Clean install of Windows 10 without moving data

[May2ko]

I just need to do a clean install on my PC of Windows 10 is there any way I can do this without having to transfer the 100s of GBs of games and programs on my hard drive onto another hard drive?

Unfortunately, when I installed Windows, I didn't partition my hard drive so Windows along with all my programs and games are in one partition.

I was wondering maybe I can partition my hard drive in its current state, install Windows 10 on the new empty partition and then somehow remove Windows on the other full partition.

 

[USAFRet]

I just need to do a clean install on my PC of Windows 10 is there any way I can do this without having to transfer the 100s of GBs of games and programs on my hard drive onto another hard drive?

Unfortunately, when I installed Windows, I didn't partition my hard drive so Windows along with all my programs and games are in one partition.

I was wondering maybe I can partition my hard drive in its current state, install Windows 10 on the new empty partition and then somehow remove Windows on the other full partition.

No.
If you wish to keep your data as is, that second partition thing Will Not Work.

With a clean install of the OS, you'll have to reinstall your Programs anyway.

Steam games? If you have another drive with sufficient space, you can (probably) move those around and preserve for the aftermath of the clean install.


A clean install is just that. A blank slate.
You can't clean install AND 'Keep Everything'. One or the other.

Why do you need to do a clean install?

 

[mazboy]

No. A clean install implies, at least, selecting the "custom" install over the "upgrade" choice, which basically repartitions and formats the HDD/SSD it's going to be installed on. IMO, it's the only way to properly reinstall the OS.

There are programs that let you play with partitions, but I've never seen an OS successfully separated into its own partition. Do it right the first time. Back up all of your data. Download the latest Win10 installer/Boot USB drive here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

If it were me, I'd wipe the drive. Use DBAN (https://dban.org/). Here's how: http://www.techfleece.com/2013/08/22/how-to-securely-wipe-your-hard-drive-using-dban/

DON"T DO THIS TO AN SSD!!!!

Some people will tell you that all you really need to do to your HDD/SSD is to delete the original partition, repartition/reformat it, and then reinstall the OS over it. For complicated reasons (and because I have the time and hardware necessary to wipe a disc--figure 3-4 hours per terabyte) I prefer to wipe before I do a reinstall.

Immediately after the install completes, go to "settings->Update & security->Windows Update->Check for updates" and get all the latest stuff downloaded and installed. When all that is done, load the latest driver for your GPU.

Another argument amongst computeristas: where to put your applications. Most applications want to be on the same disk/partition as the OS. I agree with this, and this is the base assumption that both the OS and the application make. I believe that there is a noticeable speed advantage using this method. Others will say that it all loads in RAM anyway, so what's the big deal? Your choice, although the obvious advantage is to be able to isolate the OS from everything else (although, if you do it this way, you'll find that it isn't really so). Windows (and every other OS in the known universe) will have it's own way, outside of your control, and attempts to isolate the OS, and then reinstall it, are unlikely to succeed.

 

[USAFRet]

Another argument amongst computeristas: where to put your applications. Most applications want to be on the same disk/partition as the OS. I agree with this, and this is the base assumption that both the OS and the application make.

Agreed.
Having a separate partition for your applications was a good thing. 25 years ago with Win 3.1 Maybe Win95.
After that...not so much.
A reinstall of the OS means reinstalling the applications anyway. So why bother?

The only reason might be if you have a really small OS drive, and really large application.
And the only common application that rises to that level is maybe the totality of VisualStudio. Will ALL the various bits and extensions, that can go to over 100GB.
(games don't count)