Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide

If you're still on the MSI Image and haven't done a clean install, then you can use the MSI Recovery tool in your start menu to make a factory restore USB Disk just in case you ever wanted to go back to the factory image or want to sell the laptop.

As for GPT vs MBR, after you run the diskpart / clean command, the drive is completely wiped off with no File system and not even initialized, the moment you open Disk Management in Windows, it will show you a dialogue box whether you want to initialize the drive as MBR or GPT.

If it was the main drive that you're installing Windows on, then you don't need to worry about this because when you create the partitions using the Windows setup, it will most likely initialize the disks as GPT since you've booted off the USB stick in UEFI mode which defaults to GPT for initialization.

The benefit of GPT vs MBR is two things:

1) GPT initialized drives can support partition sizes above 2TB

2) GPT initialized drives take half a second less to be initialized during startup resulting in a slightly faster boot.

Hint: I initialize all my disks as GPT, both the main drive and secondary and even third drive.

Be smart... be like Ultra Male and stick to GPT...

 

Thank you

Thanks, you're the man! You and these guides have literally saved me countless hours of rummaging through **** information online. My very last question for you and I wish I had done in the first time... After I have performed the clean install, downloaded all my drivers, and everything is 100% fresh - What is the best method to create a backup or restore point to avoid doing all of this over again? Do I create a restore point on the computer or do I save to an external drive or something? Meaning - If I want to start clean again in the future, but not have to perform a clean install, tweak all the settings per your guide, download drivers, etc.. Whats the best way to do that? Sorry, it's hard for me to figure out the correct verbiage to use half the time...

 

Windows System Restore works 2% of the time so forget it, it is very unreliable.

This is what j00 need:

Macrium Reflect Installation/Usage Guide

 

@Ultra Male
Just finished up with all the items pertaining to the prior questions I asked and started working through the Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide - just finished the initial install and moving onto tweaks, etc...

I wiped my other drives and removed them so I only had one drive present for the initial install. Can I go ahead and place the other 2 SSD's back in my laptop, or do I wait till I have completed your entire guide and downloaded all the drivers, etc.?

Pending the answer to my first question: I need to install like CCleaner, N Sudo, etc. per the guide. Do I download these to the C drive with my OS on it or do place all other programs on a different drive or partition and keep C drive strictly OS? What drive do you download all the drivers too? Do they need to be on the OS drive? Sorry, I know these are probably dumb questions... I'm just learning and want to be 100% on all this stuff. Really, really appreciate your help so far.

 

1) You can plugin the SSDs the moment you see the Windows desktop. The only reason you had em disconnected is to prevent the Windows installer from placing the boot drives on the other drives.
There's also a way around this with this trick:

Update: solution to install Windows while multiple drives are present without having the boot files placed on the 2nd or 3rd drive present in the system: How to properly install Windows on a system with multiple drives


2) Here's how I do things: on my D: Drive, I have a folder named Drivers where I place all the driver and replace older drivers with new ones.

I also have a Software folder which contains all the EXE setup installers AND also contains some portable apps which I don't like to install such as, HWiNFO, Wise Disk Cleaner (portable), AIDA64, HWiNFO, etc. I then right click on each of those portable app folders, then go to the customize app and give them an icon to match the program to easily differentiate them, I also create a desktop shortcut for them.

I place Defragment and Optimize Drives, Uninstall Tool, and Wise Disk Cleaner Portable in that folder for easier access

I then place HWiNFO's portable shortcut on the desktop

PS: Make sure you unblock any file you download before running it or extracting it, see this guide on how to do it and how to prevent this stupid blocking from happening in the first place: "Are you sure you want to run this file?" [Yes or No]

Here's my D: Drive:



Here's my Software Folder:

 

That is so legit... Do you have a partition guide up somewhere that explains how you partition your drives? I followed your instructions on Post 2 to create my OS partition for C: which is exactly 200 GB on my 500GB 970 EVO. I would like to create D: out of the remaining space.

 

Normally you would just partition the remaining space as D: but if you wanna do it like I do and ONLY if you have space to spare, then instead of partitioning the entire space, make D: 250 GB which would be 250.1x1024= 256104 (rounded figure) leaving 50 GB of free un-partitioned space for Over-provisioning to have the max sustained performance.

Spoiler: Benefits of Over-Provisioning (OP)

How OP Improves SSD Performance
Each NAND Flash memory die is constructed of multiple blocks that contain a further multitude of pages.

