How to wipe and reload windows

₪CAUTION: Following these steps will guide you to erase the data on the drive you are reinstalling windows on, if you wish to keep the data on the computer you will need to backup the data first.
This guide assumes you only have one drive installed.

Method #1: Use Windows Media Creation Tool and Rufus
Read More

Method #2: Use Rufus for Both Tasks
Read More

You MUST complete one of the above methods to get the ISO file before proceeding below

1. Insert a 8GB or larger USB 3.0 thumb drive with nothing important saved on it as it will be erased.
   
   
   
2. Choose the ISO file saved in the previously chosen method.
   
   
   
3. Ensure partition scheme drop down menu is set to GPT.
   
   
   
4. Click START button.
   
   
   
5. You will receive a Windows User Experience Prompt.
   
   For Windows 10: check bottom 3 boxes then click OK
   ^{_{If you want the user to automatically be created, tick the 1st box and enter name}}
   
   
   For Windows 11: check 2nd box, bottom 3 boxes then click OK
   ^{_{If you want the user to automatically be created, tick the 3rd box and enter name}}
   
   
   
   
6. You will receive a warning prompt that ALL DATA ON DEVICE WILL BE DESTROYED, confirm the correct USB drive is selected and click OK.
   
   
   
7. When Rufus notifies that it’s finished, exit Rufus and eject the USB drive from the “SAFELY REMOVE HARDWARE AND EJECT MEDIA” panel in the system tray, then remove it.
   

1. Insert USB drive prepared in Stage Ⅰ in the computer you wish to install windows on. If you’re upgrading to a new drive prior to reloading windows, install it first.
   
   
   
2. If you have a new or blank storage drive installed with the USB drive inserted into the system, upon booting up it should go right to the windows installer and you can proceed to step 4.
   
   If you do not have a new or blank storage drive then
   • you may need to choose the USB from the boot menu
     -or-
   • enter the BIOS to make it the first bootable device. Read More
     
     
     ^{_{ASRock: F2 or DEL
     ASUS: F2 for all PCs, F2 or DEL for Motherboards
     Acer: F2 or DEL
     Dell: F2 or F12
     ECS: DEL
     Gigabyte / Aorus: F2 or DEL
     HP: F10
     Lenovo (Consumer Laptops): Enter or Novo button or Novo Pinhole, then F2 or Fn + F2
     Lenovo (Desktops): F1
     Lenovo (ThinkPads): Enter then F1
     MSI: DEL for motherboards and PCs
     Microsoft Surface Tablets: Press and hold volume up button.
     Origin PC: F2
     Samsung: F2
     Toshiba: F2
     Zotac: DEL}}
     

     • Once in the BIOS:
       • Change your boot mode from LEGACY/CSM to UEFI if it is not already set to UEFI
       • Enable secure boot if it is not already set to enabled
       • Set your first boot device to the USB drive
       • Save / Apply and Exit (usually F10)
     
     
     
3. Your system should boot up to the windows installer.
   
   You can now reload windows.
   
   
4. Click next/accept as prompted. If prompted for a product key, enter it if you have it or click
   
   “I don’t have a product key“
   
   • IMPORTANT: A Product Key is not required. All laptops and desktop computers that have had windows installed previously with secure boot / UEFI enabled have the product key embedded in the BIOS and will automatically activate windows upon connection to internet.
     
     
     
5. When prompted for custom or upgrade install, choose custom.
   
   
   
6. If you have a new or blank drive, just click Next and proceed to the next step. Otherwise, follow the steps below:
   
   Delete any partitions on the drive you are reinstalling windows on at the partition screen by selecting each partition and clicking delete and yes to each confirmation until the only thing left listed is:
   
   Drive 0 unallocated space
   
   Then click Next and windows will automatically create the system, reserved, and primary partitions and install Windows.
   
   Not seeing the installed drive listed? Read More
   
   
   Many brands such as ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo have the storage controller default on RAID mode, making the drive invisible to the windows installer.
   
   If that is the case for your system, you will need to take one of the following actions in order to see the installed drive and proceed with this step:
   
   1. Disable RAID Mode (Recommended)
   Enter the BIOS and change storage mode from RAID to AHCI. In some systems, it may be called VMD controller. In that case, disable it. Save and exit the BIOS. When you boot up to the windows installer, the drive will listed and you can proceed with step 6.
   
   -or-
   
   2. Download RAID drivers (not recommended)
   On a working system, download from the appropriate manufacturer as directed in Stage III, step 3.
   
   Extract and save them on the windows installer USB you’ve prepared using this guide, then choose Load Driver and browse to the folder you just extracted the RAID drivers to on the USB drive.
   
   Select the file iaStorVD.sys then hit next. You should now be able to see the drive listed and proceed with step 6.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Once the installer says it will reboot your computer in 15 seconds, click reboot now and remove the USB drive.
   If you miss this step, the system may inadvertently boot up to windows installer USB again. If that occurs simply unplug the USB and reboot.
   
