f7b0245e

  4. how Can I Install Windows "Instant software downloads" w/o an OS?

    in Windows 10 Software and Apps
    how Can I Install Windows "Instant software downloads" w/o an OS?: how Can I Install Windows "Instant software downloads" w/o an OS? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-can-i-install-windows-instant-software/c53b81d9-b071-4f3c-8224-0c98f7b0245e

  5. how Can I Install Windows "Instant software downloads" w/o an OS?

    in Windows 10 Updates and Activation
    how Can I Install Windows "Instant software downloads" w/o an OS?: how Can I Install Windows "Instant software downloads" w/o an OS? https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-can-i-install-windows-instant-software/c53b81d9-b071-4f3c-8224-0c98f7b0245e

  6. O&O ShutUp10 1.8.1421 safe and clean to install?

    in Windows 10 Performance & Maintenance
    O&O ShutUp10 1.8.1421 safe and clean to install?: Hello, Windows 10 Home 21H1 B19043.1055 O&O ShutUp10 1.8.142 Sha256: bcdc6b364da6986d50dd025aacc3c0c76ada16657b829406cee67b4e6f16b89a I scan @VT OOSU10.exe and there is a lot of detection and rule set that does not look good for me is the OOSU10.exe or the portable safe and...

  7. Install Windows 10 w/o Microsoft account

    in Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade
    Install Windows 10 w/o Microsoft account: Hello: When setting up any PC, I set it up using a local account instead of using the other options e-mail, phone, Skype, etc.. I have a new PC with Windows 10 on it. I booted it up and selected my normal options including connecting to a local wifi network. Then I got...

  8. MCT clean install defaults to Pacific time zone w/o option?

    in Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade
    MCT clean install defaults to Pacific time zone w/o option?: Is there any way to get Win10 installer to prompt for time zone when using a USB drive installer made by the Media Creation Tool? Every time I clean install, the time seems to get set from my CPU clock, but the time zone is always set to Pacific time - Is this because I...

  9. Restore Windows 10 OS w/o deleting files and programs?

    in Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade
    Restore Windows 10 OS w/o deleting files and programs?: My Windows 10 OS on my SSD main drive crapped out after installing a new Windows 10 update. Can no longer boot from this drive. Tried to reinstall the OS from a Windows Install disk, but it will not permit me to do this, since the SSD is partitioned with an MBR. Is there a...

  10. Clean Install of OS

    in Windows 10 Installation and Upgrade
    Clean Install of OS: I have a Dell PC that is running very slowly on W10 After all usual stuff, clearing junk, defrag etc., still not good enough - as its currently on an old HDD, going to install an SSD for the OS. Been advised to do a clean install rather than clone across an OS that might...