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Resetting my Win10 laptop. Any suggestions?

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June 30, 2023, 12:19 PM
parabellum
Resetting my Win10 laptop. Any suggestions?
quote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
NO do not use MBR.

You can delete everything during the install and do not need to use DISKPART.
well I can start over but it's already in the works. Whats the problem with mbr? You're making it sound like its something bad
June 30, 2023, 12:22 PM
xantom
quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
All of that was correct except format fs needed to format fs=ntfs. Formatting now


Yep sorry should have been
DISKPART> format fs=ntfs

We'll get you through this Smile



"We've done four already, but now we're steady..."
June 30, 2023, 12:24 PM
parabellum
From what I've seen so far, GPt wont work for me at all, so it needs to be MBR.
June 30, 2023, 12:25 PM
xantom
You will need to most likely boot in legacy mode. Do you know how to access your BIOS?



"We've done four already, but now we're steady..."
June 30, 2023, 12:28 PM
parabellum
Yes. I think so, anyway.

Fuckin Bill Gates
June 30, 2023, 12:29 PM
xantom
Can you find a legacy boot option, every BIOS is different. Look for a UEFI setting and see if you can change that to Legacy. If you converted your drive to GPT you might need to covert that back to MBR. Follow the same steps only change GPT to MBR.



"We've done four already, but now we're steady..."
June 30, 2023, 12:38 PM
parabellum
It's now an MBR partition, currently formatting it NTFS, gonna take a while.
June 30, 2023, 12:46 PM
nhracecraft
Are you installing Windows 10 Home, or Windows 10 Pro? I've always used W10 Pro so I'm not 100% sure, but the Home version has some specific limitations that 'could' be affecting the installation process.

Also, if there's is a Recovery Partition (Protected?) on the HDD, that can cause issues as well. Honestly, yeah, 'Fuckin Bill Gates'!

There is NO reason why you should not be able to install Win10 on a GPT Partition, in fact it's preferred. This is where sometimes, DISKPART is the foolproof way to accomplish what you want to do. It will allow you to delete ANY partitions, and CLEAN any disk, such that you should be able to do anything (Partition, Format, Install) however you want to do it. You might Boot to the BIOS to see if there are any settings there that are limiting you ability to do what you want to do.

ETA - Seeing you've gone to MBR Partition now...


____________________________________________________________

If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !!
Trump 47....Making America Great Again!
"May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20
Live Free or Die!
June 30, 2023, 12:46 PM
xantom
Once it's formatted and you have the Legacy boot option selected, boot from the USB and attempt the install again.



"We've done four already, but now we're steady..."
June 30, 2023, 12:51 PM
xantom
quote:
Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Are you installing Windows 10 Home, or Windows 10 Pro? I've always used W10 Pro so I'm not 100% sure, but the Home version has some specific limitations that 'could' be affecting the installation process.

Also, if there's is a Recovery Partition (Protected?) on the HDD, that can cause issues as well. Honestly, yeah, 'Fuckin Bill Gates'!

There is NO reason why you should not be able to install Win10 on a GPT Partition, in fact it's preferred. This is where sometimes, DISKPART is the foolproof way to accomplish what you want to do. It will allow you to delete ANY partitions, and CLEAN any disk, such that you should be able to do anything (Partition, Format, Install) however you want to do it. You might Boot to the BIOS to see if there are any settings there that are limiting you ability to do what you want to do.

ETA - Seeing you've gone to MBR Partition now...


I agree with everything you have said. I have ran into this a few times where nothing you do will allow you to install the OS on an MBR drive. Not that it can't be done, I just run out of patience and revert to the legacy boot option.



"We've done four already, but now we're steady..."
June 30, 2023, 01:01 PM
parabellum
Well, I assumed when i created the installation USB, it was sensed automatically that I had 10 PRo. Was I mistaken?

I have an older Recovry drive I created. That one surely is pro. I assumed OS version and license were included in these recovery drives
June 30, 2023, 01:08 PM
xantom
If you have a valid Win 10 Pro license and are prompted during the install process to select the OS Version just select Win 10 Pro.



"We've done four already, but now we're steady..."
June 30, 2023, 01:13 PM
nhracecraft
The license is actually embedded within the BIOS of the Motherboard. The install media is the same for W10 Pro, and W10 Home. You will only be able to install the version your PC is licensed for. This is why you don't have to type in a 'Product Key' any more... Wink


____________________________________________________________

If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !!
Trump 47....Making America Great Again!
"May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20
Live Free or Die!
June 30, 2023, 01:22 PM
xantom
quote:
Originally posted by nhracecraft:
This is why you don't have to type in a 'Product Key' any more... Wink


Yes! Great reminder, "IF" you get to this screen just click I don't have a product key.





"We've done four already, but now we're steady..."
June 30, 2023, 01:31 PM
nhracecraft
^^^I haven't seen that Dialog Box in a LONG time! Even on the Window 7 machines that I've re-deployed with a 'clean install' (some of which date to 2014 vintage), I have NOT seen that screen!


____________________________________________________________

If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !!
Trump 47....Making America Great Again!
"May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20
Live Free or Die!
June 30, 2023, 01:34 PM
xantom
quote:
Originally posted by nhracecraft:
^^^I haven't seen that Dialog Box in a LONG time! Even on the Window 7 machines that I've re-deployed with a 'clean install' (some of which date to 2014), I have NOT seen that screen!


Haha, I haven't updated my WIN 10 drive in about 3 years, so it may not exist anymore. It works every time for me and I have a few drivers on there for those edge cases where they are needed.



"We've done four already, but now we're steady..."
June 30, 2023, 01:57 PM
parabellum
Looks like it might be hosed. I was able to go through the installation but when it tried to reboot I get an odd screen, no text. I'm trying my old recovery disk now. Might be headed to the shop today if this doesn't work.

The screen says "Recovering this PC" and shows the percentage it's completed but I have a feeling it's going to end up in the shop. Luckily I have a good repair shop just down the street.

I tried calling Dell. What a joke
June 30, 2023, 02:03 PM
xantom
It's hard to account for every scenario when you are not right there to see what is going on. Sorry this has been such a hassle. Any PC shop should be able to get this done for you quite easily.



"We've done four already, but now we're steady..."
June 30, 2023, 02:28 PM
nhracecraft
Which model Dell PC?


____________________________________________________________

If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !!
Trump 47....Making America Great Again!
"May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20
Live Free or Die!
June 30, 2023, 02:34 PM
parabellum
Inspiron laptop, 5770, I think