Fresh Windows Install! Need some advice.

[Basard]

So, basically, I have two questions:

First, I'd like to get a couple of good USB 3.0 sticks to use for installation media, any recommendations on which one may be fastest and most reliable?

Second, I would kind of like to do this tonight, so I don't have to wait for my USB sticks to come in the mail. Can I just download the Media Creation Tool, select "Upgrade this PC," whipe this one clean, and start fresh?

That's it, thanks guys!

 

[moproblems99]

1. I don't think you really need to worry about that, 10 installs pretty fast.
2. I would not recommend doing the upgrade route. Just tell it to give you an install disk.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

Yeah, no need for USB 3.0 if it’s just the once. I install it from many different sources and don’t worry. Set it to install, grab a bite to eat and then go back... it’ll be done.

I will admit that my 500 MBps read speeds flash drive is nice to install from, but by no means a requirement.

 

[Basard]

@moproblems99

1. Alright, just wondering if there was anything to worry about.... I see a lot of cheap ones--wondering if any of them are actually horrible....
2. I don't wanna "upgrade," I wanna fresh install, just don't wanna botch something up. I remember when I upgraded from Win7 (about 5 years ago I think) it gave me a few options to do fresh install, save documents, or save everything

@TheMadDutchDude Well, that's kinda why I want two, so I can have one with an updated installer, and one to play around with. My wife and I both have retail keys, so we can share an installer. Kinda was hoping a USB stick guru would chime in, lol.... We don't like waiting for things when it comes to computers, lol--that shit should be installed in two seconds or less.

On another note, I have the retail Windows 10 USB stick, any way to remove the write protection that it comes with?

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

There should be no write protection on a flash drive. That’s not right...

Well, go and ... do something together, and then it’ll be over. Haha.

 

[moproblems99]

2. I don't wanna "upgrade," I wanna fresh install, just don't wanna botch something up. I remember when I upgraded from Win7 (about 5 years ago I think) it gave me a few options to do fresh install, save documents, or save everything

Right, the option will be pretty clear that you are starting over and not transferring data.

My wife and I both have retail keys, so we can share an installer.

If I recall, the windows install image contains every version and the Key you enter determines what version gets installed. You can also skip entering a key and install any version you want and try it out for a while.

 

[Basard]

I went ahead with the "Upgrade this PC" option.... It just makes me nervous when it says "remove everything" because I have two drives in my PC. Makes me think that it's gonna just go ahead and erase both drives. The could be a little more clear, but I guess too many words might confuse people, lol.

Thanks guys.

 

[moproblems99]

I went ahead with the "Upgrade this PC" option.... It just makes me nervous when it says "remove everything" because I have two drives in my PC. Makes me think that it's gonna just go ahead and erase both drives. The could be a little more clear, but I guess too many words might confuse people, lol.

Thanks guys.

It will only erase the drive you instruct. That said, being nervous myself, I just unplug the other drive.

 

[Sybaris_Caesar]

I'm kinda confused. Does nobody create partitions any more? I always set my Windows partition as 50GB then do whatever I want with it. Fudged up registry? Clean install. Some malware that escaped Windows Defender? Clean install.

Now that I've moved my USER Files to the hard disk (H:/) instead of C:/ it's even more easy to just reinstall and forget about every issue.

 

[Basard]

It will only erase the drive you instruct. That said, being nervous myself, I just unplug the other drive.

There was no instructing going on, as far as what drive to install to, when I just clicked 'upgrade' thru Windows--just asked for keyboard layout and privacy things.

@Khonjel I used to partition back in the day. My trusty barracuda 250 gig is split in two. Nowadays I just drag n drop my user files and drivers over to it on occasion. I've got some old ATI drivers if anybody needs.