Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows

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  1. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
       #11

    tensone said:
    This is it,

    I've tried booting from the USB and Troubleshooter. The only partition I am allowed to Format is Primary, the others I am not allowed to do anything as the choices are greyed out during the install.

    I'll check the BIOS again.

    Thanks
    Hi, Are you trying to format the primary partitions or delete all partitions? You need to boot from your flash drive. Select custom install in Setup. Then you need to delete all of the partitions one after the other until all you're left with is Unallocated space. Then you just click on Next. That will give you a clean install with Windows setting up your partitions correctly and formatting them automatically for you
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71
    Windows 11 Pro - 23H2
    Thread Starter
       #12

    OK,

    Rechecked BIOS, although 'Fast Boot' was disabled found the 'secure boot' was still enabled.

    Rebooted from USB and deleted all partitions etc, and re-installed Windows and let it sort the partitions.

    Although rechecking the BIOS and nothing has changed as set in order to delete partitions.

    Everything is still same with greyed out icon buttons/switches, tablet power button although set to shut down and it don't.
    Everything is still the same including my personal background image still coming up.

    thanks
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 41,413
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       #13

    Please update the system specs in the "My Computer" section:
    How To Fill Out Your System Specs
    System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums:
    System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums Site Use Tutorials
    In the left corner below in your post you find 'My System Specs'.
    After clicking it you can find a link a little below that says 'Update your System Spec', click on this link to get to the page where you can fill in your system specs.
    System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

    Please confirm: You were able to delete all partitions > make an unallocated drive > reinstall Windows 10 version 1709
    After the clean install you now have problems related to the prior folders/files?

    Please use a camera or smart phone camera to take pictures and post images into thread.
    1) Insert a windows 10 iso version 1709 into any usb port
    2) Turn of wireless, disconnect ethernet/cat5e cable, turn off router if necessary to make sure that there is no connection to the internet
    2) power on and open the boot menu to choose external USB hard drive
    3) allow the windows 10 iso to load, it may take 5 - 10 minutes while viewing the windows icon
    4) choose language, time, currency, and keyboard, then click next
    5) click install > post an image into the thread
    6) delete all partitions again > make an unallocated drive > post an image into the thread
    7) install windows 10 version 1709 without upgrades
    8) If the installation wet smoothly > connect to the internet and perform windows updates
    9) When windows had completed installing and updating open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
    10) sfc /scannow
    11) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
    12) chkdsk /scan
    13) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > save to desktop > post into the thread after connecting
    14) open disk management > widen each the status and volume columns so that the contents in all rows in view and nothing is cut off > post an image into the thread
    15) If there are any problems with the computer > post images into the thread
    16) For any problems > place the computer in safe mode > see if this corrects the problem
    Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 152
    Windows 10 Pro/Education x64
       #14

    1. Do you have another drive installed or connected to this machine?
    2. Are you using an OEM recovery USB flash drive to reinstall everything as if from the factory?


    If you are using a USB flash drive created from the MCT (not the OEM recovery disk), then I think you're installing to the wrong drive that you thought you installed to, i.e. disk 1 instead of disk 0 or the other way around. And windows is booting to the original drive that hosted your windows installation.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 71
    Windows 11 Pro - 23H2
    Thread Starter
       #15

    Hi all,

    Before I start doing as requested with images etc as I go through the process of deleting partitions and installing windows etc.

    I ran the system info for the Tablet.
    Something strange going on unless this is the norm.
    The device name: it was a week or so ago Desktop-CTROQB9 and now its Desktop-VHUAJ0E
    The ram has changed from 1024 DDR3L to 1.0 DIMM
    The BIOS changed from 5.008 to 5.6.5
    The harddisk shows 3 partitions and the logical disk as NTFS 28.52 Gb
    The boot device on harddisk vol 2 and system device vol 4

    Is the norm and should I do anything else before carrying on as requested with images etc.

    thanks
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
       #16

    tensone said:
    Hi all,

    Before I start doing as requested with images etc as I go through the process of deleting partitions and installing windows etc.

