Windows 10: Partition layout

It may be a little easier to do the following for fresh Windows installation:

• Boot up Windows Installation USB
• On the first screen. Hold down SHIFT + F10. A command Windows will pop up. Type:
  diskpart
  select disk 0
  clean
  exit
  exit
• Continue with the installation, select Customize, click on Disk 0, do not format then click Next, Windows Installation will create all needed partitions then install Windows.

 

You can clean up these partitions if you are sure of what you are doing but is it worth the risk of making your PC unbootable for the small amount of space saved?

 

Step 5 I gave said - delete all partitions!

I would reinstall. You should only end up with 3 visible partitions and 1 hidden partition.

 

Hi M3M , I just had another look at your pic of the Partitions and I hadn't noticed before that one of the Partitions ( D ) appears to be A Manufacturer's OS Recovery Partition (HP) which you may want to back up to your External with Macrium Reflect BEFORE you do the Reinstall and delete all partitions. If the computer Came with Win8 then perhaps you don't really need that Data anymore ? just thought i'd mention it.

KB

 

Thanks for the replies.
yes the PC came with Windows 8, I don't need the data, I just want a clean install of W10 and then back up that image on my external.
ok, so first back up the manufacturers OS recovery partition to my external using Macrium Reflect.
then using disk management, delete the partitions.
then how do I reinstall W10 from scratch ?
actually I remember the installation process asking me if I want to keep the files, and I chose no, do not keep files.

thanks

 

When you clean install, unplug the sata cable from any secondary drives.

 

If you dont want the Recovery Partition Data for 8.1 , you do not need to back it up......

NO you can not Clean the System Drive partition C: with Disk management from within Windows.... see the instructions above.... to do it during the Reinstall of 10 like this......

eg :Boot up Windows Installation USB
On the first screen. Hold down SHIFT + F10. A command Windows will pop up. Type:
diskpart <enter>
select disk 0 <enter>
clean <enter>
exit <enter>
close the command prompt window
Continue with the installation, select Customize, click on Disk 0, do not format then click Next, Windows Installation will create all needed partitions then install Windows.


U will use the Win10 USB Key made with the MCT Tool to reinstall Windows .....

KB

 

The part I don't understand is W10 installation USB.
I do not have this USB.
How do I make this USB?

 

With the Media Creation Tool .....use Option 2 here

Windows 10 ISO Download - Windows 10 Forums

it is 4-5GB BTW so use an 8GB key if you have one....

This will give you the .1607 or Anniversary Update version of Win 10

 

I want to make sure i get this right.
1-You say "U will use the Win10 USB Key made with the MCT Tool to reinstall Windows ..... "
Please see the screenshot of MCT tool when i open it, let me know what to do there.

2-see the screenshot of MR when the program is first opened, it says something about rescue media, do i use USB, CD, or ?

3- when i select yes, see the screenshot of the result.

4- see all the partitions ticked in MR

Please guide me through the right process, step by step, i do not need Windows 8, i just need Windows 10.

Thanks

 

1. create media for another PC > Choose USB , not .iso , the Tutorial shows all the steps BTW

2. MR will ask you that until you do it as it is very important ... you can do it on CD,DVD or USB Key if you have ANOTHER separate one DONT use the MCT one you made above. if it ask about WinPE version , select Winpe10, it may need to download it 1st depending on how you installed MR. MR won't see the USB if it isn't plugged in by the way , if you want a MR USB instead of CD.

the MR Rescue bootable CD/USB is just the MR program made to work off a CD or USB, so you can boot your PC and recover it or re-image it at a later time with a backup you have made previously, it is not a backup of Windows ..at all...at the moment you don't want D partition (win8.1) any more so you don't need to do a backup at this point , not till after Win 10 is installed Clean.

If you only have one computer , make sure to write out or Print the Diskpart instructions above to Clean your Drive during the Installation of Win10

 

are you referring to the USB stick ?

 

so I don't make a back up until I have reinstalled Windows 10 and I have the correct partitions ?

 

At option 8, do I select ISO image or USB?

Thank you

 

1.) Yes the MCT Boot USB is for Installing Windows only ..... Use another USB Key or CD to make the MR Boot Disk

2.) Correct , you don't want to save anything , so no need till you have it all correct.