Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide

Hi. I want to clean install windows 10 on my alienware 15 r1(early 2015 model). I want to reinstall in uefi boot mode because i accidentally installed in legacy. I have already downloaded and burned the windows 10 build 1511 64x iso to a usb drive. Do i only need to change the boot list option to UEFI or is there more to change. My current partitioning scheme is MBR. Is GPT better? Current boot list option is legacy.

 

Change boot mode to UEFI

Boot off the USB in UEFI mode, when you get the boot options, there will be a preceding UEFI text before the USB Flash Drive letter

Run the diskpart / clean command as shown in the guide

then create your partition, Windows installer will create it in GPT mode which is the best for UEFI as it takes 0.5 less seconds less to initialize a GPT disk than an MBR one

 

Th

Thanks

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/evoc-p870dm-g-gaming-laptop.789543/

 

Hi @Phoenix , I'm going going to install windows 10 before the free is over and that I can experience Windows 10. I know its not really a great idea and Windows 10 sucks compare to Windows 7 but I just want to try it. My laptop is a Alienware 17 R2 i7-4710HQ 970m
I have a few questions.
1. Is it ok to upgrade Windows 10 first so that it will automatically be activated and then do a clean install following the guide? If so which step on the guide I will start with? I know there is a step in the guide to activate by phone but I think its time consuming calling them.
2. I have checked dell website for the drivers on Windows 10 and here's the list of all of them and some questions:

Application_52C12_WN32_3.1.3300.0_A00(Dell Foundation Services Application Win10) = is this needed?
Application_2J26D_WN32_3.1.1002.0_A00(Dell Digital Delivery Application Win10) = is this needed?
Application_5N27G_WN64_1.0.27.0_A02(Alienware External Graphic Amplifier Software Win10) = I dont have a graphics amplifier. I won't need this right?
Application_JCV8X_WN64_4.0.54.0_A02(Command Center 4.0 Win10) = OK no prob for this
Audio_Driver_483TY_WN32_1.1.0_A00(Creative Malcolm chip+Recon3Di AP Driver Win10) = OK no prob for this
Alienware-13_Chipset_Driver_NHJ0R_WN_10.0.20_A00(Intel HM87 Chipset Driver Win 8.1) = only for Windows 8.1 and can't find for Windows 10 in dell website. Also say for Alienware 13. Do I need this? Where can I find a proper installer if this is needed?
Chipset_Driver_7MF8P_WN_6.3.9600.21249_A00(Realtek RTS5227 Card Reader Driver Win 8.1) = only for Windows 8.1 again. Where can I find a proper driver for Windows 10
Chipset_Driver_V42WJ_WN_8.0.10100.71_A00(Intel Dynamic Platform & Thermal Framework Driver Win8.1) = only for Windows 8.1 again. Where can I find a proper driver for Windows 10
Chipset_Driver_KVW38_WN_10.0.30.1072_A00(Intel Management Engine Interface Driver Win 8.1) = only for Windows 8.1 again. Where can I find a proper driver for Windows 10
Input_Driver_756GC_WN64_19.0.15.2_A00(Synaptics Touchpad Driver Win 10) = OK no prob for this
Communications_Driver_57DFF_WN32_10.0.0.102_A00(Qualcomm Killer Wireless Bluetooth 1525 driver Win10) = I think I can get the network driver in the killer website. Right?
Communications_Driver_7HW54_WN32_1.1.53.1210_A00(Qualcomm Killer Wireless 1525 driver Win 10) = I think I can get the network driver in the killer website. Right?
Network_Driver_M33C6_WN32_1.1.54.1217_A00(Qualcomm LAN Killer E2201 Driver Win 10) = I think I can get the network driver in the killer website. Right?
Network_Driver_90M6T_WN_1.4.1_A00(Dell Airplane Mode Switch Driver Win 10) = Do I need this?
System-Utilities_Driver_TGP2J_WN_1.1.2.8_A00(Kionix Free Fall Sensor Driver Win 8.1) = only for Windows 8.1 again. Where can I find a proper driver for Windows 10
Video_Driver_0XVV4_WN32_10.18.13.5384_A01(nVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M960M965M970M980M Drive Win 10) = I can get the GPU driver in Nvidia website so no problem with this.
Video_Driver_TTF1C_WN32_10.18.13.5384_A04(nVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M960M965M970M980M Drive Win 10) = I can get the GPU driver in Nvidia website so no problem with this.
Video_Driver_99PMC_WN32_10.18.15.4281_A01(Intel Graphics Driver Win 10) = I can get the GPU driver in Nvidia website so no problem with this.

