Windows 10: Clean Install - Windows 10 used my old desktop wallpaper. How?

Hey all,

I have just installed the new Anniversary Windows 10 by clean installing, not upgrading over the previous version. Something odd has happened though, can't explain it.

My process:
1. Downloaded the latest build to a USB using the media creation tool;
2. Removed all the hard drives (physically unplugged them) except my OS drive (SSD);
3. Installed Windows 10 Pro in UEFI mode by selecting the custom option and deleting ALL partitions as per the guide in these forums;

My disk just shows the one "unallocated space".

Everything went fine BUT when Windows booted up to the desktop after installing, my original customised wallpaper was there. How can that be? Surely that is not possible on a CLEAN install? Where did Windows find this wallpaper and how did it know to load it?

Thanks in advance!

:)

 

Can I delete all my Windows 10 preferences and settings saved in my Microsoft account?

I want to do a clean Windows 10 install on my PC but I don't want to sync any of my saved settings, like my desktop wallpaper, OneDrive files, etc. I still want to use the same account, but do it like it's brand new, without any information.

 

Desktop Black Wallpaper Won't Change (Windows 10)

This same thing has happened to me, except I can change my theme and the accent colors around windows, taskbar, tiles, and smart menu also changes to reflect the theme and the desktop picture color, however for me, my actual wallpaper is not when I assigned
it, it is black. I can change to different themes fine, but the wallpaper does not change, I can assigned wallpapers manual via "set as wallpaper" but my desktop wallpaper does not change at all.... it remains black, I can swap to solid colors from the background
menu, but when I change to picture for a wallpaper it is black and no wallpaper is display, just black.

ALSO: I did a clean re-install hoping it would fix it, but no, it is not fixed which is breaking my mind..... A full reformat, re-install of windows 10 and the problem is persistent from the beginning? is this a Microsoft account error problem of some sort??

 

Possibly a synced theme.

 

Thanks Edwin, but sorry, don't know what you mean by a "synced theme"? Something to do with OneDrive maybe? I don't think I was actually using OneDrive on my previous installation, unless my PC was saving to OneDrive and I was not even aware of it?!

 

It's a setting in Settings > Accounts > Sync Your Settings > Theme. Although I haven't experienced it myself as I always have this setting off, due to not wanting phone/desktop themes syncing.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4...dows-10-a.html

 

Ah, thanks ARC1020. I guess this will explain it. I will also set this to off. I guess the default is ON.