New
#11
I'm currently creating a 8.1 boot flash drive. If that fails I'll try your advice. Thanks - your help is much appreciated.
Reinstall Windows 10 from DVD but no DVD drive
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New #12
Progress - of sorts. I can now get to the C drive and I can see all the Windows files. What command do I use (and from which folder) to launch Windows?
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New #14
I ran the setup.exe and the machine is now looping through the Dell splash screen and then to an error message 'Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart' with the error code 0xc000021a.
The machine is not going to c: prompt when I do a cold reboot and hit F8 but loops through the above. Ahhhhh!!! Any ideas? The machine is a month out of warranty!
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New #15
I have removed the flash drive, applied F8 on reboot, and I can get to the Dell SupportAssistant which runs a couple of tests and then reports 'Hardware scan complete an no issues'. That's got to be good news? The only option it offers is 'Shutdown'. Hitting SHutdown and then rebooting without the flash drive in goes to the Dell SupportAssist screen with a 'No bootable devices found' (unsurprising). With the flash drive in it then takes me through the above-mentioned loop.
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New #16
If you are booting from a Windows installation USB flash drive the first screen you should see is:
Then you will navigate through a few other setup screens until you get to this one:
You should then click on the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option and this is the next screen:
Is that what you are seeing/doing so far? Then on that screen you should delete each partition on the hard drive until it is nothing but unallocated space, highlight the unallocated space and click next. That is how you wipe everything off the hard drive (erasing it), and do a brand new, clean install of Windows only.
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New #17
I'd made my way to that point before but I had no idea what deleting all the partitions would do so I backed off. I've followed you instructions and it is now installing Windows from the USB so hopefully it will complete.
I am extremely grateful for your help and patience - it really is very much appreciated. Hopefully, my knowledge will increase and one day I may be able to help someone else.
Again, my thanks.
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New #18
NavyLCDR knows his stuff. Custom install is what I do on a clean install. I delete all partitions except my Data partition/drive. I keep my Documents, Pictures, etc on a separate drive or partition. I just do a change folder location after my clean install. Anyway, Windows will auto create the partitions it needs if you install to unallocated space. All the correct size too. It's the way to go to reduce issues latter on.
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New #19
For Upgrades I've copied the .iso file to a USB Thumb drive and in File Explorer I use right-click on that file and Mount which creates a pseudo DVD drive then run setup.exe from that. It doesn't work for a clean install unless following other suggestions given here for creating a bootable USB. When done it can be ejected.
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New #20
Then mount the ISO file you have saved and copy all the files and folders from the mounted ISO file to the USB flash drive.
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