Thanks for this awesome Thread, very helpful.

 

To answer your first question, that hasn't been necessary for months. Just do a clean install.


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really? if so i think i'll just upgrade windows 10 not using the tool on the 1st step of the guide and do the clean install. after the clean install, where can I get proper drivers for Windows 10? because some of the drivers in dell website are for Windows 8.1.. help please.. @Phoenix

 

Windows 10 has a pretty amazing arsenal of drivers. Some drivers you may need to use your Windows 8.1 versions of but since the driver framework hasn't changed much between 8.1 and 10, this shouldn't pose a problem for most drivers.

 

Cool.. basically I can use the Windows 8.1 Drivers from dell and it should work.. Thank you..

 

I looked at your list of drivers. The only thing I see you needing to use is the 8.1 airplane mode driver. It was the same situation with my Clevo. Everything else from wireless to audio Windows 10 installed for me. I had to install the Soundblaster X-Fi MB3 software to get my subwoofer back and I used the Control Center software from 8.1 until I came across a system that had Windows 10 Control Center.

I wouldn't install the Dell junkware unless you find something that needs it.

My Clevo is HM87 chipset as well, no need to worry about finding drivers for anything on the Intel side.

 

thanks for the info.. i'll upgrade to win 10 on my day off.. i'll keep you updated.. hehe..

 

Thanks.

 

Hi @Phoenix , got some questions again. I have a Alienware 17 r2 with A06 bios. When I boot to bios there is no option for Enable CSM and also there is no Fast boot option. What changes do I have to do within my Bios? ermm do you have a guide on how to create a recovery partion? Like the one from Alienware respawn. Like when I migrated my OS to my new SSD it also created the recovery partion. I read you mentioned using Macrium Reflect. I found this guide http://www.everydaylinuxuser.com/2015/11/how-to-backup-windows-10-safe-way-with.html is this legit and would you recommend this? The Download Photo Viewer Restore Reg Entry download link is down. Please reupload. Thanks.

 

Windows Photo Viewer Reg Hack has been fixed. Thank you for reporting

Regarding not finding the Enable CMS option to disable it, that's for the laptops that do have that option, so if you don't have it don't worry about it. Just ensure when you are booting from the USB/DVD to choose UEFI (it will have a UEFI preceding the drive letter) to ensure you are booting in UEFI mode.

Fast Boot option is only available for Clevo laptops that have the Prema BIOS so don't worry about it as well.

Regarding the recovery partition, you can use Respawn to create it but it is an inferior program compared to Macrium Reflect as allows full control over what you want to backup and is a much better tool overall.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I might try to do this tomorrow if I have time. Your guide is awesome. Thanks again.

 

Let me know if you have any doubts.

After you have setup your system to your liking, do not connect to the internet otherwise Windows updates will start downloading the driver automatically.

Just configure everything to your liking, including the location of your libraries, I usually move my Docs, Pics, Music, Videos to a folder in D: so when I backup C: once I restore it, my files are not affected since they are on D:

Create an image before installing any software or drivers so that a few months down the line when there are many driver/software updates, you can go back to a clean slate easily and start fresh again in no time.

 

@Phoenix after windows 10 update 10 1607 I can't get this time and date setting anymore. do you know how to fix this? thanks..

 

I have a laptop with one SSD and one HDD and I have read in the guide about the fact that we should only have 1 drive connected to the PC, that being the drive on which we are installing Windows fresh. Could I use diskpart and some command to unmount / make the HDD inactive? Maybe, by doing something like that, it isn't necessary to physically remove the HDD from the laptop.

