Windows 10: How to wipe Laptop and keep Windows 10

Friend ask me to remove all traces of him before he gives laptop to his sister. My Idea is to clean install win10 with jump drive and then wipe free space. This laptop already has win10 on it.

Can I boot from the usb and choose custom install or do I have to run setup within windows? Would this be the best way for me to approach this? I don't want to require password for her at this time.

How do I bypass the password phase of the install?

:)

 

wipe laptop w Windows 10 but keep the downloaded upgrade from Win7

Hey, Andre! How have you been?

 

wipe laptop w Windows 10 but keep the downloaded upgrade from Win7

thank you and yes it was the free upgrade!!

 

System Settings, Update & Security, Restore and then choose Reset this PC. If you had private information on it, suggest to do a drive wipe and fresh install.

 

Custom install from the advanced options on the USB bootable media would allow you to delete all partitions (so the disk then shows as unallocated). Then you can just reinstall W10.

A clean install like this will not ask for a password because you are booting the PC outside of Windows. If you meant the license key, then you just select 'do not have one' because the PC is already registered and running W10. Nothing for you to do there.

 

Chose custom install, that will give you access to the drive tools. Then just delete all partitions and install to the unallocated space. Windows will create all the partitions it needs automatically. Then just use a local account instead of a Microsoft ID. Then just leave the password blank.

 

Boot from the Windows 10 USB flash drive. When the first screen comes up press shift + F10 to open a command prompt. To wipe the hard drive:

diskpart
select disk 0
clean all <wait forever, this writes 0s to the entire drive
exit
exit

Then proceed with the custom install option.

On the first Windows screen after setup completes when it asks you for user information, you can press CTRL+SHIFT+F3 to enter audit mode. Do what you need to in there. You can even use your WiFi to connect to the internet. Install device drivers, do Windows Update. Whatever. You will be logged on as a local temporary administrator. Just make sure to keep the mouse moving (or reset the power options) so it doesn't go to sleep on you. You'll get locked out if it does. Also keep the sysprep window open that appears when you first log into audit mode.

Once you are done finalizing everything in audit mode, then select OOBE and Shutdown from the sysprep window. Or from a command prompt run: Sysprep /oobe /shutdown

When the computer shuts down from sysprep with the OOBE option, the next time it starts, the first screen will be the normal new install Windows screen asking for user account information. All traces of your temporary administrator account will be erased, including any WiFi hotspots you connected to and passwords you entered to connect to WiFi.

Personally, I think it's fun to play in audit mode and see how it all works and I love giving someone back a fresh computer that boots up just like it came off the store shelf.

 

Thanks...sounds like a good plan bro67.

 

Its all here:
Clean Install Windows 10 - Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

 

If you create a new USB flash drive from the most current MCT to do a clean install of Windows 10 with, it will even already be on the Creator's update!

 

Gonna attempt to do what NavyLCDR. suggested...I will let everyone know how it goes. Thanks for the speedy replies.

diskpart
select disk 0
clean all <wait forever, this writes 0s to the entire drive
exit
exit

Then proceed with the custom install option.

On the first Windows screen after setup completes when it asks you for user information, you can press CTRL+SHIFT+F3 to enter audit mode. Do what you need to in there. You can even use your WiFi to connect to the internet. Install device drivers, do Windows Update. Whatever. You will be logged on as a local temporary administrator. Just make sure to keep the mouse moving (or reset the power options) so it doesn't go to sleep on you. You'll get locked out if it does. Also keep the sysprep window open that appears when you first log into audit mode.

Once you are done finalizing everything in audit mode, then select OOBE and Shutdown from the sysprep window. Or from a command prompt run: Sysprep /oobe /shutdown

When the computer shuts down from sysprep with the OOBE option, the next time it starts, the first screen will be the normal new install Windows screen asking for user account information. All traces of your temporary administrator account will be erased, including any WiFi hotspots you connected to and passwords you entered to connect to WiFi.

Personally, I think it's fun to play in audit mode and see how it all works and I love giving someone back a fresh computer that boots up just like it came off the store shelf.[/QUOTE]

 

Ctrl+Shift+F3 would not work for me, however I did wipe the drive. Now windows shows not activated.

The key I entered is the one from my desktop....I got this when Win10 pro was a free upgrade.

What can I do now...I didn't want to cause the new owner the unnecessary expense since the laptop had windows 10 on it before I started.

 

Did the computer have Windows 10 Pro on it before, or Windows 10 Home?

You might have to do Ctrl + Shift + FN + F10 if the function key is assigned a special function like volume down. Without the FN key, you might actually be pressing Ctrl + Shift + Volume Down

 

It must have been win 10 home edition. If need be, I will buy another copy of home edition.

 

If it was Home Edition, why not just try installing Windows 10 Home on it instead of Windows 10 Pro? When it asks you for a product key, just click on the link that says "I Don't Have A Product Key".