NAND Flash can be read and written on a page level but only erased on a block level.

If a single page has to be modified or erased on an already programmed page within a block, then the entire block contents consisting of multiple pages must first be read into a temporary memory, and then erased, before the new block contents can be programmed to the same block address.

The only scenario in which a page can be written directly to a block within NAND Flash without this tedious read modify-write cycle is when the page is already in an empty state.

Keeping a large quantity of blocks empty and in reserve via over-provisioning aids in keeping performance consistent, especially in random write scenarios that exhibit the highest Write Amplification Factor (WAF).1

How OP Improves SSD Endurance
To understand why an SSD is configured with over-provisioning and how it benefits the SSD controller, we have to delve into the typical operation of an SSD and the limitations of non-volatile NAND Flash memory.

Each NAND Flash cell has a finite life expectancy, based on its program and erase endurance (P/E), which is characterized during the manufacturing process by the NAND Flash manufacturer because each program or erase function executed on a NAND Flash cell erodes the cell's capability to reliably store an electrical charge and may therefore threaten data integrity.

However, as NAND geometry migrates from 2D to 3D, NAND endurance will improve, die densities will increase and production costs will decrease, making SSDs more affordable.

To summarize, the three main factors that affect SSD endurance are:

• NAND Flash program/erase endurance and geometry related read/program/erase complexity (Geometry in this case includes 2-dimensional vs 3-dimensional manufacturing technology)
• SSD capacity
• SSD controller capability and efficiency (garbage collection, write amplification, block management, wear-leveling, Error Correcting Code).

Here is how my partitions look like:

 

Interesting. I'm thinking this is probably a bit overkill for my situation and will probably just partition the remaining space. Drive partitioning is new to me, so I'm not even familiar with the basics. When I create the D: do I choose New simple volume, spanned or striped?

 

New volume

 

What is yhe best program to use now thst CCleaner has been taken over to remove Windows installed programs

 

Wise Disk Cleaner Portable

Don't forget to unblock the ZIP file after downloading it BEFORE you extract it otherwise all the extracted files will have a BLOCKED STATUS

See how here: "Are you sure you want to run this file?" [Yes or No]

 

Hi again !

I'm following your threads and they are all pleasing to read.
I have a question concerning this Driver. Can I use the Samsung NVMe Driver instead of the one you talk about here ?
I will install Windows on two Samsung 970 Evo NVMe (+ should I use RAID 0 ?)

 

Even though I dit not initialize my second disk (it's a 2.5" SSD) neither as MBR not GPT, will it install the boot files on this second disk anyway ?

 

If you didnt initialize it then it wont

 

So instead of unplugging every drive I don't need for the installation, I could just clean them and initialize them after on Windows.
I think it's a better method for drives that are empty, isn't it ?

Envoyé de mon SM-G965F en utilisant Tapatalk

 

Why make it so complicated? And you don’t need a huge partition for your OS.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...dows-on-a-system-with-multiple-drives.800625/

 

correct, and there is another way around it also, see:

How to properly install Windows on a system with multiple drives

 

Hi there !

Now that I've made my Macrium Image (from a 970 Evo on AHCI mode), I want to try and restore it on a RAID 0 setup (of two 970 Evo). However after I made the RAID 0 setup on the BIOS and also installed a new version of Windows on the partition, I booted on my WinPE USB drive and my RAID disk isn't showing (not even on diskpart).



I'm wondering if it's a driver issue (because I'm now using RST ones instead of Samsung NVMe ones). How can I restore my image on the RAID drive ?

Thank you !

 

That is because you created the Macrium Reflect environment in AHCI mode so it didn't inject the RAID Drivers. What you wanna do is use this Macrium Reflect Recuse Disk Image and using Rufus create a bootable Flash disk, that version supports RAID.

Macrium Reflect Rescue Disk

The issue is, if you restore an AHCI installed OS onto a RAID setup, it won't work without doing some reg tweaks which I don't know about and do not support. Clean install FTW

 

Well yeah, clean installation could be an option but I would like to restore this image because I installed all the drivers and made all my tweaks.

So by using your rescue disk and flashing it, and booting on it I will be able to restore the image without issues ?
I'm not sure I understood the registery tweaks you mentioned, are they necessary to use Windows later ?

 

you CANT restore an AHCI Windows onto a RAID disk. If you google it, you might find some registry hack that you can do but I do not support this and am totally against it.

