Performing a clean installation

There are different methods for carrying out a Windows 10 installation. In this section, we will focus on a clean installation.

Making a new deployment of any kind of Windows 10 edition consists of nothing more than carrying out a clean installation of your hardware. For example, imagine a situation in which you buy yourself a self-customized gaming PC with different hardware components because you want the best of the best. However, this gaming PC is then delivered without an operating system. In cases like this, you would carry out a clean installation.

However, there a few different approaches to carrying out a clean installation of Windows 10. Some examples are as follows:

• Installation media: When you buy a self-customized gaming PC with different hardware components, you will use a DVD or USB with a Windows 10 ISO file on it and boot the computer from your installation media.
• System image: A system image also refers to a golden image. It is typically a file that contains a snapshot, which can be referred as a capture image, of a generic computer with the OS installed, including drivers, specific configurations, and perhaps some applications, such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Reader.

  There are various tools available for creating and deploying images, such as System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT). A system image is the preferred method and is used for medium- and large-sized enterprise organizations. These kinds of deployments are faster and more automated than installing from a DVD or USB.

• Windows Autopilot: If the computer already has Windows 10 pre-installed, then Windows Autopilot can be used to carry out a new deployment. Windows Autopilot allows administrators to apply organization-specific configurations and some types of applications.

  This can be done with Intune, for example, as most computers nowadays come with Windows 10 pre-installed and enable organizations to come to the same result, without needing to deploy system images over the corporate network. Windows Autopilot will not be discussed in this exam guide, because this topic belongs to MD-101.

Understanding the clean installation process

This section will cover step-by-step instructions on how to install Windows 10 on a new or existing device through a clean installation (so no in-place upgrades or migration paths). Let's make a start:

1. Insert your Windows 10 installation media, start the computer, and boot from the installation media:
   

   Figure 1.2 - Press any key screen for Windows 10 installation

2. On the Windows Setup screen, choose the appropriate language, Time and currency format, and Keyboard or input method and click Next:
   

   Figure 1.3 - Language and preferences Windows Setup window

3. After that, on the Windows Setup window, click Install Now:
   

   Figure 1.4 - Install now Windows Setup window

4. Then, on the Select the operating system you want to install window, choose your appropriate Windows 10 edition and click Next:
   

   Figure 1.5 - Selecting the OS window

5. Then, on the Applicable notices and license term window, accept the license terms and click Next:
   

   Figure 1.6 - Accepting license terms window

6. After that, on the Which type of installation do you want? window, choose the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option:
   

   Figure 1.7 - Selecting the type of installation

7. Then, on the Where do you want to install Windows? window, select Drive 0 Unallocated Space and click Next:

Figure 1.8 - Selecting where to install Windows

Important Note

For a clean installation of Windows 10 on a device that already has an OS installed on it, erase all the partitions by formatting or deleting any partitions during the setup process.

So, now, the installation begins. After a few minutes, you will need to choose the appropriate settings, such as keyboards, regions, and more. Follow these steps to finish the installation of Windows 10:

1. On the Let's start with region. Is this right? window, select your region and click Yes:
   

   Figure 1.9 - Selecting your region

2. Then, on the Is this the right keyboard layout? window, choose your respective keyboard layout and click Yes:
   

   Figure 1.10 - Selecting the right keyboard layout

3. After that, on the Want to add a second keyboard layout? window, click Skip:
   

   Figure 1.11 - Adding a second keyboard layout

4. Then, on the Sign in with Microsoft page, click on Domain join instead to add a local account:
   

   Figure 1.12 - Sign in with Microsoft account window

5. After that, on the Who's going to use this PC? window, fill in a name and click Next:
   

   Figure 1.13 - Adding a name to the PC account

6. On the Create a super memorable password page, enter a password and click Next:
   

   Figure 1.14 - Creating a password

7. After that, on the Confirm your password page, again, fill in the same password from the previous page and click Next:
   

   Figure 1.15 - Confirming your password

8. After that, on the Create security questions for this account page, choose three questions, fill in their corresponding answers, and click Next:
   

   Figure 1.16 - Creating security questions and answers

9. Then, on the Do more across devices with activity history page, click on the option of your choice. For now, we will choose No:
   

   Figure 1.17 - Activating an account's activity history

10. On the Do more with your voice page, select the option of your choice and select Accept:
    

    Figure 1.18 - Activating online speech recognition

11. The, on the Let Microsoft and apps use your location page, select the option of your choice and select Accept:
    

    Figure 1.19 - Selecting to use your location

12. Then, on the Find my device page, select the option of your choice and select Accept:
    

    Figure 1.20 - Choosing to turn on Find my device

13. After that, on the Send diagnostic data to Microsoft page, select the option of your choice and select Accept:
    

    Figure 1.21 - Choosing to Send diagnostic data to Microsoft

14. Then, on the Improve inking & typing page, select the option of your choice and select Accept:
    

    Figure 1.22 - Choosing to send inking and typing data to Microsoft

15. After that, on the Get tailored experiences with diagnostic data page, select the option of your choice and select Accept:
    

    Figure 1.23 - Choosing to let Microsoft offer you more relevant tips

16. Then, on the Let apps use advertising ID page, select the option of your choice and select Accept:
    

    Figure 1.24 - Choosing to let apps use advertising ID

17. After a while, the installation of Windows 10 will be finished, and you will see the desktop environment. With that, you have successfully installed Windows 10 through a clean installation method.

At this point, you have performed a clean installation of Windows 10 on a computer. Such an installation, as you did in the previous steps, will only occur if you've bought a new computer without an OS, or if you want to reinstall Windows 10 completely on your computer.