[SOLVED] Clean Windows 10 install question: boot order

[dg27]

I'm getting ready to do a clean install of Windows 10 using media I'll create on a USB flash drive.

The megathread instructions say this:

Before you proceed with the installation, it may be necessary to enter the bios and set your machine boot order to USB or DVD drive as the first bootable option it will look for, depending on what form of installation media you created in the previous section.

If I do this, how can I reboot into Win 7 to start the install?

Or if I set it like this:

1st Boot Device [Removable Dev.]
2nd Boot Device [HDD-Samsung SSD]

will it skip the USB (which is blank right now) and reboot to the SSS in Win 7?

 

[USAFRet]

You do not "reboot into Win 7 to start the install "
You boot from the Win 10 USB you're previously created.

The Win 7 is of no consequence, as you will be DELETING all existing partitions on the drive as you go through this process.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[dg27]

Thanks for your reply.

>You boot from the Win 10 USB you're previously created

This is what I wasn't clear on. Thanks again.

 

[USAFRet]

You create your Win 10 USB first.
Then, power off, connect that USB and boot up.
If it boots into the USB, continue.
If it boots into the existing Win 7...this is when you go back and change the boot order.

Section II outlines this.

You do NOT start the install from within the running Win 7.

 

[dg27]

Thank you--now I'm clear.

 

[USAFRet]

That #2 is simply to run the MediaCreation tool, and create the bootable USB.
That DOES happen within the running Win 7.

Once THAT is done...thisis when you boot from that USB and continue on.

 

[dg27]

Thanks. Now I get it. I created the media on USB and will start this tomorrow morning after I open my machine and disconnect the other four internal drives I have.

Related to that: Do you think it's necessary to remove SATA and PCI cards?

 

[USAFRet]

Physical disconnection of ALL drives except the one you want the OS on.
Yes.

 

[dg27]

I plan on disconnecting all the drives. I'm referring to removing the PCI cards themselves.

 

[USAFRet]

I plan on disconnecting all the drives. I'm referring to removing the PCI cards themselves.

OK.
No, not necessary.

 

[dg27]

Thanks.

The reason I asked it that the SATA cards show up during startup as the very first thing (before the Windows screen).