Clean Install Windows with USB flash Drive?


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win11freak

Well-known member
Member
Local time
10:09 AM
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216
OS
Windows 11 Pro 22H2
When Clean installing Windows 11 the setup partitioning part now list any External drives or USB flash drives connected to the machine.
Is there a way to avoid that mistake to NOT to Format the USB flash drive and just install Windows using the Disk-0 Unallocated Space?

Windows 10 did not list any external drives or USB flash drives during the partitioning part of the installation.

I also have personal data on the same Windows 11 installation USB flash drive as well and I would not be too happy if that gets formatted...

Thanks in advance.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro 22H2
OS
Windows 11 Pro 22H2
Have only the bootable Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (MCT)(Windows 11 iso) and the internal drive connected during the clean install,

Boot to the MCT.

Manually delete all partitions on the internal drive creating an unallocated disk drive.

Allow the clean install to create the four default partitions.

www.elevenforum.com

Clean Install Windows 11

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

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Windows 10Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryTyp...NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
OS
Windows 10
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Laptop
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HP
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz
Motherboard
Product : 190A Version : KBC Version 94.56
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16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryType : DDR3 FormFactor : SODIMM Capacity : 8GB Speed : 1600
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IDT High Definition Audio CODEC; PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_76E0
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Model Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
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Microsoft Defender
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Mobile Workstation
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Switch to the legacy Setup client. 3rd screen, look at the bottom left corner.
 

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Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
The key is to disconnect all external storage devices before starting the installation process. This way, the setup will only see your internal drive, allowing you to install Windows 11 without risking the data on your USB flash drive.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Why do you keep personal data on the installation USB flash drive? Follow what #zbook wrote that is the correct way for a clean install.
 

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System One System Two

  • At a glance

    W11, always updated with latest buildsAMD Ryzen 9 9900XG.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB Kit DDR5-6000...ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 3060 V2 OC Edition 12G...
    OS
    W11, always updated with latest builds
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self-made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi
    Memory
    G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB Kit DDR5-6000 CL30 (F5-6000J3038F16GX2-TZ5NR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 3060 V2 OC Edition 12GB GDDR6
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Eizo CS240, Calibrated with Datacolr SpyderX
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T705 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2- SO+Archive
    Lexar EQ790 1TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe 1.4- LR& PS Workspace
    PHIXERO SSD P5000-512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4- Backups
    Seagate ST8000DM04- Photo Archive, SATA HD
    Western Digital WD2002FAEX- Generic archive, SATA HD
    PSU
    Be Quiet 850W Pure Power 12M per Pc ATX
    Case
    Phanteks XT Pro
    Cooling
    Be quiet Pure loop 2 360mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    D/L-700/800 Mbps; U/L 250/300 Mbps WiFi 7 from motherboard
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Avast
    Other Info
    Mostly used for photo retouching software & some video slideshows.

  • At a glance

    W11, always updated with latest buildsAMD Ryzen 9 9900XG.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB Kit DDR5-6000...ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 3060 V2 OC Edition 12G...
    Operating System
    W11, always updated with latest builds
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi
    Memory
    G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB Kit DDR5-6000 CL30 (F5-6000J3038F16GX2-TZ5NR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 3060 V2 OC Edition 12GB GDDR6- From System 1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Eizo CS240, Calibrated with Datacolr SpyderX
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T705 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2- SO+Archive
    Lexar EQ790 1TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe 1.4- LR& PS Workspace
    PHIXERO SSD P5000-512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4- Backups
    Seagate ST8000DM04- Photo Archive, SATA HD - From System 1
    Western Digital WD2002FAEX- Generic archive, SATA HD - From System 1
    PSU
    Be Quiet 850W Pure Power 12M per Pc ATX
    Case
    Phanteks XT Pro
    Cooling
    Be quiet Pure loop 2 360mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    D/L-700/800 Mbps; U/L 250/300 Mbps WiFi 7 from motherboard
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Avast
    Other Info
    Mostly used for photo retouching software, some video slideshows.
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