Windows 10: Reinstalling Windows from a USB

Well, I'm doing this. I chose not to keep any files and so Windows proceeded to install but gave me no option to format C Dive. After installing, there were a bunch of left over program folders on C Drive plus the Windows.old folder. Have I missed something. I thought a clean install was exactly that. But it appears not. So I'm doing it all again. So far, same result. Any comments? Thanks.

:)

 

Activation after reinstalling Windows 10 from USB

Hamza,

1 Because your Windows 10 had previously been activated, when you boot from the installation USB and run the installation you will be asked once or twice to enter the product key but, instead, you should use the bypass options that are given in the dialogs
concerned [I am reinstalling / I do not have one / Not yet / ... - the wording keeps changing].

2 When you finish installation open up Settings, Update & security, Activation so that you can watch its state change. Then go online and it will activate automatically without any product key being needed. This can take as little as a few seconds but
can sometimes take longer - you can always force it to check activation by clicking on the button but I have never had to.

• This whole scheme is radically different to previous Windows versions where you needed to enter a product key.
  
• Now, providing that it was activated originally, your computer just contacts the MS activation servers, finds the record of the previous activation and re-activates without any other action being needed.
• This automatic re-activation procedure takes place despite changing some hardware such as disks but will not happen if you change the motherboard or CPU [except for retail licences held by those who bought Windows 10 separately, not pre-installed on
  their computers].

Denis

 

Activation after reinstalling Windows 10 from USB

I want to reinstall windows 10 using the USB tool I have but my Windows is activated by the digital license provided by Microsoft so if I reinstall it using the USB then how I can activate it again as I do not have a product key.

 

Are you booting to the USB or simply opening it and clicking the setup.exe?

 

HI Edwin,
I opened the USB drive and clicked the setup.exe file. Windows then proceeded to install. It checked for updates, asked me what I wanted to keep, then started the installation process. It now says, Installing Windows 25% done. Copying files 65%.

 

Yeah, you would need to boot to that Flash Drive to perform a 'clean install' in the proper sense. Ensure the usb is bootable.

 

If you boot from the install media and select custom install, you will have the option to delete any and all partitions. Delete the one Windows is currently installed too and there will be no leftovers. I usually delete them all (except my data partition) and install to the unallocated space. Windows will then create all the custom system partitions it needs automatically.