Insufficient space to delete Windows 11

Vincent Pisacane 0 Reputation points
2024-07-09T15:25:02.6133333+00:00

I am trying to uninstall Windows 11 on a Dell PC with a C drive of 28.3 GB of which 1.33 GB is free.

Cannot reinstall Windows 10 as there is not sufficent space.

Not interested in saving any files.

Only program on computer is Windows 11.

I have used Disk Clean up to delete all possible deletable files.

I have tried to compress the C drive but it will not.

There is nothing left to delete.

I wish to reinstall Windows 10 via clean install from USB.

Windows 11
Windows 11
A Microsoft operating system designed for productivity, creativity, and ease of use.
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  1. Wesley Li 6,750 Reputation points
    2024-07-09T17:32:13.22+00:00

    Hello Vincent Pisacane

    To perform a clean install of Windows 10 via USB, you'll need to ensure that your Dell PC's BIOS is set to boot from the USB drive. Here's a general guide on how to proceed:

    1. Prepare the USB Drive: Make sure you have a USB drive with at least 8GB of space. Use the Windows Media Creation Tool to create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive. You can download the tool from the official Microsoft website.
    2. Boot from USB: Insert the USB drive into your Dell PC. Restart the computer and enter the BIOS setup (usually by pressing F2, F12, DEL, or ESC key during startup). Change the boot order to boot from the USB drive first.
    3. Install Windows 10: Once booted from the USB, follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10. Choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)" when prompted to select the type of installation.
    4. Format the C Drive: During the installation process, you'll reach a screen where you can select the drive to install Windows. Select the C drive and format it to ensure a clean installation. This will delete all files on the drive, including Windows 11.
    5. Continue Installation: After formatting, select the same drive (now unallocated space) and continue with the installation. Windows 10 will begin installing.
    6. Finish Setup: Once the installation is complete, follow the prompts to finish setting up Windows 10. You'll need to enter your product key if prompted.
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