Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 09:40:11 AM
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Anyone do this to their computer?
Apart from opening a drawer, shoving my hand in it and slamming it shut a few times, would you:
a) Wipe the computer fresh and do a clean install of Win10Pro or..
b) Reinstall over the existing OS.
I know the real answer should always be a), but I'm talking about a computer OS that I've hacked and kept healthy for 10 years as I went from Win 7 (2008) to Win 10. The pain I'm looking at is not going to be pleasant.
I have Windows 10 Pro N installed on two gaming machines in our house and I just found out Windows Pro N is NOT Microsoft VR compatible.
FML :(
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I know it is more work, but installing the OS on a freshly formatted hard drive will always give you the best results.
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As far as I understand the "new" reinstall method since Win8, started from the Settings or the Recovery Environment, pretty much is a clean install if you choose the longer method wiping all your data off. Even the data saving option leaves a cleaner Windows than the one upgraded from 7. However, the wipe-all method doesn't take much less time than a clean installation destroying every system partition etc. so that's as viable an option.
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Either way, having teeth pulled with no Novocaine is a more pleasant ordeal. That being said, I have always opted for a full wipe and reinstall, to insure that drivers, etc are loaded in the order I want, and other things. You never know with a partial redo, IMHO.
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You can "Reset" Windows 10. It's the fastest way to get back to a clean install. The reset process has always been smooth on the official release version. Since moving to Windows 10 I keep the various 'important' Libraries (Documents, Pictures, and so on) on different drives so that a reset doesn't erase them. Windows allows you to move them, and it really does help keep your system snappy.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12415/windows-10-recovery-options
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Nice to know. ^^^^^^^
OP:
1) Slam Hand in Drawer.
2) Clean Install.
:rofl
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You can "Reset" Windows 10. It's the fastest way to get back to a clean install. The reset process has always been smooth on the official release version. Since moving to Windows 10 I keep the various 'important' Libraries (Documents, Pictures, and so on) on different drives so that a reset doesn't erase them. Windows allows you to move them, and it really does help keep your system snappy.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12415/windows-10-recovery-options
Microsoft told me that the reset would just "reset" to a clean Win10ProN install, not Win10Pro... I'll test it on one machine (have to do mine and my sons).
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Microsoft told me that the reset would just "reset" to a clean Win10ProN install, not Win10Pro... I'll test it on one machine (have to do mine and my sons).
What if you installed a Windows 10 Pro version over top of the Windows 10 Pro N version, would it possibly negate the N versions differences? (just thinking out loud, haven't researched any about it)
Your best option in my thoughts is a thorough cleaning deep format and installing a Fresh installation of Windows 10 Pro....
Best of luck to you....
TC
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TC, that might well work!
The way I would perform such an operation is to download the Tool from Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10) and "upgrade" windows to the existing version from within Windows, saving your files if preferred.
Another option would be to create a more generic installation media using the same Tool, per the instructions "for a different PC". Even the I'd start the installation from Windows as an update.
I'm not sure whether either of those procedures would allow you to wipe all of the existing partitions after the reboot, but even that might be an option.
At the last steps of the installation, if you see a window asking you to check your "security" settings, DON'T choose the recommended option! Find the link to modify them and deselect all. Each one is just asking if you would like to share your life with Microsoft.
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I lead you to water, but I cannot make you drink.
I would use different drives to offload your libraries (the stuff everyone loses when they clean install) to different drive locations. Then, install Windows 10 Pro to a new drive without overwriting your N version (you know, just in case). Then "move" the libraries of the fresh install to the libraries drive(s).
No muss, no fuss, nothing lost.
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I lead you to water, but I cannot make you drink.
I would use different drives to offload your libraries (the stuff everyone loses when they clean install) to different drive locations. Then, install Windows 10 Pro to a new drive without overwriting your N version (you know, just in case). Then "move" the libraries of the fresh install to the libraries drive(s).
No muss, no fuss, nothing lost.
Completely Agree with you...
My previous post was just a wondering thought ...
Ever since Fork posted that he won't be able to use VR gear on his PCs that have Windows 10 Pro N 64bit OS installed on them, has got me wondering if the 2 different PCs that I have been testing/reviewing Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 64bit OS on.... Wondering if I will run into the same problem?
I just have not had the chance to check it out and compare the differences....
TC
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Followed your advice Chalenge - moved to another drive, deleted partition, installed fresh OS install, copied back over files.
Wait is weird yet nice is that Aces High runs right out of the install folder - no need to reinstall - only lost HOTAS keymappings but I say 'good riddance' to the Saitek Keymapper. :neener:
Onto the Acer VR headset :x
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VR is a tool of the devil :old:
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VR is a tool of the devil :old:
but man is it fun, and sometimes it tastes like bacon
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Ok - from start to finish from blowing away the partition on the SSD to full reinstall of OS Win10Pro, to using my Microsoft account (which btw caches the OS key + settings and links it to your account), reinstalling Office 2013, downloading AH (even though the game works in the directory without a reinstall), downloading a couple of my fav games, it was just 2 hours. That blew me away on how fast it is. And that includes installing and setting up Windows Mixed Reality and SteamVR.
