Windows 10: What is the best sequence to Reistall Windows 10?

Hi there.
For the last three months I have had Windows 10 problems, principally that I lost the ‘windows’ button and it’s activities, but also file saving problems.
I had purchased a new PC with Windows10 64 bit Home already installed, assuming that all would be 'hunky dory'.
However that has not proved to be the case.. . . so . . . .
I purchased a recovery stick from HP and have tried to re-install twice.

Neither time has been entirely successful. With different reasons each time.

Can anyone point me to a primer which can recommend the optimal sequence to reinstall printers, network, Norton, Office 365 etc. ... and perhaps the best times to make a recovery disc etc.
A bit of a long-shot, asking this, but if anyone could help, that would be great.

:)

 

What if I need to reistall the free windows 10 .

What if I need to reinstall the free Windows 10 say after a problem that needs me to take this action . As it is with my Windows 7 I have a disc and a key code so I can reload my Window at any time I wish. Has there been an answer to this issue please.

Dk

 

What if I need to reistall the free windows 10 .

Pleas check out this topic for mor information:

Can I reinstall Windows 10 once I upgrade?

 

Hi there

Others are better qualified than me to answer this question - But if you have a WORKING system TAKE A BACKUP BEFORE YOU START (Caps intended).

There's loads of free backup programs out there so no excuse.

Cheers
jimbo

 

I have read somewhere that an anti virus program could be the culprit corrupting files during installing programs.

 

Thanks Jimbo. I have put all my files and needed 'stuff' on an external drive .. so I should be OK there.
I really do want to have a completely clean PC to start off this time.
A completely reformatted HD would be my ideal.

 

Personally, I would not install any extra anti-virus programs beyond Windows Defender. But if you are going to, then that would be the last item I install.

I go with:

1. Make a system image backup using Macrium Reflect.
2. Export device drivers using dism /online /export-driver /destination:E:\DriversW10 (the destination path will be where you store them).
3. Clean install vanilla Windows 10 - deleting all partitions on the drive that I am installing to and installing Windows to the unallocated space.
4. Install network drivers if I have to, connect to my home network, connect to the internet, let Windows 10 run all updates.
5. Look in Device Manager for "unknown devices". First attempt to upgrade drivers by searching for updates, which includes online.
6. Any devices that don't have drivers online, then use the browse my computer option and point it to the saved drivers from step 2.
7. Upgrade video and audio card drivers from the manufacturer.
8. Install major programs.
9. Install anti-virus (if you want to).
10. Do system scan with your anti-virus (if you want to).
11. Minor tweaks.

 

Thanks,
When I use the HP USB installation drive, it automatically puts in McAfee as a virus protection. Hopefully their USB drive will be able to withstand that.

 

Hi Navy. Thnaks.
Just the sort of advice I was looking for.
Is the free version of Macrium Reflect the version I Need?
I will need to investigate how to do the dism thing in point 2.! though!

I really appreciate your assistance.

I won't mark the thread as closed yet as I will probably need to get back to you to give you effusive thanks.

EDITED:
I just looked up dism .... should I run sfc/scannow first!

 

If you are going to use the HP recovery media - then the first step that I would do before anything else would be to uninstall McAfee.

 

When I run the HP USB reinstall stick .... HP include McAfee in their unstoppable sequence of events. They give me no option to bypass it .. unfortunately.

 

Correct. And after the restore is complete, the first step that I would do is uninstall it.

But, also, instead of doing a full restore using the HP restore disks, I would do a clean install of vanilla Windows 10 using a Windows 10 install USB or DVD created from the Media Creation Tool.
Windows 10

 

Cheers Navy. I just investigated how do do this on the Internet.
one question though.
The USB stick HP sent me is stamped with both 'HP'. And 'Microsoft'. so hopefully it should be 'good' and perhaps also include any special drivers that HP need to properly run their PC.
Is that a valid thought of mine please?
Having said that, the two reinstalls that I have tried haven't been much cop!
Perhaps the more basic the download, the less problems I will have.
I have just sent off to Maplin for an SSD drive, so I will have time to organise what I want to do.
Thank for your advice.

 

The HP restore USB will contain all the extra programs that manufacturers like to include. Some are nothing more than advertisements for full programs you must pay for if you want them. Some are programs that update the manufacturer's drivers and utilities.

Sometimes those included extra programs don't run very well in Windows 10 because a lot of them were originally written for Windows 7 or 8 and just carried over to Windows 10. In all cases the extra programs will take up space and some operating resources. Most of us here have little to no use for the manufacturer added programs and utilities. When I buy a new off-the-shelf computer they last maybe 24 hours before I do a clean, vanilla, Windows 10 only install.

As I stated in my recommended steps - the first two steps ensure that you have what you need to go back to the manufacturer's software and/or drivers if you need to. Create an image of the factory software and export the third party device drivers before proceeding to delete all the partitions on the hard drive to do a clean vanilla Windows 10 install to. Since you have the manufacturers restore USB you really don't need to create an image of the factory software unless you have added your own programs that you might need to restore. Exporting the device drivers will allow you to reinstall them if you do a clean vanilla Windows 10 install. Vanilla Windows 10 means only the Windows 10 install media downloaded from Microsoft - not the manufacturer's restore USB.

The new SSD drive will be the perfect time to start with a vanilla Windows 10 clean install because you will already have a backup image of the previous software on the hard drive you will be upgrading from. When you are ready to restore or install Windows 10 to the SSD, it is recommended that the SSD be the only drive connected to the computer. After you have it running Windows 10 by itself, then you can reconnect the old hard drive for storage space.

 

Absoluley excellent.
I think that I now have all the advice that I need.
Many thanks.
Is there a way that I can donate something to this site in appreciation?