 

Okay okay, I'll be sticking to AHCI then, RAID does not bring that much of an improvement.
However it seems like my WinPE bootable key does not contain the drivers for AHCI either !!
Can I use the key I created with the ISO you sent me to restore my AHCI image ?

 

Spoiler

Again, thank you for this awesome complete step-by-step clean Install of Win10. I really appreciate the help.

I'm all set to use Windows properly now !
However I would like to use OneDrive, OneNote on my computer so I would maybe link a Microsoft account to the computer.
WILL THIS destroy all the thorough work we put on disabling telemetry and autoplay for instance ?
I mean, at this point, what will this overwrite on our work to add my Microsoft account now ?

(I have another question concerning autoplay we disabled. My AW Command center takes 30 seconds at every boot to launch its services + Tobii does not work on background. Maybe I should turn the AutoPlay policy on ?)

 

1) You can use OneDrive, OneNote, and the Windows Store WITHOUT a Microsoft Account.

You can simply sign in to OneDrive and tell it where is the OneDrive folder to start the syncing.

When you attempt to sign in to the Windows Store for the first time, don't blindly hit next, after entering the password, and hitting next,, you will get an option on the left saying "sign in to Microsoft app only" that way you won't be forced to convert your account to a Microsoft Account

As for AutoPlay, it has nothing to do with the fact that you are not able to launch the Command Center and Tobii right away after a reboot, that's because they're services are set to DELAYED START by default so this is by design, you need to wait for a while before you launch them or change the service to Automatic rather than Automatic (Delayed Start)

 

Great news !
I'll try all this.
The point for Command Center and Tobii is (after switching to Automatic) that they don't run "minimzed" so in background. I'm not sure if that's how they work and I'm then asking for nothing, but whenever I close the command center and then re open it, it takes a while before re-opening. I could just minimze it in the task bar, but is there another way to let it run in background ?

 

Hello everyone,
I am going to clean install windows 10 1903 in a day or two.. I just wanted to know that is there any updated guide for the latest version by @Ultra Male ? Or should i follow the old one?
I have been using your guide since a long time and i would really appreciate you advise on it. @Ultra Male ​

 

@Ultra Male Please guide me ..

 

I used it along with stuff in the Tweaks thread.

 

Oh Okay, is there an updated guide for the latest win10 version ?

 

As far as i know this old guide also applies to the latest version. I remember Ultra Male mentioned this. I am sure if there is a big change he will update the guide.

 

The guide is 98% similar to the latest build that's why it was not updated from the time I compiled it (on Redstone 5) vs what's available now so please go ahead.

You will find everything you need in these threads:

NBR Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide
Windows 10 Tweaks and Fixes (Index post #1)
O&O ShutUp10 - Do not use Windows 10 without it!
Macrium Reflect Installation/Usage Guide
The best and fastest way to backup your data!



PS: Don't tag me, I have disabled the tagging feature due to people abusing it so I won't be notified if you tag me.

 

This thread is a thing of beauty but i'm not going to read 79 pages looking for the answer.

OK, so I own a Lenovo Tiny Desktop that shipped with Windows 10 Home. I have a ThinkPad T60 that has been converted to Linux so it no longer is using Windows 10 Pro, so there's a spare W10 Pro Key.

I have a Windows 10 Pro DVD, how do I or even better can I install Windows 10 Pro DVD and transfer the license from the ThinkPad T60 to the ThinkCentre Desktop? I reckon if it's possible Secure Boot will be a giant PITA and will do it's best not letting me install W10 Pro?

Does anyone have any suggestions or procedure on this process?

 

Ultra male I was able to get in microsoft store by following above but I still cant install app. It will ask me to enable windows update. Is there a work around for this? If I have to enable windows update would it mean MS can mess up all the tweaks that was done?

 

OK, so I enabled CSM, I changed Boot Mode from Auto to Legacy. When I checked Secure Boot, it now showed Disabled. I guess that happened when I switched Boot Mode from Auto to Legacy?

Yes, Secure Boot is a royal PITA. However I looked at Secure Boot and you can delete Keys but I didn't make any changes to that.

 

You can do that and SB isn't an issue. You must disable Secure boot to use USB boot to install any OS and once its finished you can enable secure boot to get that max secure feeling!

 

I was able to boot from the Windows 10 B1903 DVD, however it doesn't allow me to choose W10 Pro. The screen where you can choose the version of Windows 10, doesn't exist. All I see is the screen for "upgrade installation" and "custom installation". When I move past that screen it continues to the partition screen. After that clicking on Next starts the installation. So it appears it just defaults to W10 Home because that's what shipped with the PC.

