Clean Install with ISO

Thanks for the reply. I have to edit my response. I was under the impression from videos I've watched on this, that one can do a clean install from an ISO file:

Perform clean install of Windows 11 (six ways) - Pureinfotech

Should I do the clean install from the Media Creation tool, I know some say one has to make the USB drive bootable from the BIOS, but a quick search says the following: "Restart your PC while holding the Shift key to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Once in the Windows Recovery Environment, choose to boot from the USB drive."

So, instead of going into the BIOS, do you agree doing a clean install from the USB as shown above will do the trick?

Hi, I am an Independent Advisor.

Let me help you with this issue.

I understand that you need to install Windows 11 ISO using the Windows Media creation tool.

A quick question. When I download the ISO File to clean install Windows 11, do I just mount it on the C: drive, which drive will be wiped clean and the fresh install of Windows 11 installed?

-C drive is the main drive of Windows where it installs its OS (Which usually is Drive 0 which has the largest storage). Once you have booted to the USB it will give you a list of drives where you want to install, usually, it is Drive 0, C: Drive will be wiped out clean as soon as you delete all the partitions. If you do not want to have any other partitions you can delete all the partitions that you have there and then once you only have the unallocated partition which has the biggest storage, you can select that and continue with the process of clean install.

I'm still confused. You say, "Right click to mount .ISO and run setup.exe"... but where do I download this ISO file? It seems if I remember correctly, when downloading that, it automatically downloads to the C: drive.

Question then: can I run the ISO file from the c: drive or do I have to move that to the USB drive?

Just buy a well branded USB [64GB+] thumb drive that way you have the .ISO file saved on a diffrent physical disk. A USB type-A 3.0 quality USB thumb drive usally has a blue color on the inside of the plug and would be the best to buy. The installers do not format the USB drive unless told too. Right click to mount .ISO and run setup.exe. Follow on screen prompts. If you can currently boot into windows and mount the .ISO you also have the option to use the OEM recovery tools for a OEM system reset. Also media creation tool can make a bootable USB thumb drive, this is more so for a PC that can't boot into windows. Now you know you have Options.

My answer changed to try to use the OEM recovery. >>

Win+R C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe

shutdown/fw

O I just saw you have a MSI Katana. MSI has recovery a OEM recovery tool C:\Windows\RE_DRIVE

My laptop is close to what you have.

If you want to clean install you need to use the Media Creation tool to create a boot USB and not download an ISO file.

Boot from the new USB flash drive and select Language > Install now > Custom install. At custom install select each partition and Delete until there is only unallocated space.

Select the unallocated space and the Next, follow the onscreen instructions. You shouldn't need to select the edition (Home or Pro) and if asked for a key select I don't have a key.