Windows 10 fresh install 2023

Claire Furney

• 1 min read
Windows 10 fresh install 2023
Photo by R Mo / Unsplash

Notes on previous install: https://notes.dot.kitchen/windows-10-fresh-install/

Motherboard driver downloads: https://rog.asus.com/uk/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-b550-i-gaming-model/helpdesk_download/

  1. Download most recent Windows 10 "business" ISO from my.visualstudio.com (includes Windows 10 Pro, Education)
  2. Create bootable USB using Rufus, default and no extra options (note for next time - Rufus can actually download the ISO too)
  3. Back up as much as possible on current system
  4. Download ESET and save to secondary SSD
  5. Update BIOS to load from USB
  6. Choose "custom install", delete all partitions from target SSD, click "Next"
  7. Error: "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot"
  8. Consult the black box of wisdom, unplug various extras (wifi, speakers) and disable SATA in the BIOS, try again, success
  9. Renable SATA, check other drives, update drive letters
  10. Rename PC
  11. View > extensions and hidden files
  12. Install ESET while still offline, skip login, skip activation
  13. Connect to internet, activate ESET by logging into account
  14. Run Windows Update
  15. Let ESET finish complete hard drive scan
  16. Download and install motherboard chipset driver
  17. Download and install all other drivers