Posted on 01/05/2020 6:31:29 AM PST by CatOwner
I am about to receive a Dell PC with Windows 10 Pro installed. It will have both an SSD drive (first one for me) and a SATA drive. With the past Dell PC purchases, I would take the supplied Windows OS disk and reinstall from scratch. Too much junk gets installed by Dell, and it seems trying to delete programs is more cumbersome than just performing a fresh install. I also like learning the clean install process before I actually put personal information on the new PC.
Only issues are I have not used Windows 10 at all (initial need is for installing TurboTax), and I don't think Dell (or anyone else) supplies a Windows 10 installation disk with purchased PCs. I am looking for advice as to how best to approach this.
I also have a spare PC that has Linux Mint 18.3 installed. I am considering going to 19.3 - haven't heard about incompatibility issues with it like with the prior 19.X versions. I very well could end up mostly on Linux, but the timing of Windows 7's loss of support and the need for applications like TurboTax forced me to have at least one Windows 10 PC.
Take it to a local computer shop that does repair, etc. and have them wipe and install Win10....that what I did.
Windows 10 is easy. In fact if you right click the start button you’ll get a menu similar to windows 7. Settings, system, computer management, etc. I rarely left click the start button.
I had windows 7 too on my desktop. So I purchased a Lenovo think pad P73, it’s a laptop but a tank, solid. I decided on a 2TB SSD hard drive. It’s an amazing computer and I love it so far. Wasn’t cheap but it’s a desktop replacement that’s somewhat mobile. Good luck.
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-p/ThinkPad-P73/p/22WS2WPWP73
I just did this with an old laptop with a defective hard drive....... ebay you can get an installers disc with code for under 10 bucks...... hard drive under 35 bucks.... took a few hours, mostly just watching it install itself
I don’t think they include a Windows disk
Not to discourage anyone but the last time I did that, I learned my local computer shop owner was far too interested in my personal information. He started exploring my photos before I even left the shop.
Moral of the story, make sure you can trust the local computer shop.
Aside: I hate Windows 10. Got a new laptop with every bell and whistle imaginable, and that infernal Windows 10. Next time I'll just overpay for a Mac.
Meh, my comp was brand new, no sensitive information to be had or found so was not exactly worried about anything personal being delved into, etc.
Computer tip bookmark for later
During the installation process it will give you the option to delete all programs. This will result in a clean Windows 10 installation without crapware added by Dell.
bfl
I would first go to the Dell website and download all of the drivers you will need. There may be other useful things there such as bios updates. If you still gave the Dell sticker on your system, you can enter the number and it will provide information specific to your system.
This is the microsoft link to Windows 10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Install the installer on your desktop, buy or use an empty USB Drive, 16GB is plenty, 8 GB should be fine as well. They are cheap if you don’t have one.
What the software will do, is create a USB boot drive with windows 10 on it.
Plug in the USB drive into your new computer and delete and reinstall Windows 10.
You don’t need a license key, it is built into your Dell computer.
You can even “free” upgrade licensed Windows 7 machines using that key as well.
“I don’t think they include a Windows disk”
Correct, most new computers come with a “one time one chance” opportunity to copy and make your own full OS backup mirror onto a USB stick. Some even require the stick to be a minimum of 32 gigs to even allow it because win 10 is 18 gigs alone.
But even though this is a very good idea to do right away first thing, it will be an exact copy of what is already installed in it. So if there is any garbage included you will be just getting it all right back again.
About the linux 18.3, stick with it and just upgrade the kernel only if you truly need to. 19.x is having issues they need some more time to iron out.
Just use the search in Windows 10, and type whatever you are looking for.
Windows 10 is good.
If you want to wipe your new PC and start fresh
1. Get a USB drive of at least 8 GB
2. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
3. Click Download tool now
4. Put in the USB drive to the computer
5. Run the download and after the EULA select Create USB Media
6. Make sure the architecture is set to x64
7. Select USB Flash drive
8. Select the USB drive you want to use
9. After it downloads and finishes you have a bootable USB drive that you can use to install Windows 10.
10. On the new Dell system insert the USB drive and press F12 during boot. Select the USB drive to boot from
When the installer boots just install like you would Windows 7. The install process is the same.
Website with pictures:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-installation-windows-10
Scroll halfway down the page to get to the actual creating of USB
Just sharing my experience. I bought a Dell Alienware 17 R5 Laptop from a private sale. Awesome machine BUT Dell built these with no support for Windows 7. In other words I am forced to use Windows 10. I like 7 Ultimate just because it does everything I need, does it right, and always stable. Had I known that I would have Windows 10 crammed down my throat I would have thought twice. Good news is so far Win 10 is fine...just takes some getting used to.
Windows 10 is NOT easy. Recent Oct '19 time frame release hosed 1000's of machines all over. One family member's, off to MIcrosoft shop who spent 3 tries across 2 weeks to fix what Windows 10 upgrade destroyed.
Off to MAC world forever after that. Don't....do it.
Just delete the crap and move on.
I just did this with an old laptop with a defective hard drive....... ebay you can get an installers disc with code for under 10 bucks...... hard drive under 35 bucks.... took a few hours, mostly just watching it install itself
Don’t buy software from Ebay or even Amazon, it is generally pirated software. Even if the key “works” it was illegal for that person to sell it to you. How the scam works is that the crooked seller signs up as a non profit with Microsoft like a church or youth group or school or whatever and they sell those licenses they get for free on eBay. If microsoft or someone detects that this was going on, they will REVOKE all licenses issued and your computer/office or whatever you bought becomes useless.
This can happen at anytime without any warning or notice from microsoft.
Just letting you know what you are “buying”
Good luck
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