   
   
8. This part is only necessary if you needed to complete step 2.
   
   Enter the BIOS again and set your 1st boot device to:
   • Windows Boot Manager
     • Disable ALL other entries or options, including USB, network, or PXE boot options.
     • Save and exit. (usually F10)
       
       
       
9. Once you get booted up to windows, follow the prompts to setup your system:
   • Avoid having to use a Microsoft account to login to the computer, do not connect to the internet yet and select I don’t have internet when prompted.
   • Choose continue with limited setup
     
     
   • You will prompted to provide a password during user creation, if you leave it blank, you won’t have to use one. I recommend using a strong login password and not reusing passwords in any manner.
     • Check if the password you are using is compromised by using Google Password Checkup

1. Now that you have circumvented being forced to use a Microsoft account, you can proceed to connect to the internet. Can’t connect to internet or see Wi-Fi networks? Read More
   
   The system requires a network driver to be installed in order to connect. Follow the steps below:
   1. Run the System Information app from Windows start menu, copy the line “System SKU” then go to another computer with working internet and google search.
   2. The correct result is the first non-sponsored result from the domain of the manufacturer of the computer/motherboard.
   3. Now proceed to the driver downloads section, download the appropriate network driver, and save it to a USB, then go install it on the computer with no internet.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Now that you’re connected, immediately go to windows update and click pause updates.
   
   
   
3. Proceed to install the appropriate drivers for your system according to it’s brand as followed:
   
   
   Acer: Read More
    Visit Acer support, enter serial number or SNID, download Acer Care Center, run and use the update feature, install all offered drivers and reboot as prompted.
   
   
   
   ASUS:
   Method 1: GHelper Read More
   
   
   Do NOT download Armoury Crate app if prompted.
   Download GHelper, extract to:
   C:\Program Files\GHelper
   Download .NET 7.0, install
   Launch C:\Program Files\GHelper\GHelper.exe, click updates, install all drivers listed except nVidia Graphics and Intel Wi-Fi/BT which should be downloaded directly from their respective manufacturer websites.
   
   
   Method 2: ArmouryCrate Read More
   
   
   Download Armoury crate app when prompted (should be prompted after connect to internet), use live update feature, install all offered drivers only, except nVidia Graphics and Intel Wi-Fi/BT which should be downloaded directly from their respective manufacturer websites, and avoid any app offerings such as Norton.
   
   _{^{If you do not get the prompt above, download app manually here: ArmouryCrateInstallTool.zip}}
   
   
   Method 3: MyASUS Read More
   
   
   Download MyASUS, install and launch, use update feature to install all drivers listed except nVidia Graphics and Intel Wi-Fi/BT which should be download. Avoid any app offerings such as Norton.
   
   
   Alienware Dell: Read More
   
   Visit dell support, enter service tag, click drivers and downloads, find and download Dell Update, run and use the driver restore feature, reboot as prompted.
   
   
   
   HP: Read More
    Visit HP support, enter product or serial number, select operating system, choose Detect my Drivers, follow prompts to install framework, uncheck option to install HP Support Assistant, install all offered drivers and reboot as prompted.
   
   
   
   Lenovo: Read More
    Visit Lenovo support, enter product or serial number, choose Drivers & Software, choose Automatic update, install all offered drivers and reboot as prompted.
   
   
   
   Custom computers only: Read More
    Visit your motherboard manufacturer’s support page for your motherboard and download all the drivers offered except AMD chipset, graphics, or Intel WiFi/Bluetooth. Any apps offered are not required and are bloatware that should be avoided.
   
   To determine your motherboard make/model, run the System Information app from Windows start menu, copy the line “BaseBoard Product” and paste it in google search. The correct result is the first non-sponsored result from the domain of the manufacturer.
   
   Once there, you can find the drivers located under the support section. Only get the drivers that are not listed below.
   
   
   ALL computers:
   Due to a lack of diligence by most brands, they are often missing the latest drivers for their products which resolve significant functionality, security and performance issues. When that is the case it is preferred to use the newer version from the OEM. Here are a few common examples below:
   • AMD Chipset drivers should always be downloaded from the AMD support site, not from the system or motherboard manufacturer.
   • Graphics drivers should always be downloaded from their respective manufacturer website, such as Intel, AMD, or nVidia, not from the system or motherboard manufacturer.
   • Intel Wi-Fi/Bluetooth drivers should always be downloaded from Intel, not from the system or motherboard manufacturer.
     
     
     
4. Once all drivers have been installed, open device manager
   • To open device manager: Press Win+X then M
   • Confirm there are no exclamation marks or unknown devices listed
     • If there aren’t any, proceed to next step.
     • If there are any: Read More
       • Right-click device > Click Details Tab > Click Property drop-down menu, Hardware Ids > Copy top entry > Search google to establish the name of device only (don’t download).
       • Download the identified missing driver from the appropriate driver resource as listed in the previous step ONLY.
         
       
       
       
       
5. Resume windows update and install all updates offered. Reboot and run windows update again, reboot if prompted. Repeat until no more updates are offered.
   
   
   
6. Run disk cleanup to cleanup all the windows update temp files.
   
   • Start Menu > Type disk cleanup > Right-click Run as administrator
     
     
7. Update the BIOS by manually downloading it using the appropriate resource for your system determined previously in stage Ⅲ, step 3.
   
   • For those with custom computers
     • Avoid updating BIOS from within windows to mitigate procedural risk. You can also use the BIOS Flashback feature to update BIOS, if available. For directions, visit: How to use BIOS Flashback
     • You may need to save the BIOS update to a USB drive in order to update it from within the BIOS. It can be the same USB drive prepared in this guide.
     • However, many modern systems can update BIOS from within the BIOS with the extracted BIOS update file on the installed SSD, eliminating the need for a USB drive.
     • Recommend to enable XMP or DOCP in the BIOS afterwards for enhanced performance.
     • Fan Tuning Recommended. For fan tuning guidance, visit: Improved Fan & RGB Control for Gamers