Ensure all files are removed properly before reinstalling.
Ensure all files are removed properly before reinstalling.
After making the CPU motherboard swap, I experienced some issues with Windows installation. To ensure a clean start, you should remove all external drives except the operating system drive, then reinstall Windows after formatting that drive. Clearing everything by formatting and deleting partitions will help eliminate any remnants from the previous setup. Yes, formatting and wiping drives is the best way to guarantee a smooth new installation without interference.
Avoid going too far; remove any problematic program files and reinstall.
When setting up Windows, always remove all partitions prior to installation. The OS should be placed in unallocated space. Ensure you use a correctly formatted UEFI installation medium from the official Media Creation Tool. A bit unrelated but useful: verify secure boot and fast boot settings are active in BIOS, and disable legacy/CSM if needed. This is especially crucial for Windows 8/8.1/10, unless you intend to run another OS that doesn’t support UEFI (most current systems do). Perform this step before installing Windows. Your problems seem tied more to hardware than software—if issues persist after a clean install and previous hardware worked fine, the hardware may be faulty. I’d strongly consider a reinstall first, but if problems continue, investigate potential hardware defects.
It isn't required to install Windows 10 on a GPT drive. You either have a pre-formatted GPT partition or a clean drive without partitions, which allows automatic setup. Removing all partitions ensures the system is configured correctly.
I realized the audio problem was likely on my board (gigabyte Airbus gaming 7 z370). There are still strange issues on the Windows side, like Microsoft Edge failing to load pages and then showing a blue pop-up with the gear icon. It doesn’t respond. Switching search engines causes a frozen window. Could it be that the Windows file on the USB got corrupted?