Windows 10: Clean install question

I am about to do a clean install windows 10. The hard drive has 3 partitions and all on it is wacked. Should I pull the drive and make a single partition or will the install do it?

:)

 

Clean Installation Activation Question

Hi Jon,

If you want to upgrade to Windows 10 for free, you need to use the
Upgrade this PC now option. If you haven't upgraded to Windows 10 yet and perform a clean installation, you'll need to enter a product key or buy a license in order to activate Windows 10.

Refer to the link for more information:

Installing Windows 10 using the media creation tool

Windows 10 herunterladen

Hope it helps.

 

Clean Installation Activation Question

Does this statement (from MS Support)

"Clean install of Windows 10 will prompt you for product key of Windows 7 or 8.1, you have to enter the previous version windows (Windows 7/8.1) product key to activate Windows"

conflict with this statement (first bullet) (from MVP)

Things you should know:

• A Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product keycannot activate Windows 10. Windows 10 uses its own unique product key.
  
  
• By default, Windows 10 builds are pre-keyed, meaning, you do not have to enter a product key and should not be prompted to enter one as long as you upgraded from anactivated Windows
  7 or Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 license or Windows 10 Preview build.

 

Hi copiman.

If you so instruct the Clean install it will create one big. Here is the tutorial. If you pick custom install and then delete all the partitions Windows will create what it needs. There will be more than one.

This document outlines the partitions that will be created assuming you are booting UEFI.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...ive-partitions


The clean install tutorial. (Step 13 is where you delete all existing)

Clean Install Windows 10


Please ensure all you personal data is off machine before deleting partitions. (I assume you only have one drive as I saw in spec you have a laptop.) If you have more than one drive ensure you delete partitions from correct drive.

 

The installer will do it. No need to do anything before.

When you get to the screen that says "Where do you want to install Windows?" just delete all partitions so all you have is unallocated space.

Then carry on and the installer will create partitions as it feels fit.

 

Thanks everyone. Will give it a go.

 

One thing to bare in mind is that quite often the partition delete option for the top line is greyed out which may worry for a second. What I found doing exactly this job yesterday is that if you check the partitions randomly, you'll find one that WILL delete. After this, a different partition will suddenly be deleteable etc etc until suddenly it will say '***GB Unallocated space' and you click next and let Windows get on with it.

 

Was able to delete partitions so the drive was unallocated. Installed OS and right now at "Getting ready". It has been getting ready for an hour. Is this normal?

UPDATE: Getting ready is done. Now the circle of dots are rotating and still going. How long should this take?

 

It can take some time, especially if you okay getting updates.

I see your post is four hours earlier than my reply, trusting its done?

Did you recent create your install media?