Clean install on Inspiron 15


  1. Posts : 12
    windows 10 home single language
       #1

    Clean install on Inspiron 15


    I bought my Dell Inspiron15 some 2 months ago. As one can see from the screen shots it has a whopping more than 8 GBs wasted as recovery partition. At the time of purchase it had windows 8.1 pre-installed. I opted for free upgrade and now I have Windows 10 Home single language. I have read the section "Installation and Setup" Still I have one doubt as to which method shall I choose for clean install as the partition in screen shot shows EFI. Which method is good for me to re-format and make a clean install?
    Thanks and regards,
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Clean install on Inspiron 15-disc.jpg   Clean install on Inspiron 15-system.jpg  
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  2. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    Welcome to TenForums, semantsen.

    You say the 7.62 GB partition is a waste. That is your Dell factory restore image on that partition. It's there to provide a restore to out-of-the-box state. If you don't value that option then it is indeed a waste. When I got my Dell Inspiron 15 (7000 series) back in June, the first thing I did was make factory restore media using Dell Backup and Recovery. THEN, I had no qualms about doing away with that partition and reclaiming it for other disk use. I also did away with the OEM Diagnostics 40 MB partition - that functionality is on the motherboard itself and can be accessed through the BIOS.

    Here is how my laptop (purchased back in June, came with WIn8.1 installed) looked after I recently (doing some testing) took it back to factory restore state and THEN upgraded to the current WIn10 build (10586) using a USB iso made using Media Creation Tool and Rufus:
    Clean install on Inspiron 15-screenshot-3-.png
    Clean install on Inspiron 15-screenshot-4-.png
    Clean install on Inspiron 15-screenshot-5-.png

    Here is the layout of my current GPT disk, after clean install (created some few months back starting at build 10240) - I have split my original OS partition into two and am now dual booting both the activated build 10586 and the Windows Insider build 11082:

    Clean install on Inspiron 15-now.png

    If, by "which method", you're asking about GPT disk layout (with EFI boot) - which you have now - versus MBR disk layout with legacy BIOS boot, I'm not sure why you'd want to go back to legacy boot/MBR - is that what you're asking about?
    Last edited by Word Man; 29 Dec 2015 at 17:42. Reason: Typos
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  3. Posts : 12
    windows 10 home single language
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks Word Man for the detailed reply. I just wanted to delete all partitions and make new ones as per my need and a clean install. As a newbie i did not know which method to use, GPT or MBR. Yesterday i went ahead and used USB Media creation tool for Windows 10 for my previous edition i.e.Windows 10 Home. I went for GPT offcourse as you have rightly said! Insatallation went very well and is running well. Now the problem is windows is not activating!! I get error code 0x803F7001. (screen shots attached) I am trying but to no avail. Tried to retrieve OEM keys but those are just not acceptable. I do not see any option but purchase a new one. I will be very thankful for any help.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Clean install on Inspiron 15-act.png   Clean install on Inspiron 15-sc1.png  
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  4. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #4

    Despite the message on your screenshot about being unable to reach activation servers - which, taken at face value, would mean you either have an internet connectivity problem OR the servers are down or too busy (may or may not be likely) - I'm afraid I may have unintentionally misdirected you when I said I used MCT for my clean install.

    I see you started with "Windows 10 Home Single Language". As far as I know you must install with the same edition of Windows that you started with and, although it may not be obvious - wouldn't be to me if I hadn't read otherwise, that last part "Single Language" IS significant.

    Sooo, my apologies if I was not tight enough with my wording and it cost you time as a result.

    If you go to Tech Bench and select the correct edition there, where Windows 10 Home Single Language IS an available selection, I believe things will go much more smoothly for you. That site is at this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/techbench

    Hopefully, that will get you right back on the track you started down.

    NOTE - no need to reformat the disk as you can remove all partitions in the beginning of the install - check out specifically Step 10 and then flow to Step 13 in the tutorial at this link: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

    There you can delete all partitions and have all unallocated disk space to proceed with a truly clean install.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 12
    windows 10 home single language
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks Word Man. Its me who messed!! You have given a very good guidance. I will just try a new install. Regarding network it is fine. Can this be something related to DNS server setting?
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    semantsen said:
    Thanks Word Man. Its me who messed!! You have given a very good guidance. I will just try a new install. Regarding network it is fine. Can this be something related to DNS server setting?
    I kind of doubt that it has to do with DNS - but not impossible. I would say give the exact version match a shot and go from there if any problem remains. Good luck - signing off for the night.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 12
    windows 10 home single language
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Solved..


    Thanks Word Man for all the help and support offered by you. I finally installed using MCT for usb. I went for single language option as per your instruction. Windows is now activated too. :)
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Clean install on Inspiron 15-act.jpg  
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    semantsen said:
    Thanks Word Man for all the help and support offered by you. I finally installed using MCT for usb. I went for single language option as per your instruction. Windows is now activated too. :)
    Ah, good, Semantsen! You're very welcome and I'm glad you have it sorted.:)
      My Computer


 

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