[SOLVED] Clean Installing Windows 10

[dagimchi]

Specs:

CPU: Intel Core i7-12700KF
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB
Mobo: Tuf gaming Z690 plus wifi
RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3200MHz
SSD: 1TB PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSD
CPU Cooler: Corsair Hydro H115i Elite Capellix
PSU: Corsair RM850x 850W Gold

Long story short. Recently, I bought a new prebuilt gaming rig from Newegg (abs gladiator). I’m running into some problems and I've been told that I probably have a corrupted os. It came with Windows 10 home. I want to do a clean reinstall of windows 10 home this weekend. I’m going to follow this tutorial:

https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/windows-10-clean-install-tutorial.3170366/

Now I’ve done clean installs in the past several times now. The trouble is that I stumble through most of them and I always run into some walls during the process. I want to clarify some things by asking some questions below so that way maybe…just maybe… things will run smoothly this time around.

If some knowledgeable person can answer these questions for me I would be extremely thankful:

1. Do you foresee any problems with clean reinstalling windows on a non-oem prebuilt gaming rig?
2. Do I just directly access the Boot menu or do I first reorder the boot sequence in bios to boot from the flash drive?
3. Do I need to enable UEFI mode to boot from flash drive?
4. Do I format a drive to get unallocated space or by deleting all partitions will an unallocated space appear? (I always stumble here for some reason).
5. Do I need to reinstall my various drivers after clean installing windows?

 

[Colif]

1. shouldn't be
2. Leave boot order as is, use Boot Override choice on Advanced view/Boot tab of the bios. Using boot override lets PC boot from USB 1 time and then swap back to normal boot order. See page 80 - https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...UF_GAMING_Intel_600_Series_BIOS_EM_WEB_EN.pdf
3. it should already be UEFI mode, but the USB if made by media creation tool, can boot from either boot method. Win 10 prefers UEFI so if it recognises PC can run it, it will use it.
4. no, this is part of clean install process if you follow link you have. One step is to delete all the partitions. But you don't need to do it first.
5. Windows 10 should have most drivers but it helps to download chipset drivers afterwards. https://www.asus.com/Motherboards-C...F-GAMING-Z690-PLUS-WIFI-D4/HelpDesk_Download/ - You could use Armory crate to update drivers after as well. It will install itself on your PC unless you find option in bios to disable it.

Probably want newer GPU drivers too.

 

[dagimchi]

1. shouldn't be
2. Leave boot order as is, use Boot Override choice on Advanced view/Boot tab of the bios. Using boot override lets PC boot from USB 1 time and then swap back to normal boot order. See page 80 - https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...UF_GAMING_Intel_600_Series_BIOS_EM_WEB_EN.pdf
3. it should already be UEFI mode, but the USB if made by media creation tool, can boot from either boot method. Win 10 prefers UEFI so if it recognises PC can run it, it will use it.
4. no, this is part of clean install process if you follow link you have. One step is to delete all the partitions. But you don't need to do it first.
5. Windows 10 should have most drivers but it helps to download chipset drivers afterwards. https://www.asus.com/Motherboards-C...F-GAMING-Z690-PLUS-WIFI-D4/HelpDesk_Download/ - You could use Armory crate to update drivers after as well. It will install itself on your PC unless you find option in bios to disable it.

Probably want newer GPU drivers too.

Thanks! Everything went well. Hopefully this fixes my chief problem which was random freezes prompting a hard reset every time. If not then I guess it's strictly a hardware issue..ugh. No freezes as of yet..

Anyways 2 quick question.

1. Should I update the SATA mobo driver? It also enables Intel Rapid Storage Technology. Do I need that?
2. Should I enable XMP in my bios? My RAM is advertised to run at 3200 mhz. It's currently disabled so it's running at 2133 mhz according to the task manager. I guess im just worried that by enabling it I run a higher risk of causing my pc to freeze...or is this fear entirely unwarranted?

 

[Colif]

1. sata drivers in windows are all you need. Intel rapid storage tech is mostly used for RAID and optane memory, unless you have the latter you don't need it.
2. Yes. Set XMP up. It should be fine