Window 10 Broke My Computer

CarolKopp said:

Maybe I'll try re-installing Windows 10. Thank you for your patient responses. Another user, who shall remain anonymous, informed me that "Microsoft does not break computers," which is a way of saying, "you are an idiot."

No, that's definitely not what I meant. *sighs* It means Windows doesn't break computers. An upgrade can go wrong, due to many underlying factors, such as the Razer issue mentioned already. As I also explained, this is why people do clean installs of new OSes rather than upgrading them. If you bought a new car, would you want to have your old engine put in it?

On a side note, you admit you are in over your head, so instead of blindly blaming the wrong source, just listen to the people trying to help you.

If it is a USB3 Key you purchased , it maybe that the old Win7 laptop can not see it properly I just returned a 3 pack of Verbatim USB3 Drives as they would not Boot (worked fine in windows only), also I assume it is at least 8GB ? if not the MCT tool won't use it as Win 10 AU is now over 4GB so won't fit on smaller USB Drives.

Do not use or let anyone like GeekSquad reinstall from the DELL Recovery Option as it will WIPE EVERYTHING off the Harddrive and you will lose all your programs , Documents , photos etc....

I would try a Boot USB like Kyhi's and save all you Data etc 1st if you are contemplating a Full reinstall and DONT have all your work backed up somewhere else like and External Hard-drive.


KB

I believe I already did that. That is, I used Rufus to create a bootable device. The MS download function still couldn't find the flash drive when I tried to download the Windows 10 fix, but it did find it when I tried to download Windows 8.1. I then tried to re-install Windows 8.1. My last attempt to fix the problem was halted when it demanded a product key, which I can't find.

dalchina said:

If you can see the flash drive in explorer, you can use Rufus to create a bootable device.
Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

It's entirely normal for Win 8 to require that you enter a license - of course you can skip that and enter it later.

With Win 10, MS moved on to record that your PC is licensed, once done, on its activation servers, making future activation on that PC automatic.

Using disk imaging (strongly recommended here) allows you to quickly recover from many types of failure without technical help (even disk failure). We recommend Macrium Reflect (free), but there are other such programs.

I've run Win 10 for about 6 months since getting this laptop without real difficulties, but I know that's not been everyone's experience- else this forum wouldn't be so busy.

As you will see if you read the rest of the thread, I am listening to the people trying to help me, and following their advice. Please stop replying to any post from me. I do not find your responses helpful.

DeaconFrost said:

No, that's definitely not what I meant. *sighs* It means Windows doesn't break computers. An upgrade can go wrong, due to many underlying factors, such as the Razer issue mentioned already. As I also explained, this is why people do clean installs of new OSes rather than upgrading them. If you bought a new car, would you want to have your old engine put in it?

On a side note, you admit you are in over your head, so instead of blindly blaming the wrong source, just listen to the people trying to help you.

A little education goes a long way. My apologies that you didn't like my answers correcting your blame game. You're welcome for the time I put in trying to explain the license key in your other thread. Good luck to you with the learning and getting to do a clean install, which will solve your issue.

If you need Kyhi's Windows 10 Boot Disk , it is right here on the Forums , and you can use Rufus to make the USB Key from his ISO too. It will fit on a 4GB key if that is all you have currently.

Your system specs don't have enough info , but I would assume you have a 64 bit computer these days......

Main Page

Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

The ISO file

ToolsLib - Downloads - Win10586PESE-x64

CarolKopp said:

Yes, the device does show up in the Control Panel on the old laptop thanks for asking. I was even able to (accidentally) copy the Media Creation Tool to the device, which does me no good whatsoever. The software download process ends abruptly every time with the message that the USB device can't be found, and suggests I refresh the list, which I do, which doesn't work.

I don't understand what's going on.

I admit that I have never run the MCT (media creation tool) to directly make a bootable DVD or USB flash drive. I ran it to download and create an .iso (disk image). I manually created a bootable USB drive from the .iso using the command line "diskpart" utility. (That's easy, but unsafe, as a minor error could result in the wiping of a partition that you'd like to keep.) Rufus is probably the safest way to make the USB drive from an .iso.

If you'd care to try for the .iso, there are instructions on how to create a USB drive from it:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...a.html#option2

restore to factory settings? Usually some set of keys will at least get you back to Win 8 or 8.1 from the factory build, unless you have removed that partition. You may have to contact Dell and get the restore disks.