Steps for Clean Install

janey6 · Oct 20, 2021

I have just bought an HP All-in-One Desktop, Win 11 v21H2 (OS Build 22000.258).
I want to do a clean install to get rid of all the HP stuff.
I understand I need to back up the drivers but would like to know if I need a backup of the existing image.

I would also like to know the steps I need to take to carry out the clean install please. I have done this on a previous computer with Windows 10 but it’s a long time ago so I’m a bit nervous now.
I appreciate the help you guys gave me yesterday with a problem and I’m confident you can help again!

Thanks in advance.

swarfega · Oct 20, 2021

There is a tutorial on here about the steps needed:

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

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

You dont need to back up the drivers, just put the model number in google and the first page should be the computer's landing page where you can download the latest drivers from there.

Ghot · Oct 20, 2021

@janey6

Just because that all in one has Windows 11 on it, doesn't necessarily mean that it's compatible with a "regular" clean install of Win 11.
Just to play it safe, I would run the WhyNotWin11 tool.

Releases · rcmaehl/WhyNotWin11

Detection Script to help identify why your PC is not Windows 11 Release Ready. Now Supporting Update Checks! - rcmaehl/WhyNotWin11

github.com

I would also export the drivers as you mentioned.

Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

I doubt either of these is necessary, but it's a lot easier checking now, than fixing later.
Sometimes companies bend a few compatibility rules to be able to say their device is running the latest OS.

Lastly... if it was me, I'd make a backup too.

janey6 · Oct 20, 2021

swarfega said:
There is a tutorial on here about the steps needed:

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

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

You dont need to back up the drivers, just put the model number in google and the first page should be the computer's landing page where you can download the latest drivers from there.

Thank you.
On my post yesterday, it was suggested I back up the drivers in case I should need them. I’ve input the model number but the only option is for Windows 10 drivers.
Step 7 of the clean install instructions was issued before Windows 11 had been released so do I enter anything for the product key at that point, please?
J

janey6 · Oct 20, 2021

Ghot said:
@janey6

Just because that all in one has Windows 11 on it, doesn't necessarily mean that it's compatible with a "regular" clean install of Win 11.
Just to play it safe, I would run the WhyNotWin11 tool.

Releases · rcmaehl/WhyNotWin11

Detection Script to help identify why your PC is not Windows 11 Release Ready. Now Supporting Update Checks! - rcmaehl/WhyNotWin11

github.com

I would also export the drivers as you mentioned.

Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

I’m afraid that WhyNotWin11 tool completely loses me. I’m no expert in any of this!
I’ve exported all the drivers I can. It said there were 130 drivers; it exported 65, then stopped.

The PC came with Windows 10 installed, with the option to upgrade to Windows 11, which I did.

Ghot · Oct 20, 2021

janey6 said:
I’m afraid that WhyNotWin11 tool completely loses me. I’m no expert in any of this!
I’ve exported all the drivers I can. It said there were 130 drivers; it exported 65, then stopped.
The PC came with Windows 10 installed, with the option to upgrade to Windows 11, which I did.

Just go to the WhyNotWin11 page I linked above, and scroll down, till you see this.
Download the one in the RED square, and save it to your desktop. Just double click it to run.
Wait till it finishes. The graphics part take about 2 mins to finish, the rest is really fast...

When it's done it will look like this... if there's any RED marks, post a screen shot.
If it's all GREEN, then you're good to go.

If you DO get any RED marks, we know ways to get around that... but we need to know, so we can direct you to the correct clean install method.

janey6 · Oct 20, 2021

All green!

Ghot · Oct 20, 2021

janey6 said:
All green!

Ok, that means, that the computer will accept a normal clean install. You should be fine.
The method linked in post #2 should work.
You can skip step #3, in those directions. We just checked that with WhyNotWin11.

Quandary · Oct 20, 2021

For my "peace of mind" I installed the HP Support Assistant and Intel Driver Assist after doing a clean install on my HP laptop. I suspect that the MS update should identify the driver updates suggested by these two, but the possible duplication does not bother me.

After my clean install there were lots of drivers flags in Device Manager. I had backed up the drivers from the Win11 Insider Preview prior to the clean install and used that. I subsequently saw a post suggesting that the Windows Update process would have had them, but I was happy that I had the backup.

janey6 · Oct 20, 2021

Thanks everyone. Clean Windows now!
Should I do anything before loading all my programs?

BunnyJ · Oct 20, 2021

janey6 said:
Thanks everyone. Clean Windows now!
Should I do anything before loading all my programs?

Congrats and job well done.. :thumbsup:

you can remove some of the junk you don't need but you can do that later on. I would just start installing your programs.

Oh and have fun.

BunnyJ · Oct 20, 2021

I would also make a backup after you're done.. just in case.

The-Hive · Oct 20, 2021

BunnyJ said:
I would also make a backup after you're done.. just in case.

You can't beat backing up often, you never know when you will want it.

pparks1 · Oct 20, 2021

janey6 said:
Thanks everyone. Clean Windows now!
Should I do anything before loading all my programs?

Yes, use a tool like Macrium Reflect free and capture an image of your computer in it's clean vanilla state. This way when you want to start over, you can plop on this image and go from there.

Of course, by time I get to the point of wanting to reinstall, there is usually a newer version of Windows I want to be on, and numerous driver updates from vendors to then catch up on....so it's often just as easy to just reinstall windows and the drivers once again.

janey6 · Oct 20, 2021

pparks1 said:
Yes, use a tool like Macrium Reflect free and capture an image of your computer in it's clean vanilla state. This way when you want to start over, you can plop on this image and go from there.

I’ve downloaded and installed Macrium Reflect Free. Do I just create an image of the partitions shown and save to a USB drive? Not sure which options I should choose.

Quandary · Oct 20, 2021

I initially create an image backup of all partitions excluding the OS and Data partitions. Then I create an image partition of the OS, then other images of the data partition(s). The image of the OS is the important one if you need to do a restore. The ones of your data.. well there are other ways.

The-Hive · Oct 20, 2021

janey6 said:
I’ve downloaded and installed Macrium Reflect Free. Do I just create an image of the partitions shown and save to a USB drive? Not sure which options I should choose.

I assume you only have one ssd / hdd I would create an image of all partitions in one go.
Don't forget to make a recovery drive.
Here is a how to link:

How to Create a Full-Disk Backup of Your PC with Macrium Reflect

Microsoft announced that System Image Backups will be deprecated in Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update. The feature is still available, but it is no longer actively being developed and may be removed in a future release of Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft recommends you use a third-party tool to...

www.howtogeek.com