Clean install W10

[leahcimj]

Laptop will not update higher than W10 version 1909

I reset laptop to factory settings.

I've created a USB flashdrive W10 latest version using (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO)

Is there a link to show me how to do a clean install using the USB I have created?

Please Advise

leahcimj

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

This video should be of help to you.

Windows 10 21H1, May 2021 Update: Clean install from USB tutorial - YouTube

Since your notebook came with W10, you should not be asked to enter a product key or select the version of W10 you want to install, because W10 will detect that info from the product key stored in your notebook's BIOS.

[leahcimj]

Hello Paul,

Thank you for the link.

How do I check the Bios settings and what do they need to be set at to boot from a USB. (17in. HP Laptop model 17-ak027cy)

I have already reset to factory settings. Can I do this without reinstalling Windows which in my case will reinstall V1909.

One more concern.

How do I know which partitions to delete?

Please Advise

leahcimj

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

To boot from the flash drive, have it in the USB port.

Turn on or restart the PC.

Immediately press/tap the ESC key to get the menu of options.

Select the F9 boot options menu and from that, select the UEFI diskette on key/USB hard drive and press then enter key.

The PC should boot from the USB flash drive.

Partitions...you delete all of them as shown in the video.

If your PC's boot options menu shows no USB device to boot from, then you need to enable legacy mode in the BIOS.

HP Notebook PCs - Cannot Start Notebook Computer From a Bootable CD or DVD | HP® Customer Support

You want to boot from the UEFI flash drive to boot from, not the legacy one.

[leahcimj]

Hi Paul,

I'm having a few problems.

Is a UCNB port the same as a USB port?

When I boot the USB flash drive going through F9 and than selecting the San Disk It doesn't follow like the link you gave me.

I wind up going right back to installing 1909.

How do I get to the Bios, to delete the partitions. I tried to research and found it would be different in every computer.

I have an HP model 17-ak027cy

                         s/n 8CGB8207F9L

When I have tried to install the latest copy of Windows using the flash drive it doesn't give me the option to not install OneDrive and I wind up with all my files on version 1909 which is out of support by Microsoft.

Right now I'mback to a factory reset.

Please Advise

leahcimj

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Yes, I meant to type USB flash drive.

If you see the Sandisk USB flash drive listed in boot options menu select that and press the enter key, then the PC should have booted from it and the W10 21H2 installation files should have begun to load if you created the bootable flash drive with the Media creation tool from the link below.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

You don't delete any drive partitions from within the BIOS.

You do that as you step through the W10 installation process after the USB flash drive loads the files.

So unfortunately, I don't know why you are back to v1909.

[leahcimj]

Hi Paul

Thank you so far for the input.

Is there any way I can manually open the page to delete the partitions?

Or can I just delete everything on the C drive?

I've tried to update to the latest version of W10 for so long and in so many different ways.

I've even tried to go directly to W11 with a flash drive, first thru registry editor, see below, and W11 almost installed than failed and computer went back to v1909

Any input you have would be appreciated, I am ready to give up, pull the hard drive and chuck it.

leahcimj

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I don't think you can delete partitions from within Windows, but even if you could, you still need to be able to boot from the W10 21H2 installation flash drive to install the new build of W10.

That is what you need to overcome.

I have installed many different versions of Windows on many different desktop and notebook PC's HP and Dell and never had any problems like you are having.

And I have done that with both having existing operating systems on the drive or a brand new drive.

I have done that installing W10 over W7, XP, Vista...you name it.  I get the new OS each time.

Boot from the DVD or USB flash drive>get to the install now screen...follow the prompts to install Windows.

You may want to upgrade the drive anyway and buy a new 2.5" solid state drive which will perform much better.

But I am still concerned about the booting the W10 installation flash drive issue, even if you do that.

Even though your PC is not supported for W11, if you want to try upgrading to W11, you can do this...

You can upgrade your notebook to W11, but you will have to use one of the W11 hardware check bypass methods to upgrade to W11.

I found this method to be the easiest way to do an in-place upgrade from W10>W11...

https://dongknows.com/steps-for-windows-11-upgrade-on-unsupported-hardware/ 

Before you try upgrading to W11, I recommend that you make a system image of your current W10 installation prior to updating to W11, so you can easily reinstall W10 in the future.  I used the free Macrium Reflect software to do that, under the Backup at Home section. 

Along with the system image, make sure you create the bootable DVD or USB rescue drive you boot from to access the system image stored on your portable hard drive.

Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can also try clean installing W11 if you download the W11 ISO file, from the link below.  3rd option.

Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)

Use the free Rufus utility to transfer the ISO file to a USB flash drive so that it is bootable.

I have zipped up and attached the version to use below.

If you have never used Rufus before, here is a screenshot...

Plug a USB flash drive in the USB port and run Rufus.

First, you click on the Select button on the right side of the program window and browse to and select the W11 ISO file.

Select the GPT partition scheme and select Extended Windows 11 installation (No TPM, no Secure boot).

Target system UEFI/non CSM

Click on the Start button on the lower right side of the program window and Rufus will create a bootable USB flash drive that should install W11...if you can get to the W11 Install Now screen.