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Windows 10 upgrade - block the clean install option


Hello W10blog;

We are thinking about releasing the Windows 10 upgrade into the wild on the machines of our customers. However, since we are using specific management software e.t.c., we do not wish the users to perform a clean install of Windows 10, only the in-place upgrade.

Is there a way to remove the 2 other options in the upgrade screen?

Talking about a reset without keeping anything is one way without a Windows 10 Media.


How are they doing the upgrade, same as everyone else with Windows 8.1 and below ? Anyone then can use a Windows media to perform this (clean install) and format the Hard disk.
Easily obtained from Microsoft Windows 10 ISO Download

I am searching for alternatives for recalling all the devices and perfom a reinstall/upgrade, so we are investigating the in-place upgrade option that Windows 8.1 has available; however, it gives you the option to clean all files or only the programs and that is something we do not wish to allow. Only the upgrade option (thus keeping all files and apps) should be allowed.

If that is not possible; is there any way to still provide the upgrade without GWX?

I am searching for alternatives for recalling all the devices and perfom a reinstall/upgrade, so we are investigating the in-place upgrade option that Windows 8.1 has available; however, it gives you the option to clean all files or only the programs and that is something we do not wish to allow. Only the upgrade option (thus keeping all files and apps) should be allowed.

If that is not possible; is there any way to still provide the upgrade without GWX?
Media Creation tool will do it without the GWX. Same page as ISO link but again it is what they choose.

inplace upgrade
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade
upgrade tutorials
Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation

Software programmer or developers probably know ways to prevent, i think anyone can do clean install if they obtain a ISO.

Talk about Windows 8.1 had similar options, refresh or reset. Refresh kept files, apps and settings .Reset did not keep anything and reinstalled the OS. No way i know of to remove options of the OS as shown in the picture i posted.

i've found that the setup.exe in the Windows 10 iso has installation options which will force an upgrade.

for future reference and to answer my own question:
Download the iso with the media creation
mount the iso
open a cmd-prompt and type setup.exe -?
accept uac
the dialog displayed are the accepted options.

i've found that the setup.exe in the Windows 10 iso has installation options which will force an upgrade.

for future reference and to answer my own question:
Download the iso with the media creation
mount the iso
open a cmd-prompt and type setup.exe -?
accept uac
the dialog displayed are the accepted options.
Many have and have done the upgrade in other ways from an ISO, Media Creation tool and the GWX notification. Your question was how to prevent a clean installs after an upgrade for customers, i do not see how you were going to completely prevent this as they can take the same ISO and boot from it and use the custom installation option similar to Reset within Windows 10 Recovery options. I see now you were saying the upgrade screen, can not recall an option from the upgrade download through the GWX to do a clean install then, at least when i first did it.

Password protect the bios to prevent changing the device boot order.

Windows 10 upgrade - block the clean install option