Doing a clean install of Windows 10 without DVD or USB stick

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by cdavisdeco, Jul 25, 2016.

  1. cdavisdeco

    cdavisdeco MDL Senior Member

    Jul 8, 2015
    330
    63
    10
    #1 cdavisdeco, Jul 25, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2016
    My current OS is Windows 7 32bit. I need to do a clean install of Windows 10 64bit. For now, I don't have a DVD writer or a USB flash drive bigger than 4GB.

    What I have,
    4GB USB Flash drive
    a DVD ROM
    1 additional internal HDD [with some free space (2 partitions)]
    1 external USB HDD (backup) with free space.

    What are my best options?
     
  2. lobo11

    lobo11 TOMAHAWK CHOP

    Feb 16, 2012
    6,584
    5,362
    210
    #2 lobo11, Jul 25, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2016
    Create ISO from ESD, click on ISO, then mount, reboot:D
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  3. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
    47,274
    94,765
    450
    What is your current windows? When already 10 then you can do a reset.

    Go to: settings app > update and security > recovery > reset this pc.
     
  4. SpeedDream

    SpeedDream MDL Addicted

    Feb 20, 2012
    619
    121
    30
    If your rig's recent you can create a first primary bootable 8GB or 16GB FAT32 partition and boot from it (you only need 5GB for windows' setup files, the rest leave it for just in case and maybe some drivers) on the USB drive, create a secondary partition and format as NTFS like always.
    BACKUP FIRST (you have to empty the USB external drive)

    Doesn't work on all computers, unless recent (uefi boot) but it's the fastest way to get it done,
     
  5. qwerty12

    qwerty12 MDL Novice

    Aug 31, 2010
    49
    68
    0
  6. qwerty12

    qwerty12 MDL Novice

    Aug 31, 2010
    49
    68
    0
    Well, yes, but the OP's stipulation, as stated in the title, is for a clean install to be performed without a DVD or a USB stick. In the post it's stated that they don't have a USB stick that's bigger than 4GB (which I take to mean that smaller ones are lying around) but OP does have an external hard drive with stuff already on it. Most UEFI implementations won't let you boot directly off an NTFS drive (patents, I assume), hence the stuff with a flash drive to be able to get the UEFI to read from that hard drive. This way, nothing gets lost on the external drive (well, unless a mistake is made during setup). The only thing I don't know is if OP is doing an EFI install.
     
  7. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
    47,274
    94,765
    450
    Yeah the 4GB limit i did not take in consideration.

    But he simply could do a reset (when already on 10) or open the iso on the running desktop and upgrade with the option to take no files or settings to the new install (can't provide the correct text or sshot atm, sorry).
     
  8. cdavisdeco

    cdavisdeco MDL Senior Member

    Jul 8, 2015
    330
    63
    10
  9. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
    1,349
    1,576
    60
    Do you have a 512+ MB USB drive you can make bootable, or something like a bootable Windows 8 DVD? If so, you could boot to WinPE and apply the image manually.
     
  10. Tito

    Tito Super Mod / Adviser
    Staff Member

    Nov 30, 2009
    18,681
    18,589
    340
  11. cdavisdeco

    cdavisdeco MDL Senior Member

    Jul 8, 2015
    330
    63
    10
    #12 cdavisdeco, Jul 25, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2016
    (OP)
    I have 4GB and 1GB flash drives. I also have Windows 7 DVD. So how can I boot to WinPE and apply the image manually?
     
  12. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
    47,274
    94,765
    450
    #13 Enthousiast, Jul 25, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2016
    I've made an empty iso (all unneeded files deleted, result = 41MB), when you want you can extract the empty iso (based on 14393 Pro x64 en-US) to the FAT32 formatted usb thumbdrive and ad your own boot.wim and install.esd and it will fit on a 4GB usb drive. If you are interested in the empty iso, send me a pm and i'll provide you a downloadlink. If you don't trust it (OR want the iso in another language) you can recreate your own empty iso by deleting all the files from a clean iso with the exeption of the files shown in my empty iso.

    The iso i'll send you doesn't contain the boot.wim and install.esd.
    The iso size with boot.wim and install.esd files is 2.90 GB (3,116,924,928 bytes) 14393 Pro x64 en-US.

    The iso will only be able to boot (UEFI & BIOS), not upgrade.
     
  13. Tito

    Tito Super Mod / Adviser
    Staff Member

    Nov 30, 2009
    18,681
    18,589
    340
    @cdavisdeco

    Please search before post - it supports legacy installation too.
     
  14. T-S

    T-S MDL Guru

    Dec 14, 2012
    3,984
    1,331
    120
    Option 1: Use dism /apply-image or imagex /apply (and easybcd to configure the dual boot)

    Option 2: If you want to waste some more time with a traditional setup, use easybcd to add the iso image to your bootloader and choose the setup menu item during the 1st reboot.

    No need to mess with setup media and other MS or external programs
     
  15. cdavisdeco

    cdavisdeco MDL Senior Member

    Jul 8, 2015
    330
    63
    10
    #16 cdavisdeco, Jul 27, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2016
    (OP)
    What are these "unneeded files" you're referring? And why does this ISO can't be used to upgrade?
     
  16. cdavisdeco

    cdavisdeco MDL Senior Member

    Jul 8, 2015
    330
    63
    10
    #17 cdavisdeco, Jul 27, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2016
    (OP)
    Sorry. But I read the guide for new installation. There are few things not quite clear to me. Do I need another windows installation to run the WintoHDD with the source ISO?
     
  17. cdavisdeco

    cdavisdeco MDL Senior Member

    Jul 8, 2015
    330
    63
    10
    #18 cdavisdeco, Jul 27, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2016
    (OP)
    Can I run easybcd from,

    A) secondary/external HDD

    OR

    B) a USB flash drive and chose the Windows ISO from the secondary/external HDD

    to install Windows to the primary HDD?
     
  18. T-S

    T-S MDL Guru

    Dec 14, 2012
    3,984
    1,331
    120

    Use easybcd to add a boot item to your current OS, the additional boot item would be the iso image.

    About the usb flashdrive isn't that the opposite of what you asked? If You have an USB pendrive just use it normally.
     
  19. Margusx

    Margusx MDL Novice

    Apr 4, 2015
    31
    3
    0
    easyer is make bootable usb stick then cd c: or wahtever letter find unpacked iso
    cd winiso then setup and voila os installs quick no need mutch efforts if you know how use DOS