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Clean Windows 10 install from usb key is under 30 mins nowadays.


Don't even have to clean install from a USB Key as of the Windows 10 Anniversary update from a few months ago. Microsoft now has a tool that downloads the image and installs it for you automatically.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10s...


Iirc they introduced that with Win8


Not quite. This tool takes it a step further.

The Win8 Refresh/Reset was based on an image preloaded by the OEM, or installed as part of a Win8 install. If you reset your computer, you'd get all the bloatware back unless you clean installed (which replaces the image).

Win10 Refresh/Reset doesn't have such an image, and just reconstructs a fresh state as part of the process, but then runs a package that the OEM preloads on the computer after resetting.

This tool basically deletes that package so that when you reset, you get a fresh copy without any of that bloatware reinstalled.


They might have been able to "capture" a good amount of drivers with their new update strategy. This might help to be able to do that... and this is a good news!


I haven't really needed extra drivers in either my Surfaces (duh) and also my Lenovo laptops. My custom-built gaming tower did need some but mainly just to enable some gaming features.


Ahh I see. I didn't have Win8 preinstalled on my PC back then, so when I used that feature it only ever gave me the clean install.

Thanks!




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