Moving To Windows 11 Question

[Jackie's Box]

So, in the recent months I got some parts that allowed me to use Windows 11, and have purchased a Windows 11 Pro OEM key (I plan on moving to a full key in the future, this was just all I could afford for now).

I have downloaded Windows 11 to a USB and know that I have to set the computer to launch from the USB using the BIOS.

However, I fear that I may have infected files that antivirus software isn't picking up, and would like to fully wipe all drives of everything without losing their partitions, as a completely new install.

Would I just install Windows 11 normally, or would i have to do something extra to wipe my drives? I mean EVERYTHING.

[Further Info Edit]

So, I left out my information like a dingus, I have three drives (2 TB M.2 that I want to place Windows on, an 8 TB HDD and 3 TB HDD). I have these drives because of amount of games and stuff I like to keep on hand, and haven't replaced anything with SSDs yet.

I have yet to install Windows 11, but here are the part conversions. These parts are going in altogether to reduce chances of damaging it when opening it multiple times.

I have already purchased the following parts, and wanted to change them due to suspected damage to my components and the fact that the parts are literally 7 years old.

PSU: Apevia Signature 950 ---> Corsair RMX850 - This is being transferred out because I know how unreliable Apevia can be, and don't want to risk anything.

MOBO: MSI Z270 SLI ---> x670 Aorus Elite AX - I had to change this part due to the change in CPU I wanted, which will be mentioned later.

RAM: ??? (Unknown DDR4 RAM) ---> 64 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 5600mhz - While I know 64 is probably overkill for gaming, I wanted to be safe rather than sorry.

CPU: i7-7700k ---> Ryzen 7 7800x3d - While I know the risks of this CPU, I also know it's an incredible boon over my i7, and I believe it's the i7 in the first place that might be causing a random slowdown issue. I'm pretty nervous about putting it in.

[Part Links]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09WN2H42Y/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTZB7F88?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BF7FT26Z?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-RM850x-Fully-Modular-Supply/dp/B08R5JPTMZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2553F709I03SD&keywords=rmx%2B859&qid=1694398298&sprefix=rmx%2B859%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&th=1

I previously believed the issue may be due to a virus because it seemed to happen whenever I launched Skyrim: Special Edition, however I launched it earlier today and the computer ran mostly if not completely fine, and I've noticed it seems to take slowdown time around the same time after my computer starts for the day. Just to be safe, I'm reinstalling windows and wanting to wipe everything clean.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

When you wipe everything you wipe the partitions. That's the easiest and safest way.

Once the new parts are installed, backup whatever data you need to another Drive so as not to reside on the OS C Drive. Once this is all done, shutdown normally, disconnect all extra drives for now. Power on with just 1 Drive and then of course the Win11 USB Flash Drive and boot to USB. Once in the installer and reach the list of drives, click Advanced and click Delete for each instance of Drive 0. This will wipe those partitions. Then click NEXT and install the OS.

Once you've reached the OS Desktop, shutdown and connect your secondary drives. Power on and double check the BIOS to ensure only your Win11 drive is the one and only boot drive. Once inside the OS, being up Disk Management. From there you can wipe and format other drives as needed

[Quint]

Originally posted by Gweebo:

So, in the recent months I got some parts that allowed me to use Windows 11, and have purchased a Windows 11 Pro OEM key (I plan on moving to a full key in the future, this was just all I could afford for now).

Question, why do you guys pay for Windows? It's free. Those keys are useless. If you want to activate Windows there are scripts on GitHub to do that. (And Microsoft owns GitHub) Microsoft makes it's Windows money by selling your data. You are paying AND getting your privacy violated.

[plat]

What makes you suspect your machine is infected?

If you have an "OEM" license, you can't transfer it to another machine after activation.

But yes, if you install Windows via the image on a flash drive, it'll eliminate all data that was on it, including any malicious software.

I found this but maybe many have already seen it. Very thorough (and legit):

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/get-windows-10-free-or-cheap,5717.html

[Vince ✟]

Originally posted by Quintus:

Originally posted by Gweebo:

So, in the recent months I got some parts that allowed me to use Windows 11, and have purchased a Windows 11 Pro OEM key (I plan on moving to a full key in the future, this was just all I could afford for now).

Question, why do you guys pay for Windows? It's free. Those keys are useless. If you want to activate Windows there are scripts on GitHub to do that. (And Microsoft owns GitHub) Microsoft makes it's Windows money by selling your data. You are paying AND getting your privacy violated.

Probably because people don't trust downloading random things off the internet, especially keys and activation codes. Traditionally it is laden with malware.

[GOD RAYS ON ULTRA™]

Originally posted by Gweebo:

So, in the recent months I got some parts that allowed me to use Windows 11, and have purchased a Windows 11 Pro OEM key (I plan on moving to a full key in the future, this was just all I could afford for now).

