Clean Windows 11 Install

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So you decided that Linux is not your thing… (no hard feelings) I’m sure you have your reasons.

  • You have that app that you can’t go without and ONLY works on windows.
  • Your work place requires you to use Windows.
  • Just not ready to make the switch to Linux.
  • Seeing if you can shoehorn Windows 11 into your computer anyway (unsupported hardware).
  • I have an awesome system and can run Windows 11 in a virtual machine or dual boot.

Whatever the reason, I won’t judge, matter of fact, I will help you do a clean install of windows.

Like the Linux install, you are going to need a USB stick (8 GB minimum), the Windows 11 ISO file (from the Microsoft website), the latest Rufus (Etcher isn’t going to help here), a Windows 11 license key (maybe).

  1. Go to the Microsoft Windows 11 download site and get the Windows 11 ISO (make note of where the ISO is saved).
  2. Go to the Rufus site and get the latest (not the beta) copy of Rufus (make note of where that file is saved).
  3. Install Rufus if not the Rufus portable version.
  4. Plug in the USB stick (make sure nothing you want kept is on it).
  5. Open Rufus, select the device (your USB stick), ‘Select’ your Windows 11 ISO, ignore the other settings, select START.
  6. Windows User Experience: Customize Windows installation?
    • Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0
      (if your hardware is not supported)
    • Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account
      (yes, check this box)
    • Create a local account with username: [choose username]
      (optional)
    • Set regional options to the same values as this user’s
      (no, do not check this box)
    • Disable data collection (Skip privacy questions)
      (yes, check this box)
    • Disable BitLocker automatic device encryption
      (yes, check this box)
  7. Press [ OK ], a dialog box with warning that the USB will be erased, press [ OK ], close Rufus when it’s done.
  8. If upgrading to Windows 11, navigate to your USB drive, and run setup.exe, skip to step 17.
  9. If installing fresh; The next step is prepping your computer you are installing Windows, to BOOT from your USB. This is where things can get complicated as every computer manufacturer has there own way to set things up for booting from external media.
    1. Restart the computer, if a Windows 11 setup appears then you are lucky, your computer is already setup to boot from external media. Some computers will flash briefly alternative boot options like ‘Press F12 for boot menu’, if so do what it says and select your boot media.
    2. If no boot options and your old Windows has booted up, then we have to make some changes to the system.
  10. Skip this step if you are booting into Windows 11 setup.
    • You are going to search for how to get into your computer’s BIOS. Usually, the make model of your computer and the word BIOS should get you some good results.
    • Follow the guide and once you are in, you are going to look for anything that says boot.
    • Arrange the boot devices so that the USB is in the top spot, then the hard drive, then anything else. BTW: You will want to disable ‘secure boot’ as it will prevent booting from external devices. Also, disable/turn off Bit-Locker if you have it.
    • Save and exit, the computer should reboot on its own (your boot media should still be in place). Go to 9-1.
  11. Windows 11 setup; Select language settings (unplug the Ethernet cord from computer)
    • Language to install [English (United States) ]
    • Time and currency format [ English (world) ] – This is important!
    • Press [ Next]
    • Select keyboard settings; Keyboard or input method [US ], [Next]
    • Select setup option; I would like to (●) Install Windows 11
      ☑ I aree everything will be deleted including files, apps, and settings
  12. Product key; select “I don’t have a product key”, [Next]
  13. Select Image; (choose your Windows 11 version), [Next]
  14. Applicable notices and license terms, [Accept]
  15. Select location to install Windows 11
    • Delete Primary partition (usually the largest on disk 0)
    • Select the now Unallocated Space, [Next]
  16. Ready to install
    • ✓ Install Windows 11 …
    • ✓ Keep nothing
    • [Install]
  17. US keyboard, select skip until you get to the Let’s connect you to a network; select I don’t have internet
  18. The Windows 11 will install, eventually you will get to a new and fresh Windows 11 desktop. Plug your Ethernet cord back into your computer.
  19. Go to device manager, make sure all devices/drivers are working.
  20. Settings > Language & region > (select your proper region).
  21. System > Home > [Activate now] > (if error, select [Troubleshoot]), Windows Activated, close.

Ironically, people say installing Linux is complicated and hard. You have to setup your computer to boot from USB for both Linux and Windows and I find installing Windows has more steps and decisions to make.

This concludes part one, yes, there’s more to do…

So now you have a fresh install of Windows 11, however, it’s not quite squeaky clean as it should be.

We are going to need some tools to finish the job. We will need to download “Revo Uninstaller” and download “Wintoys” to start phase two.

First let’s get Revo Uninstaller: https://www.revouninstaller.com/revo-uninstaller-free-download/ (remember where it is saved to and install it)

Second let’s get Wintoys: https://bogdan-patraucean.github.io/about/wintoys/ (remember where it is saved to and install it)

Open Revo Uninstaller, select Uninstaller (Windows will set a restore point, this is a good thing. It allows you to revert things back if you removed something you did not want to). Example: If you don’t use OneDrive, select it, follow the prompts to remove all OneDrive components. Then select Windows Apps, select each app one at a time you don’t want and right click and uninstall.

Wintoys is a really powerful tool for customizing your Windows Install;

  • Go to Health > System updates > (change from Default to Security) so you don’t have all the junk you removed coming back on the next update.
  • Go to Tweaks > Desktop > (select what you want on/off your desktop)
  • Tweaks > Start menu (turn everything off)
  • Tweaks > File Explorer > (turn on Show file extension, choose the other settings on/off as you wish)
  • Tweaks > Privacy > (turn everything off)
  • Tweaks > Ads > (turn everything off)

The instructions here are brief, however, cleaning out the default Microsoft junk and setting things up up to your liking does take a little time.

Enjoy your new squeaky clean Windows!

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