Windows 10: Installing a fresh copy of Windows 10 - Safely store my backups

Hello all,


I have moved all of my unrecoverable data from my boot drive to a backup HDD. Outlook database, pictures and documents and what not.

My question is this, since I am doing a clean install, will Windows 10 reach out beyond the boot drive? Is my data safe on my HDD backup? I ask because this is an internal drive and I do not want to open my case and disconnect it.


Also, Doing a clean install, will it reformat my Boot drive and recover space or will it move the current system to a backup directory?


Thank you for your attention,


-Ron B

:)

 

installing windows 10 backup and restore later

1. Backup Vista
2. Upgrade Vista->Windows 7 -> Windows 10. Get activated.
3. Backup Windows 10.
4. Clean Install Windows 10. Make sure still activated
5. Backup a fresh copy of Windows 10
6. Restore

To perform step 4 i will need to have downloaded an iso and create a dvd or usb to boot from.....so will not this ISO be ok and the one you mention ?

 

Is it time for Windows 10 already?

Here's a good step by step guide on doing a fresh install.

How to clean install Windows 10 from a USB drive - Software - Feature - HEXUS.net

 

Fresh USB Windows 10 Install - Failing

I am trying to install a fresh copy (reformatted the hard disk) of windows 10 using a USB

• Created an installation media on a USB flash drive (Win 10 pro) from this page Download Windows 10
• Changed the boot order on the other PC so that it boots using USB
• Selected custom install
• Installing Windows goes through the following steps successfully: Copying Windows Files, Getting Files ready for installation, Installing features, Installing updates and before the last step (Finishing up), it restarts
• Then it goes back to the start of the installation steps

I am stuck and have read numerous posts but don't know what to do to install a fresh copy of Win 10.