Am I missing a step?

 

Is it stock version or normal ESD version created using MCT which downloads only specific editions only?
Try the UUP method to download 8in 1 Win 10 v1903 ISO.

 

It's an ESD ISO, I downloaded via the Media Tool Creator. I know for a fact that the DVD i'm using on the ThinkCentre is capable of installing the different variations of Windows 10. When I use the DVD on older laptops I have to pick which version of Windows 10 I want to install.

 

Try the UUp link I gave you to download multi-edition ISO.

 

If you cared to even read the guide that i spent days compiling, you would have found the answer in the first darn post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ome-or-pro-when-installing-windows-10.801046/

 

I can tell you this guide does apply to the latest versions of Windows 10.
I almost followed it completely wihout any struggle fort Windows 10 1903.

 

Just created a new de-bloated ISO for Windows 10 Build 1903

No Windows Defender, No System Restore, No Cortana, None of the useless Windows Store and system apps, no smart screen defender, integrated DirectX 9, .NET 3.5, Win32 Calculator (from Windows 7), activated the old Windows Photo Viewer, and lots of other tweaks

I left Telemetry though because removing Telemetry will break the Microsoft Store

Download Ultra Male Windows 10 1903 De-Bloated ISO


Here is the full update list and installation order for new installs:

1) SSU (Servicing Stack Update) KB4515530 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/c..._572b7f6f7d1a35235af602b277ed367b3aa34747.msu

2) CU (Cumulative Update) KB4512941 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/d..._64df2a98aeeaa474a08df917a95ad65e0ace2bf0.msu

3) .NET Framework Cumulative Update KB 4511555 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/c..._3bc6de4acbedeaf691af9017b405682423fcf726.msu

4) Adobe Flash Player Update KB4503308 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/c..._b6478017674279c8ba4f06e60fc3bab04ed7ae02.msu

5) Microcode Update KB4497165 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/c..._e92ee95ee2475f99cf927e20f20c8c0cb746e897.msu

 

quick question.. why is .NET 3.5 installer a must-have? I've seen it in other tweak utilities too.

 

Some programs still need it and if it wasn't present they won't run thus we always include it

 

Handy... I have a laptop to rebuild soon.

 

Cool

Nice! Thank you I just received my new laptop

 

Are Windows Updates completely disabled? I was reading that all of the things that are removed (System Apps I think) will be added back after windows updates take place. If they are not, do you know of the best method to disabling them or point me in the direction of where I can find that info?

 

Follow the guide. There is a part there where it say O&O Shut up 10 also you can use Windows Update Blocker and Windows Privacy DashBoard.
Edit:
I think Ultra Male doesn't disable/remove windows update totally which is why he has the O&O Shutup 10 in the guide. ^_^

 

I read that too but I installed the OS, updated Windows manually as it was a clean install and the base OS is the first release version XXXX.30 so I used the manual download links and installed them

Then I did all my tweaks

Installed all drivers

then logged in to OneDrive, then to the Microsoft Store (ensuring to choose Sign in to Microsoft Apps only so that Windows doesn't convert my local account to a Microsoft Account for the Windows login).

None of the old stuff that were removed was back. Don't ask me how but it is what it is.

I also did run Windows update, it only found a few driver updates and that was that.

Here is the full update list and installation order for new installs:

1) SSU (Servicing Stack Update) KB4515530 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/c..._572b7f6f7d1a35235af602b277ed367b3aa34747.msu

2) CU (Cumulative Update) KB4512941 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/d..._64df2a98aeeaa474a08df917a95ad65e0ace2bf0.msu

3) .NET Framework Cumulative Update KB 4511555 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/c..._3bc6de4acbedeaf691af9017b405682423fcf726.msu

4) Adobe Flash Player Update KB4503308 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/c..._b6478017674279c8ba4f06e60fc3bab04ed7ae02.msu

5) Microcode Update KB4497165 = http://download.windowsupdate.com/c..._e92ee95ee2475f99cf927e20f20c8c0cb746e897.msu

 

Windows Update Blocker 1.5

Spoiler: Changelog

1. [ FIXED ] - There is a Windows Update Status Icon in Windows 10 Taskbar Notification Area
2. [ ADDED ] - 250 ms wait time added to check tasks properly.If there is a problem Update blocking process will be repeated
3. [ ADDED ] - Some code improvements