"clean install" while upgrading?

[Winnipegger]

I recently built my first PC. I bought a 30$ windows key from a sketchy website, forget which one and it really wasn't that sketchy. I used schneegans for a "clean install" and loved the final result. Now I want to update my old laptop which already has an active windows 10 key, I don't want to buy another key. Is there a way I can have a "clean" upgrade rather than fresh install. 

[FilipposTechGR]

If your laptop already has an activated Windows 10 key, you don’t need to buy another one. You can just do a clean install of Windows 11 using the Media Creation Tool, when it asks for a key, skip it, and Windows will auto-activate once it connects online.
Upgrading in place keeps old files and junk, so if you want that fresh feeling, always go for a clean install. Just back up your data first. 
 

[Winnipegger]

Right but when I did the schneegans install on my other PC I "opted out" of a lot, basically all, of the mandatory Microsoft software. Is that possible?

[FilipposTechGR]

10 minutes ago, Winnipegger said:

Right but when I did the schneegans install on my other PC I "opted out" of a lot, basically all, of the mandatory Microsoft software. Is that possible?

The stock Windows installer won’t give you the same level of ‘opt-out’ options as schneegans’ custom script. A clean install via the Media Creation Tool will still put in Microsoft apps and services by default.
If you want that minimal setup, you can either:
Run the debloater/preset script again after a clean install e.g. Windows10Debloater, O&O ShutUp10, etc., or
Grab an ISO that’s already been slimmed down but that’s basically what you did with schneegans.
So yes, you can get close to what you had, but not directly from Microsoft’s installer, you’ll need to use a script/tool afterwards to strip out the extra stuff.

[Winnipegger]

Perfect thank you 

[FilipposTechGR]

3 minutes ago, Winnipegger said:

Perfect thank you 

Glad it helped

[TheLANguy]

4 hours ago, FilipposTechGR said:

Grab an ISO that’s already been slimmed down but that’s basically what you did with schneegans.
So yes, you can get close to what you had, but not directly from Microsoft’s installer, you’ll need to use a script/tool afterwards to strip out the extra stuff.

Using debloater scripts is great, but please don't run an ISO not distributed by Microsoft unless you have personally modified it. It is possible for malicious actors to hide things in ISO files. This can be very hard to detect, and the file may still be deemed "safe" by your anti-virus.

[FilipposTechGR]

4 minutes ago, TheLANguy said:

Using debloater scripts is great, but please don't run an ISO not distributed by Microsoft unless you have personally modified it. It is possible for malicious actors to hide things in ISO files. This can be very hard to detect, and the file may still be deemed "safe" by your anti-virus.

Good point, absolutely agree that grabbing random ISOs is risky. To clarify, when I said grab an ISO, I meant only official sources MSDN, or your own slipstreamed image. For most people the safer route is still a clean Microsoft install + debloater script afterwards, since at least you know exactly what went in. That way you avoid the security risk but still end up with a lean system.

[Winnipegger]

So I've been doing some reading, youtubing and chatgpting. And it seems like I can just do what I did for my custom build but not enter a product key and Microsoft will recognize the factory key cause it's stored on the MoBo. So download the windows installation media to a USB add the schneegans .xtml file (without a key) to the USB and change the bios to boot from the USB. And then when it's complete it will authenticate using the original factory key. Am I missing something? Will that not work?

[TheLANguy]

1 hour ago, Winnipegger said:

So I've been doing some reading, youtubing and chatgpting. And it seems like I can just do what I did for my custom build but not enter a product key and Microsoft will recognize the factory key cause it's stored on the MoBo. So download the windows installation media to a USB add the schneegans .xtml file (without a key) to the USB and change the bios to boot from the USB. And then when it's complete it will authenticate using the original factory key. Am I missing something? Will that not work?

You've got it. What are you using the .xtml file for?

[Winnipegger]

Schneegans creates autounattend scripts as an .xml (not xtml like I said earlier). So by adding the .xml file to the USB it will opt out of things I don't want like copilot and all the other windows bloat. So from moment 1 windows will have the least effect possible on the CPU. And declutter navigation.