Windows 10: Laptop + Windows 10 Fresh Install + Partitions

I have suspicions of issues on my daughters ASUS laptop. It has had some viruses recently and tbh I am just not comfortable with her using it now until I can wipe it and start it all afresh.

I upgraded (the free update) from windows 8 to windows 10.

Just so everything is put back in order I wanted to do an ASUS factory reset but it keeps coming back with an issue saying that there is a missing partition.

From memory I think there were 7 partitions (I will post a screen dump when I get a chance).

In the recent past I did the windows 10 boot via the USB formatting the 2 large partitions and putting it in one of them which seems to work ok but I am just worried about anything in the partitions being compromised so to be on the safe sound would prefer just to wipe the slate clean and start again. Soooooo

1 - Is there a way to sort the built in “Factory Reset” and is it 100% that everything will be clean.

Or

2 - Is there an alternative way to 1. of getting a comprehensive clean install of windows 10. I am conscious that I might need to start hunting around for drivers etc as I assume that’s the reason for the OEM and Recovery partitions etc.

Cheers

:)

 

Windows 10 upgrade and fresh install

Hello everyone,

I have an 2 year old ASUS laptop witch came with windows 8 already installed. It has all the partitions made by the manufacturer, the OS, DATA and hidden recovery partitions. I was wondering if i can do a a clean and fresh install on my laptop without all
the partitions it has, meaning removing ALL the partitions and erasing the hard drive COMPLETELY so i can do my own partitions and install windows 10 from scratch.

If this is possible could you give a step by step guide on how to do it and what precautions i need to take?

 

Fresh Windows 10 Install.

You need to use a third party tool to convert the system drive and the unallocated partition as GPT. You seem to be using MBR which does not support such as large partition. See how to do it for free using Easeus Partition Tool:

https://www.easeus.com/partition-master/format-...

 

Asus BackTracker = oem program to restore asus factory recovery after windows 10 upgrade

 

Thanks for the quick response. I used that already and all it does is ultimately take you down the same path and error message.

 

Is this safe to do?

 

I think it might not be picking up the partition correctly ???

After upgrade to Windows 10 - ASUS Recovery (Reset)/F9 has no function | Official Support | ASUS UK

Do that and then it comes up that same message.

 

Absolutely not. You are inflating the number. With an EFI system you will have (maximum) 4. EFI, Microsoft reserved partition, C drive and recovery. Actually you only need 2 - EFI and C drive. When you do a clean install they will be created for you - you need not concern yourself with that.

In my experience no, probably not. Windows is pretty good and finding drivers as long as you have internet. I only have Wi-Fi so I must make sure I can install that driver so Windows update can find the rest.

What you could do is export all your current drivers to USB stick, do a clean install (wiping the disk in the process) and then re-install them all after.

How to restore drivers backed up via Dism /Online /Export-Driver - Windows 10 Forums
Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

After that run Windows update a few times and you'll be fine. Obviously backup any documents you want to keep first...

 

IF you did the upgrade less than 28 days ago, you can use Win10 rollback.
Windows 10 - Go Back to Previous Windows - Windows 10 Forums

If windows.old (hidden) folder still exists, you might be able to recover the old system form there. I don't have a procedure, though. What I'm asking iis "Does the windows.old folder still exist on your C:\ drive?" You have to expose it by checking Hiddne Items on the File Explorer View menu.

Do you have or did you create Asus recovery DVD(s)?
You could use them to restore to factory.

or, as lx07 suggested
back up personal data (documents, music, pictures, videos, etc)
Wipe the drive (diskpart clean is sufficient - no need to zero the entire drive)
Clean install Win10

 

I find EaseUS a freebie quite good at looking and managing partitions. Much better than the Win 10 partition manager. Download and install it, and then run, you will see the full monty. It is quite a shock to find how much garbage the PC vendor puts in there.

As for drivers give it an hour so so, Win10 is very good at finding and installing them. Only printer drivers are not automatically found and installed.

 

Thanks for the input all.

I updated when it first became available.

I am a so not savy enough to know how many partitions I should have vs how it looks .... I assume the previous upgrade has left these and perhaps is the reason the factory reset doesn't work ?

Anyway I think I will just bite the bullet and take things back to a clean slate doing a full wipe and reinstall.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

When get to step 12/13 which path do I take ? .... does it matter as theoretically I will be deleting all the partitions anyway ? BTW deleting all these will not affect my ability to install windows 10 back on will it i.e. I haven't lost some kind of electronic stamp in the partitions ?

On partitions what's the benefit .... I am not a 100% on this. Is it to ensure process is run smoothly in one partition while another is sat at the back for storage ? If that is the case after deleting them should I perhaps create 2; one for the OS and the other for storage?

 

First find out if your system boots Legacy, CSM, or UEFI
BIOS Mode - See if Windows Boot in UEFI or Legacy Mode
works in Win10 just as well

It makes a difference on how you create the media and what you have to disable (or not for Legacy & CSM)

I alsways advise members to backup all personal data, then Clean the drive (wipe it clean, no partitions on it), disconnect all external devices (except mouse, Keybd, and monitor) and... and... disconnect any internals drives except for the one that you are going to install Win10.

In the simplest of terms - no partitions on the drive-blnak-empty-clean *Wink
Let Windows create the partitions it needs during the install.

If you need or want to adjust it, do so after Windows is up and running.

The Tut covers it well (glad you read it and asked questions!)

Step 12 if you find that your system is UEFI

Step 13 if not your system is NOT UEFI

 

On my way home soon and will be giving this a bash tomorrow night .... expect me back looking for help *Confused