Windows 10: Windows 10 Clean Install, what does it delete?

I currently have a custom built desktop that is running Windows 8.1 Pro (activated). I have three hard drives, an SSD for Windows and programs, a 1TB hard drive for games, documents and other files and a 3TB hard drive for backups. I have backed up the more important files on the 3TB and do not want to wipe it.

I would like to upgrade to Windows 10 and start again, wipe everything that is on my SSD and on my 1TB hard drive since it is full of stuff that I don't need and would take way to long to manually sort it out. Since I don't want to wait for the Windows 10 update to come through automatically, I created a Windows 10 USB. Running the setup.exe file on the USB gives the option of doing a clean install. I was wondering what this actually deletes. Does it wipe just the drive it is being installed on or does it wipe all drives on the system?. Sorry if this question has been asked before, couldn't find anything specific for what I am wanting to do

:)

 

Clean Install Of Windows 10 - Does It Not Prompt For A Computer Name?

Hello Everyone,

I downloaded the Windows 10 ISO and performed a clean install from boot media. I noticed that it never prompted me to enter a customer Computer Name like the way every previous version of Windows installers did. Did I miss it?

My desktop was automatically named DESKTOP-GN4J043. I know I can change it, but I was just wondering if this is something new or did I miss the prompt?

Another thing I noticed is that the time zone auto-defaults to Pacific time, I had to change that as well once I was up and running.

Thank You,

 

Clean Install Of Windows 10 - Does It Not Prompt For A Computer Name?

That's all normal.

Wishing for a computer name prompt on fresh installs here too.

I don't want to try to remember some senseless path name when I'm screwed up and trying to re-image.

 

It just wipes the drive it's being installed on. You can manually format the 1TB drive with disk management. BTW, I still haven't got the update and I'm afraid to install from a USB drive since I've heard you lose the licence if you clean install it over Windows 8.1.

 

You must do an upgrade first, that's how MS determines if you are running a qualifying OS. Once you have activated Win 10 upgrade, then you can do a clean install.

It will delete everything from your boot (C: ) drive, nothing else.

 

I read about that just after I posted this thread. I am now not too sure what to do. I might just upgrade to Windows 10 and keep everything and then once Windows 10 is installed, factory reset set it

 

Factory reset will put you back to Windows 7. Why would you want to do that?

Also, if the upgrade goes okay and Win 10 activates why not just use it. You can always clean install at a later time if necessary.

 

The reset button in Settings will do what he was saying.

 

Sorry didn't mean factory reset. Meant to say resetting it and selecting 'Remove Everything' via Recovery after Windows 8.1 is updated to Windows 10 and activated

 

Recovery == factory reset

Still don't understand I guess. As far as I can see that will put you back to Windows 8.1.

What do you mean by resetting it? How will you do this?

via Recovery

What does that mean? Not trying to be obstinate or dens here, I just don't understand.

 

Might not work, just an idea. In Windows 10 (on my laptop atleast), if you go into Windows Update, down the left hand side it should say recovery (below Backup for me), clicking on that gives you 2 options, Reset this PC or Advanced Startup. Below Reset this PC, there is a button which says Get Started, clicking on that brings up a pop up Window with 2 options, one to Keep my files and the other to remove everything. I am hoping atleast (haven't tested this), clicking on Remove everything, according to the description will remove all files,apps and settings and not wipe Windows, basically (I think) wipe Windows 10 and make it like it was a fresh install (reset it /factory reset it to what a new computer would be like) . Hope this helps

 

Ah! Thanks for the explanation. Try it, nothing to lose. If it doesn't work you can always do a clean install.

Let us know how you make out.

 

No problem, happy to help. I have got a laptop which I upgraded from Windows 7 Home premium to Windows 10 the other day which I don't use that much and only have a couple of programs on so going to test on there to see if pressing remove everything does in fact do what it says it does. I'm normally used to booting off a usb or a dvd and installing fresh that way so completely new to the idea of doing it in Windows, will mess around and see.

 

I wanted to test whether or not the activation would carry through to the clean install and it did! I used the MS Windows 10 Pro ISO and booted with it to complete my clean install. During installation I was asked for a key twice which I just skipped and activation occurred without a problem.

Rich

 

Just as an update, I decided to take the move to Windows 10 today. Was going to do it later on but had nothing else to do so thought I might as well go for it.

Instead of upgrading Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 (keeping everything) and then selecting the option of 'Remove Everything' in Recovery after Windows 10 is in installed, I decided to fresh install Windows 8.1 first. I created a bootable Windows 8.1 USB, selected my SSD during setup and formatted it so there was nothing on there. After fresh installing Windows 8.1 (and making sure it was activated), I grabbed my Windows 10 Pro USB and ran the setup.exe on the USB in Windows. It took ~20 - 30 minutes from running the setup.exe file to having my desktop running Windows 10 Pro. I am now running Windows 10 Pro 64bit (activated) with no programs and I have just deleted a load of stuff of my storage drive aswell, so basically it is like a clean install.