 

You can. Run diskpart then select the HDD by typing select Disk X then type Clean and hit Enter

Now only partition the SSD. This way the second drive won't be used when you go to Disk management in Windows it will ask you to initialize the Disk since its like new

 

I was wondering how that Windows refresh (or whatever its called) stacks up to doing your clean install method?

 

They say it's the same although I've never done it myself. I prefer doing stuff myself to ensure a super clean setup. That's if you have the time/patience

 

It is worth to do it by yourself every time.

Especially if you want a clean install of everything.

 

I do a clean install every time there is an ISO that contains a new build. Freshness to the max.

 

I actually have the old ISO and am unsure from where to get the latest build, so it usually runs through it's upgrades after I install windows...

BTW, there are a few more tricks that I do on install, maybe I should add them to the thread next time I reinstall windows (I don't remember them, but when installing I have a bad habit: I check every single setting there is on the computer, tweak it, then start changing things to fit my needs).

 

Microsoft Windows & Office Download Tool

or if you want to create the bootable flash disk on the fly, then get the latest Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

 

@Georgel

Share your tweaks and tell me where would you like me to insert them in the guide......

Example. Post 1, after X section

 

I was actually getting ready to reinstall windows and I'll try to make some instructions on what can be used by most people (I do disable some arguably usable services, making my install as barebone as possible, but some people might need those services. and I use Windows inking since I work with a drawing tablet and it needs Windows inking for best performance, but I would not advice this to be turned on otherwise. )

 

I try to not include disabling services because what works for me may no work for someone else. Let's leave that for the Windows 10 Tweaks thread not the clean install guide. This is a general guide to get people started not an advanced guide to disable everything under the sun which is what I do personally.

 

I haven't done a windows install in a very long time. Should I make the USB in Rufus and flag it as GPT in FAT32 if it's a 2.0 USB?

EDIT::: Does it work like this for P870 / P775 ?

 

RUFUS for UEFI BIOS / UEFI Windows installation Instructions:



You need the USB Flash disk to be in MBR otherwise if it was GPT also, Windows may think that it is your boot file and thus will fail to boot upon the first reboot as it will skip placing the Windows Boot files on your actual / main drive

 

All of these are free:

- one drive thingy should be disabled for most people
- foobar as main music player, but it needs a hand of tweaks by itself
- MP3Tag tool for tagging music files
- 7z for all archives
- MPC-HC + madVR + xySUBfilter as main video, VLC for backup
- paint dot net as freeware photo editing or gimp
- Iobit uninstaller is not better than Geek uninstaller, but has better OS integration, it can remove traces even if the uninstall process was not started from it.
- tixati is the best and lightest / fastest torrent client from all tests


I'll come back with more when I notice them

Hope this helps!


EDIT:::

Latest windows version doesn't follow how all settings looked like, some things are replaced by others. Seems faster though. I have smoother and much more beautiful text after reinstalling, over all OS.
Icons are bigger [no idea why]
Some defaults are better for us.

More notes:

- Disable Cortana

 

If I do a complete reset of my computer and reinstall windows 10, will all of the changes made per this guide be wiped out as soon as the anniversary update installs? Meaning, will I make all these changes just to have to do them all over again after installing the anniversary update?

 

One thing I forgot to ask when I followed your directions for a clean install a while back (which went well, except defender was a pain to make go away). You don't mention anything about a firewall. Does this mean the the Windows one is good enough or that you/we don't need to bother with a software one (just use the firewall in the router)?

 

Firewalls are a very sensitive topic even around here.

Some don't believe in them, some do, and some will always recommend one.

I was fanatic for comodo but then I became neutral regarding firewalls.

All firewalls that do their job are good, windows is ok. IF you need to monitor your activity with more care, consider getting something that lets you do so.

Defender is really easy to get rid of in professional versions of windows, and a bit harder on home edition.

