How can I ensure the cleanest W11 install?

Anonymous
2024-03-03T18:37:22+00:00

I’ve been struggling with windows randomly deciding to ruin my computer for some months now. Every time I would get the computer to a properly working state for a few days out of nowhere Windows will decide to make the computer unusable one way or another leading me to have to do a fresh install (as doing things like repair installs sometimes ends up completely bricking the computer).

But one thing I’ve noticed is that my fresh installs are never actually properly clean. Sometimes it’s a challenge just to get to the windows setup screen (random bsod’s where no recovery partition is being created for whatever reason) and when I do get into windows sometimes something like edge or MS Store just doesn’t work, but all the time I can never actually download the cumulative windows update (as it always gives an error message during the install portion). SFC /scannow always shows up with a “found corrupted files but could not repair them” message, and DISM usually comes back with a “sources not found” even when using a local usb

So I am wondering what can I do to ensure a proper windows install from the get go? I have been following the procedure of deleting existing volumes and letting windows create things automatically, but that gives the results explained above. Is it a usb problem? A formatting problem? Setting up the PC problem?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Install and upgrade

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  1. EmilyS726 268.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-03-03T23:17:53+00:00

    This is after Windows is already installed. You do this during OOBE, the step where you have to create the user, you can do the Shift + F10 to get Cmd to come up.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-03-03T23:13:29+00:00

    When should the driver be reinstalled? While reinstalling windows or after its already installed?

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  3. EmilyS726 268.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-03-03T23:01:18+00:00

    I think the issue here might be still potentially network issue. If you are using Pro, you can easily bypass. But since you are using Home, I suggest that you use this instruction: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get... The instruction you want to use is this bullet point: Check and reinstall the Wi-Fi network adapter drivers (for advanced users)

    Make sure you have the OEM wifi driver in this case. It sounds like it hangs during OOBE, and that's often caused by network quality issue.. so I want to make sure you are using OEM wifi driver. See if that makes any difference.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-03-03T22:57:50+00:00

    Home (both what I’ve been running originally and what I choose in the windows setup)

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  5. EmilyS726 268.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-03-03T22:48:57+00:00

    Are you using Home or Pro edition?

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