Upgraded From Win 10 to Win 11, Now Need to Do Clean Install of Win 11

The desktop is a three-year-old Dell Inspiron 3670. I upgraded it from Windows 10 to Windows 11 two years ago. Because of malware, I need to reformat and reinstall the operating system. Will I be able to do a clean install of Windows 11?. Belarc Advisor still shows teh operating system as Windows 10 and lists a Windows10 serial number.

Yes.
Clean Install Windows 11 - ElevenForumTutorials

Even the Windows 11 Registry still includes an entry saying that it is Windows 10.


Denis

For Inspiron 3670 Dell supports drivers for both Window 10 and 11.

After a Windows 10 or 11 update licensing data is stored in Microsoft servers.

Once Microsoft servers have the licensing data it enables drive replacements or clean installs.

The clean installs can be Windows 10 or 11.





If needed:

zbook said:

Once Microsoft servers have the licensing data it enables drive replacements or clean installs.

Click to expand...

Thanks @Try3 and @zbook. I did not want to have to put Windows 10 back on the desktop just to update it to Windows 11.

Suggestion:

Before you clean reinstall, make a backup copy of all drivers on the system. This will allow you to rapid restore them after the clean install.

To do so, run these commands from an elevated command prompt:

MD C:\Drivers_Backup PNPUTIL /export-driver * C:\Drivers_Backup

When done, copy C:\Drivers_Backup to a safe location like another drive, thumb drive, etc.

After your clean install, simply do this:

Open an elevated command prompt.

Run the command below. NOTE: Replace D:\Drivers_Backup with the location where you can find the backed up drivers from above.

PNPUTIL /add-driver D:\Drivers_Backup\*.inf /subdirs /install

One or more of these may be useful immediately after the clean install: (quicker methods to recover from malware)

a) free or pay backup images

b) backup drivers

c) regback

hsehestedt said:

Before you clean reinstall, make a backup copy of all drivers on the system. This will allow you to rapid restore them after the clean install.

Click to expand...

I am doing this rebuild for a friend who fell for one of those fake Microsoft tech support calls. The "tech" had remote access to his computer. OK to use the drivers from the old system under these circumstances?

hsehestedt said:

Suggestion:

Before you clean reinstall, make a backup copy of all drivers on the system. This will allow you to rapid restore them after the clean install.

Click to expand...

How can you determine whether the malware installed or modified a driver?

You can also install the Dell Update Universal Application (dated 7/31/23) that is on the drivers support page for that device on Dell site . It will install missing drivers as well as update outdated drivers for you.

zbook said:

How can you determine whether the malware installed or modified a driver?

Click to expand...

In that case, you might be better served following the suggestion from glasskuter.

Thanks. I will check out the Dell Update Universal Application

Also looks like your machine has intel IRST driver. Read the tutorial how to install that during installation