PC reset

[GTAextremeX]

I have Windows 10 installed in 120gb ssd I have decided to make a clean installation of windows 10 from USB bootable drive but when I go to the drive partition I have a bit confused that I have 120gb ssd and 1tb hdd how can I identify my ssd and installa windows 10 with formatting thank you

 

[philc43]

I would recommend that you remove the HDD before you do the clean install. In this way you can be sure that W10 will go on the SSD and all the necessary boot files will be created on the SSD along with all the right partitions created on it. If you leave the HDD in there during the install there is a real risk you could end up with some confusion.

 

[DR M]

I have Windows 10 installed in 120gb ssd I have decided to make a clean installation of windows 10 from USB bootable drive but when I go to the drive partition I have a bit confused that I have 120gb ssd and 1tb hdd how can I identify my ssd and installa windows 10 with formatting thank you

As I already told you, you need a legitimate license in order to reset your computer.

You may get rid the infections/malware/issues you are dealing with at the moment, but this doesn't change the fact that the operating system will not be legally activated.

Soon or later, it will stop working properly and you will have many restrictions, including not receiving security updates. So...very likely infected again...

 

[philc43]

Thanks for indicating the background. From reading the OP in this thread I thought he was doing a clean installation from a usb which would wipe everything from the previous install including the illegal software for avoiding activation. It would be important to ensure all existing partitions on the SSD are removed.

 

[britechguy]

I'm still not clear as to whether the machine in question came with Windows 10 Home "out of the box." If it did, and only if it did, it should be entirely possible to do a completely clean reinstall without need for a license key, at least to get the system up and running.

I agree that the HDD should be disconnected during the completely clean (re)install under any circumstances.

If the machine has a legit license for Home, one of the beauties of Windows 10 is that all Pro features are included, but not activated, as part of the install of Home. If you then acquire a Pro license key, you can simply go into settings, Update & Security, Activation Pane, and enter the Pro Key there. It will then go through the process of activating those features without any need for a reinstall of Windows 10 itself. [That's how the machine I'm typing from got updated from Home to Pro.]

 

[DR M]

The computer had Windows 10 Pro installed, and there isn't any label giving any information about the OS. After some problems, the User got it to a computer store, where they reinstalled Windows 10 Pro using a Volume License. If it was legally licensed at the begining, no need for a Volume Licesne to install the same OS.

 

[britechguy]

If it was legally licensed at the begining, no need for a Volume Licesne to install the same OS.

Absolutely. But you presume more intelligence and due diligence on the part of whoever it was that decided to install a volume license rather than doing a completely clean reinstall than I do. This just screams "major appliance seller" type store and their self-styled technical support, which very often takes the path of least resistance (and training) for them.

I'm not willing to presume that any machine that wasn't a home build doesn't come with some legitimately licensed version of Windows 10 these days. I suspect a major screw-up on the part of "the computer store." If so, that can be rectified.

 

[GTAextremeX]

Ok

 

[DR M]

Absolutely. But you presume more intelligence and due diligence on the part of whoever it was that decided to install a volume license rather than doing a completely clean reinstall than I do. This just screams "major appliance seller" type store and their self-styled technical support, which very often takes the path of least resistance (and training) for them.

I'm not willing to presume that any machine that wasn't a home build doesn't come with some legitimately licensed version of Windows 10 these days. I suspect a major screw-up on the part of "the computer store." If so, that can be rectified.

Thanks for the input, Brian.

I added this to the thread at the Security Arena: 0xc0000005 error


@GTAextremeX, you can reply here.