I have downloaded Windows 11 to a USB and know that I have to set the computer to launch from the USB using the BIOS.

However, I fear that I may have infected files that antivirus software isn't picking up, and would like to fully wipe all drives of everything without losing their partitions, as a completely new install.

Would I just install Windows 11 normally, or would i have to do something extra to wipe my drives? I mean EVERYTHING.

Why do people buy keys? I never understood this. And by anti-virus, I hope you mean the built-in Microsoft security. You certainly don't need a third party anti-virus as those act like a virus themselves.

If you did infact install a third-party anti-virus then that's pretty much an infection right there. You now have a virus basically, running in the background, using resources, not being nice with mods and videos games, throwing false findings, ect..

And what do you mean by "parts that allow me to install windows 11"? Are you talking about the tpm firmware requirement? That can be bypassed with console commands. Microsoft offers the tutorial for it, actually. You don't really have to upgrade anything, it's just Microsoft recommendations. And if you have tpm 1.2 like I have then you don't even need console commands.

My PC is from 2014 and windows 11 installed natively in here.

I would list specs because maybe there's something else going on. Remember anti-virus simply has to go. It no business on a personal gaming computer.

[Quint]

Originally posted by "MD":

Originally posted by Quintus:

Question, why do you guys pay for Windows? It's free. Those keys are useless. If you want to activate Windows there are scripts on GitHub to do that. (And Microsoft owns GitHub) Microsoft makes it's Windows money by selling your data. You are paying AND getting your privacy violated.

Probably because people don't trust downloading random things off the internet, especially keys and activation codes. Traditionally it is laden with malware.

But it's open source. There is no point in worrying about it.

[Cathulhu]

Windows is not OpenSource.

[Quint]

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

Windows is not OpenSource.

Windows? Unfortunately. The scripts on GitHub are, however.

[Jackie's Box]

To be perfectly honest, I'm not extremely tech savvy. The OEM key hasn't been used yet (I purchased it recently) and I plan on using it after I put in my parts to be able to use Windows 11, and the key is already purchased so I might as well use it.

I have another question now, if the partitions are going to be wiped with a clean install, how would one go about getting them set up once more?

Edit: As long as I can get onto windows to partition I should know how to do it, I just don't know how to partition when I have no access to windows.

[plat]

The key is a 25 digit one, divided into 5 sections, right? Yes, when you install Windows from the iso, it will automagically do the partitions. You don't set up anything.

Then, during the installation process, it will ask you for that 25 digit key.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by "MD":

Originally posted by Quintus:

Question, why do you guys pay for Windows? It's free. Those keys are useless. If you want to activate Windows there are scripts on GitHub to do that. (And Microsoft owns GitHub) Microsoft makes it's Windows money by selling your data. You are paying AND getting your privacy violated.

Probably because people don't trust downloading random things off the internet, especially keys and activation codes. Traditionally it is laden with malware.

Not free as in from some 3rd party. It's free directly from Microsoft. Just make a USB Win11 and when installing to new machine or after an upgraded machine can have that Win11 activated for free by using a previous Win10 key.

Do not install WinOS while all drives are connected. ONLY connect the drive you intend to install it onto. And do not connect to LAN/WIFI during the WinOS install.

[Vince ✟]

Windows will auto partition or you can select advanced install and work the tables yourself. It's all quite intuitive.

[plat]

Typically, you do in fact "need" an Internet connection while installing windows 11. It's very annoying. I found this workaround to bypass that, though. Maybe I'll use it next time I have to install it cleanly. One will have to write down the commands though to have handy at installation time. Also, it seems a little lengthy but anyway.

https://pureinfotech.com/bypass-internet-connection-install-windows-11/

But that means you won't have to contend with Windows nagging you all the time about junk you don't need.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by plat:

Typically, you do in fact "need" an Internet connection while installing windows 11. It's very annoying. I found this workaround to bypass that, though. Maybe I'll use it next time I have to install it cleanly. One will have to write down the commands though to have handy at installation time. Also, it seems a little lengthy but anyway.

https://pureinfotech.com/bypass-internet-connection-install-windows-11/

But that means you won't have to contend with Windows nagging you all the time about junk you don't need.

No you don't. Always install 10 and 11 without it. The updates can be fetched after the install. If you connected during install it won't let you make a local user account, which is the best way to setup the PC to begin with

[plat]

Yes I know that.

Not sure about 11, though. Had to reinstall it not too long ago and could not get anywhere without the Ethernet connected.

If it's possible nowadays to disconnect in 11-- great, but I'm gonna have that tutorial nearby whenever 11 has to be installed again, just in case.