Clean re-install of Windows 11 - why does it take so long?

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katulen

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Apr 22, 2019
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Why does my clean install of Windows 11 take so long?

I usually had Windows 10 and went to upgrade to 11. But because my system was running sluggish I decided to do a format as well.

First i upgraded to 11 and then i startet the format/clean re-install of Windows 11.

It has now been 1 hour 10 minutes and is only 25% done.

I have done several formats in my time, and usually took between 30mins-1hour.

My specs are:
9700k
500gb ssd
1tb m2 nvme ssd Samsung 970
2tb Toshiba hdd
All 3 drives are around 50% full.

Thx in advance.
 
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rgd1101 said:
what step are you on?
unplug all the non os disk
why are you doing format on ssd?
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Well its currently “resetting this pc” - showing the Asus rog logo and the % progress.

All the other formats/reinstalls i have done, i have used the media creation tool or whatever its called.
But because i wanted to do some backups i used the one and only flash drive i had available.
So this time around i decided to use the “build in feature” within Windows - reset this pc - and then did this through the “cloud download” or something like that.

I havent formatted my pc for 4 years so just thought i wanted everything cleaned up - incl my ssd.

Not sure where i went wrong since this is taking forever.
 
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Lafong said:
Why specifically did you choose that?

......"because i wanted to do some backups i used the one and only flash drive i had available.........".

I'm not following that reasoning.

An 8 GB flash drive costs no more than 5 dollars if you don't have one.
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Because i wanted to do it now and only had 1 flash drive available.
Also believed the option i chose was doing the same as using the media creation tool.
Does it not?
 
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Step 8 says:

Clean data:

If this option is set to No (recommended), then the setup will only delete files, apps, and settings quickly. If the option is set to Yes, the setup will securely clean the drive before installing the operating system, but it will take longer.

Did you choose No or Yes?

"No" would not be a clean install.

Getting the cloud involved is obviously going to slow things down.
 
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Lafong said:
Step 8 says:

Clean data:

If this option is set to No (recommended), then the setup will only delete files, apps, and settings quickly. If the option is set to Yes, the setup will securely clean the drive before installing the operating system, but it will take longer.

Did you choose No or Yes?

"No" would not be a clean install.

Getting the cloud involved is obviously going to slow things down.
Click to expand...
Because i wanted to do a “clean install” i chose “Yes”.

The cloud part was done prior to the actual reset/reinstall progress had begun. It took only a couple of mins to download what was needed.
 
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Lafong said:
I've never heard of anyone using that method for a "clean install".

It may eventually work. Don't know how much time it might take.

Continue with it and see what happens or go to the standard method with a USB stick. Your choice.
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Yeah. I mean i thought it was doing exactly the same as it would if i used to media tool. I.e it was just another way of doing it.

Yeah its INSANELY slow. 2 hrs have passed and is on 38%.

Even if i wanted to change my mind and use the media creation tool - would it even be possible whilst im in the middle of doing this “reset” ? Wouldnt it just compromise or brick something ?
 
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Well, if you issued a "cancel" command or something like that, I wouldn't expect the drive to be bootable.

You might say "so what if it won't boot, I'm going to do a clean reinstall using a USB stick instead anyway".

Problem might be.....do you have some other method of going to Microsoft and making a traditional USB installer using the Media Creation Tool?

Or is this your only PC and if it won't boot you are dead in the water and can't do anything at all?

Point being you may have no other choice than to wait and hope your current attempt succeeds even if it takes many hours.
 
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Lafong said:
Well, if you issued a "cancel" command or something like that, I wouldn't expect the drive to be bootable.

You might say "so what if it won't boot, I'm going to do a clean reinstall using a USB stick instead anyway".

Problem might be.....do you have some other method of going to Microsoft and making a traditional USB installer using the Media Creation Tool?

Or is this your only PC and if it won't boot you are dead in the water and can't do anything at all?

Point being you may have no other choice than to wait and hope your current attempt succeeds even if it takes many hours.
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First thanks for taking your time. Appreciate it.

Yes its my only pc - my laptop is in a non working condition 😅

However I could borrow someone elses pc to quickly download the media creation tool etc.

So if i were to do that. I would just force shut down my pc - turn it back on and go into BIOS and boot from the flash drive - yes?

Also to be sure. The flash drive have to be completely empty besides the media creation tool for it took work right?
 
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katulen said:
First thanks for taking your time. Appreciate it.

Yes its my only pc - my laptop is in a non working condition 😅

However I could borrow someone elses pc to quickly download the media creation tool etc.

So if i were to do that. I would just force shut down my pc - turn it back on and go into BIOS and boot from the flash drive - yes?

Also to be sure. The flash drive have to be completely empty besides the media creation tool for it took work right?
Click to expand...

If you want to boot from the flash drive, you could go into the BIOS and change the boot order.

OR......you could hit a specific key during the boot process to bring up a boot menu and then choose the USB stick from that menu for that specific boot attempt only. F2, F9, delete key; it varies.

Whatever might be on the flash drive would be wiped out when you create the USB installer.

I'm not familiar with using another PC to generate the USB installer. It might work fine. I have ZERO experience with that.

In your shoes........I'd probably let the current attempt continue if at all possible. It may work fine. Anything else SHOULD work, buy why tempt fate when you might end up OK if you can wait a few more hours?

Your choice.
 
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Lafong said:
If you want to boot from the flash drive, you could go into the BIOS and change the boot order.

OR......you could hit a specific key during the boot process to bring up a boot menu and then choose the USB stick from that menu for that specific boot attempt only. F2, F9, delete key; it varies.

Whatever might be on the flash drive would be wiped out when you create the USB installer.

I'm not familiar with using another PC to generate the USB installer. It might work fine. I have ZERO experience with that.

In your shoes........I'd probably let the current attempt continue if at all possible. It may work fine. Anything else SHOULD work, buy why tempt fate when you might end up OK if you can wait a few more hours?

Your choice.
Click to expand...
When getting the media creation tool - its from the Microsoft website. So i dont Think it matter from what pc you download it from. Should all be the same ?

But yeah, you are probably right. Should probably wait it out.

But wouldnt you agree that a normal reinstall using the media creation tool takes between 30m-60mins?
 
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Q1; yeah. Should be. Repeat SHOULD. Don't take my word for it.

Someone else may have confirmation?

Q2; Probably even less than that, depending on speed of your machine and drives.

You are in weirdo-land. I have to assume it's cloud related, but could be who knows what.
 
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Lafong said:
Q1; yeah. Should be. Repeat SHOULD. Don't take my word for it.

Someone else may have confirmation?

Q2; Probably even less than that, depending on speed of your machine and drives.

You are in weirdo-land. I have to assume it's cloud related, but could be who knows what.
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Yeah thats what i remember as well. That it was really fast - at least compared to what am currently doing now.

I am just not sure what the difference is from what i am doing now versus using media tool and choosing to format all drives.

About the cloud part. It did some downloadning prior to the “reset/reinstall” - and that only took a few mins. I.e. I believe it has done all the downloadning that was needed. But obviously not sure.
 
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Lafong said:
That procedure you are using has many steps. It's Greek to me.....lots of places to go off the rails. I didn't look it over top to bottom. May be some choice you made that is slowing you down??

Any USB stick you want to use has to be at least 8 GB.
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Yeah i am not sure. I chose “Yes” to both Clean data & Delete files from all drives.
But again, to me is the same as using media tool and choosing to format all drives. So no clue.

One thing is sure. I Will never do it this Way again 🥴

Yeah. The usb i got is 15 or 16gb
 
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