    I ran the system info for the Tablet.
    Something strange going on unless this is the norm.
    The device name: it was a week or so ago Desktop-CTROQB9 and now its Desktop-VHUAJ0E
    The ram has changed from 1024 DDR3L to 1.0 DIMM
    The BIOS changed from 5.008 to 5.6.5
    The harddisk shows 3 partitions and the logical disk as NTFS 28.52 Gb
    The boot device on harddisk vol 2 and system device vol 4

    Is the norm and should I do anything else before carrying on as requested with images etc.

    thanks
    Don't worry about the device name Windows 10 Installation changes that every time for some unknown reason and always calls it a Desktop. As for the BIOS it looks like its just been updated. Just delete all the partitions until all space is unallocated. Click on Next and allow Windows to set up the partitions as required
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 71
    Windows 11 Pro - 23H2
    Thread Starter
       #17

    zbook said:
    Please update the system specs in the "My Computer" section:
    How To Fill Out Your System Specs
    System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums:
    System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums Site Use Tutorials
    In the left corner below in your post you find 'My System Specs'.
    After clicking it you can find a link a little below that says 'Update your System Spec', click on this link to get to the page where you can fill in your system specs.
    System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

    Please confirm: You were able to delete all partitions > make an unallocated drive > reinstall Windows 10 version 1709
    After the clean install you now have problems related to the prior folders/files?

    Please use a camera or smart phone camera to take pictures and post images into thread.
    1) Insert a windows 10 iso version 1709 into any usb port
    2) Turn of wireless, disconnect ethernet/cat5e cable, turn off router if necessary to make sure that there is no connection to the internet
    2) power on and open the boot menu to choose external USB hard drive
    3) allow the windows 10 iso to load, it may take 5 - 10 minutes while viewing the windows icon
    4) choose language, time, currency, and keyboard, then click next
    5) click install > post an image into the thread
    6) delete all partitions again > make an unallocated drive > post an image into the thread
    7) install windows 10 version 1709 without upgrades
    8) If the installation wet smoothly > connect to the internet and perform windows updates
    9) When windows had completed installing and updating open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
    10) sfc /scannow
    11) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
    12) chkdsk /scan
    13) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > save to desktop > post into the thread after connecting
    14) open disk management > widen each the status and volume columns so that the contents in all rows in view and nothing is cut off > post an image into the thread
    15) If there are any problems with the computer > post images into the thread
    16) For any problems > place the computer in safe mode > see if this corrects the problem
    Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
    OK here are the images and cmd results.
    Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows-setup.jpg
    Setup starting

    Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows-license.jpg
    Agreeing t&c

    Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows-part-b4.jpg
    partitions before

    Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows-part-after.jpg
    partitions after

    Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows-partmgr.jpg
    partition mgr

    Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows-powericon.jpg
    power icon still greyed

    Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows-othericon.jpg
    other greyed icons

    Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows-safemodeicon.jpg
    icons in safe mode (no change)

    Before doing as requested above, I selected a Microsoft image as my new background turning off my old slideshow which kept coming back after installs. So it was a new image.
    After the install as above and despite selecting a new microsoft background image prior, my slideshow has returned as has done after so many installs trying to solve why I cannot get the power/battery icon onto the task bar also again despite selecting the Tablet power/boot up button to be used for shutdown. It will not, have to go through start and shut down from there.
    I have also tried going to the registry as many suggest as a cure, to delete 2 values. Only one value (the first as suggested) is seen to be deleted, the second is not seen.
    Added to above, going into Safe Mode makes no difference..........

    thanks
    Cannot format Hard drive to completely install clean Windows Attached Files
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #18

    You need to install the chipset driver from the manufacturer of the tablet.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 41,413
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       #19

    Please open the webpage for the computer manufacturer.
    Enter the computer's serial or product number or the model number.
    Identify all of the drivers and bios information for the computer.
    With a clean install the computer currently has Windows default drivers for non-microsoft services and hardware.
    Update the BIOS and install all applicable drivers from the computer manufacturer's website.
    Please post the URL or hyperlink into the thread.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
       #20

    I would also ensure in this case that when he goes to the PC manufacturers website for drivers that he installs all the latest chipset drivers and BIOS drivers first before updating the other drivers to avoid any conflicts
      My Computer


 

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