[SOLVED] Need to fresh install Win10 but no idea where media is

[darrenj1471]

Hi

I bought a pre-built pc about 6 or 7 years ago and cannot for the life of me find any paperwork or media which came with. I now have a need to perform a complete fresh install of Windows but am a bit stuck how I will do this.
I have a USB drive and a will Can you advise? I assure you I have a legit version of windows and would like to remain as such.

Thanks

 

[TheoJames18]

Downlaod Windows Media Creation Tool Here (Windows 10)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

 

[TheoJames18]

After install the tool, you can choose to create an ISO file, burn to disc or USB drive

 

[darrenj1471]

Ok thanks. I guess I maybe should have mentioned the reason Im doing this is that I have installed a new motherboard and cpu. Unsure if that makes any difference but I did read somewhere that you can retrieve your windows key from your mobo firmware, but I guess that wont be an option for me?

 

[TheoJames18]

if in previous build you connect to microsoft account you'll be safe

 

[darrenj1471]

I found teh product key on a sticker on case So ive installed that thing on usb stick, now what . Do you I have to boot to bios and change boot order? do I need to disconnect other drives as I forgot to mention I was to install this time on to new nvme as opposed to sata ssd I used to have it on ?

 

[USAFRet]

I found teh product key on a sticker on case So ive installed that thing on usb stick, now what . Do you I have to boot to bios and change boot order? do I need to disconnect other drives as I forgot to mention I was to install this time on to new nvme as opposed to sata ssd I used to have it on ?

Disconnect ALL other drives.

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

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

 

[darrenj1471]

Ok I have the bootable USB ready to go but I have 2 questions still:
1. If I go to bios and move usb to front of boot priority queue how do I save this change but not make pc continue booting as I haven't disconnected other drives ? (Or can I disconnect them and then go into bios?)

2. I don't see my nvme drive in boot priority to select and surely I will need to eventually set that as top priority once os is on it ?

Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

Ok I have the bootable USB ready to go but I have 2 questions still:
1. If I go to bios and move usb to front of boot priority queue how do I save this change but not make pc continue booting as I haven't disconnected other drives ? (Or can I disconnect them and then go into bios?)

2. I don't see my nvme drive in boot priority to select and surely I will need to eventually set that as top priority once os is on it ?

Thanks

No need for all the duplicate questions.

1. You don't even have to move the USB to first. The system will try everything until it finds something to boot from. Again...all other drives are disconnected before you continue.
2. You won't see it in there until there is an OS on it.

 

[darrenj1471]

sorry seems I have somehow ended up asking you the wrong questions

My ask is:

Thanks I've done all that now and have windows on my new nvme. I still have 2 open questions:

1. Do now reconnect the 2 old drives I disconnected at start of this process and if so what do I do with the one which also has an os on it ?
2. How do I set the nvme to be top of boot priority as last time I looked in bios it didn't even show as an option in priority list? (I think you've answered this above ie it should show now as has os on it?)