 

I used to use Comodo out of habit too. For whatever reason when I did my clean Win reinstall, Comodo was blocking all traffic and the only way I could stop it was to uninstall it. Been using the Windows firewall since and just remembered I wanted to look into that.

I had to run through the steps Phoenix listed a few times to finally get Win Defender to completely go away. Not sure what I did wrong, but its gone now

 

Comodo is one of the worst AVs/Internet Security solutions according to members form Wilders Security:

Just see this example of what they say about the new cloud AV: http://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/comodo-cloud-antivirus-2017-thead.389354/unread

Then see this: http://www.wilderssecurity.com/thre...us-public-releases.386546/page-3#post-2625571

Regarding disabling Windows Defender, you have to disable one component at a time, exiting the settings again after a brief pause, until you disable the last component, then WD becomes RED and is inactive, then you need to immediately disable it via Group Policy Editor if you have the Pro version which I hope you do.

 

Wow I just read through both of those links. What a horrible product... I use Norton because I have a discount and it's alright. Man whoever thought a cloud A/V solution would be a good idea?


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LOL, I *used* to think Comodo was good, the UI is nice, but when I read that thread yesterday, no way I'll come near that buggy product, as one user said:

 

I only used Comodo Firewall. Personally, I'd never use one of the AIO suites, regardless of the maker.
Alas, Acer only provided me with the home version of Win 10, so I'm not worthy of the group policy thing.

 

Then use O&O Shutup10 to disable Defender an all its garbage, then use Autoruns, type DEFENDER in the search list, and uncheck all the startup entries and delete any WD scheduled tasks

 

One last thing. After following your instructions, for whatever reason the malicious software tool fails to install/update. Not sure what I did, but after reading your other thread, that's a bonus (none of the hearbeat telemetry crap either)

 

You don't need that garbage.

Did you by any chance run the reg file to disable the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool?

If so, the instructions to both removing and getting it back are here:

• How to Disable Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

 

Did run it today, but when I looked at my installed updates a couple of days ago the MSRT was tagged as failed, not that I'm complaining

I have defender disabled in O&O
Trying autoruns right now, but it keeps giving me errors about access denied (I'm running it as admin)

These are the 4 entries it won't let me delete, but there were a few others that I could
WdNisSvc and WinDefend are both set to manual in services and neither are running

 

that happened to me as well one time. I had forgotten to uncheck those entries right after I disabled Defender, and for some reason, after some Windows updates, I couldn't change their state anymore no matter what I tried I had to format

You need to have WD disabled then reboot then uncheck those entries right away, I don't think you can delete them but unchecking them is enough, you can however delete the scheduled tasks:

See what my reg file deletes here:

If you want to use them, save them as a text file in notepad and name them to anything you wan.bat then run it as admin

Code:

schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDataUpdater" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\StartupAppTask" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\Proxy" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\Consolidator" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\KernelCeipTask" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\UsbCeip" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\DiskDiagnostic\Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Feedback\Siuf\DmClient" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Location\Notifications" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Location\WindowsActionDialog" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Shell\FamilySafetyMonitor" /disable >nul
schtasks /change /tn "Microsoft\Windows\Shell\FamilySafetyRefresh" /disable >nul

 

There is a little regedit trick for those who don't have windows 10 pro, but it's not as clean or tidy as group policy is.

when you do group policy deactivation, you don't need to take those extra steps with components.

Regardless of whether you take the steps or not, there still will be components running that need to be killed / locked indivitually... Man... Windows really insists on this thing.

 

Dear all, this guide will soon be updated as a lot has changed since the initial build when this guide was created until now.

Stay tuned.

@toughasnails @Papusan

 

I can't rep you now But rep will come

 

no more credit manager as he has been disqualified from the team

 

Latest version of windows 10 takes a lot longer to install properly and still feels like a beta... Not happy with windows, not happy at all!

 

that's true, and very finicky.

like last time I tried to install it, I formatted over 10 times, everytime it would get stuck in the middle and never finish. Turned out I had my SD Card inserted so when I removed it, it installed fine.