Before, loose a hard drive and do a reinstall, we're talking a weekend project and a couple week nights before it's 100%. But my Gmail account caches my Chrome, MS caches my Win10Pro preferences and OS settings (all except my screensaver), and I don't have any local mail clients as I'm using Gmail and iCloud. I also didn't install JAVA. What games uses Java anyways? NONE. Only Adobe product I installed was Acrobat Reader - and that took 4 minutes.
God I love SSD's. 2 hours. Unreal.
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It also includes a 20 minute breakfast stop ... and yes, with bacon and coffee. :x
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Glad you got it all fixed up and working
Side note: I'd installed FoxIt PDF Reader and get rid of the Adobe PDF Reader...
People who play on Pogo have to have Java, I keep having to update Java on my Moms PC because of it....
TC
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Followed your advice Chalenge - moved to another drive, deleted partition, installed fresh OS install, copied back over files.
Wait is weird yet nice is that Aces High runs right out of the install folder - no need to reinstall - only lost HOTAS keymappings but I say 'good riddance' to the Saitek Keymapper. :neener:
Onto the Acer VR headset :x
As frequently as Windows has been, and will be, updated makes this a worthwhile setup.
On another note: It could be that Windows 10 N is just a "mode" of Windows 10 Pro. Just today Mary Jo Foley posted about Windows 10 S being just that:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-switching-out-of-windows-10-s-mode-will-be-free-for-all/
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Ok - from start to finish from blowing away the partition on the SSD to full reinstall of OS Win10Pro, to using my Microsoft account (which btw caches the OS key + settings and links it to your account), reinstalling Office 2013, downloading AH (even though the game works in the directory without a reinstall), downloading a couple of my fav games, it was just 2 hours. That blew me away on how fast it is. And that includes installing and setting up Windows Mixed Reality and SteamVR.
Before, loose a hard drive and do a reinstall, we're talking a weekend project and a couple week nights before it's 100%. But my Gmail account caches my Chrome, MS caches my Win10Pro preferences and OS settings (all except my screensaver), and I don't have any local mail clients as I'm using Gmail and iCloud. I also didn't install JAVA. What games uses Java anyways? NONE. Only Adobe product I installed was Acrobat Reader - and that took 4 minutes.
God I love SSD's. 2 hours. Unreal.
It could have been even less. I'm just curious if you used the Location tab to move your libraries, or used the copy command, or how you did it?
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It could have been even less. I'm just curious if you used the Location tab to move your libraries, or used the copy command, or how you did it?
I blew away the partition, and did a fresh install. Since most of the new games we play are back-ended in the cloud (game saves, settings, key mappings), none of mine lost save positions or anything.
I have two SSD's, one is for game installs, the other is the OS. I left the save drive alone, and blew away the OS install. It was really a good idea because basically it was a 10 year old setup - from Windows 7 Ultimate that I installed in 2008, upgraded to Win10ProN (don't ask why I choose N - I thought I was being anti-establishment).
Anyways, from the time I started, to the time I finished, it was just 2 hours including a 30 minute bacon, waffles, and coffee break. And the rest I just left my machine on to install the games I normally play. I also reinstalled Aces High to fix a VR headset issue (more on that later), and decided NOT to install any Java or Apple products or any other bloatware. So far, computer is really performing well - much better than before.
All I have installed is Aces High, Adobe Reader, Battlefield 1 & 4, Office 2013, and Webroot AV. That's it. Email is via gmail and icloud. No other bloatware. Machine hums now.
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In that case you may never need to use the reset function. I have a lot more going on with my system, so the updates can really bring on problems, mostly I think because of the way Microsoft keeps changing their heading. I think moving the libraries to different drives really helps in maintaining speed, also, but if you don't that as a problem then why do it?
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In that case you may never need to use the reset function. I have a lot more going on with my system, so the updates can really bring on problems, mostly I think because of the way Microsoft keeps changing their heading. I think moving the libraries to different drives really helps in maintaining speed, also, but if you don't that as a problem then why do it?
Moving the libraries to anther drive is the way to go. The most important for me is the Document folder, because I have a lot of games that use that folder for the save-locations.
This way if I ever have to Reset or Reinstall Windows I don't lose any of that data.
Coogan
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I did that too Coog - move My Documents to my install drive. When I reinstalled some of the games, the settings were all there.
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I did that too Coog - move My Documents to my install drive. When I reinstalled some of the games, the settings were all there.
Right on. :aok
Coogan
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Interesting thread discussion going here.....................
Just typing to let all that may not know that the procedure that Chalenge\others posted to move the Windows 10 libraries to another drive\partition instead of residing on C:\ drive (default) using the Location tab works just fine in Win 10 Home as well as Win 10 Pro.
I have done this on my box as well (set up a WindowsLibraries folder on my D:\Pagefile drive & moved all my library files on C:\ drive to it using the Location tab) and I'm using Win 10 Home. Works just fine.
Just putting this out there for clarification purposes as this procedure works in more Win 10 versions than just Win 10 Pro (referencing to title of thread).........
Hope this helps out...............
:salute
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I laughed a little about this. My C: drive is a 1TB SSD. My Documents folder is 1.5TB. My Pictures folder has a lot of sub folders with textures for modeling and animation and altogether comes in over 4TB. My Video folder that has many, many audio folders is approaching 10TB. Steam is another drive. Adobe on yet another. . . etc., etc.
Even if I could put everything on a single drive it would slow the boot process down and take up to 20 minutes just to settle out and be useful.