Windows 10 Set-up

alphanumeric said:

It seems to me that your paying for something you can just download for free? You can burn a DVD from the MCT ISO. I suspect that the one your getting, only having Home and Pro on it, may be an old build? CE or AU. I guess you'll know whn you get it. Why not just do a clean install instead of an upgrade?

I do not have anything to do a clean install with. I am not able to log in, so I cannot do a new dowload of a Windows 10 installer. I did do a download of the Windows 10 ISO on my Mac and copied it onto a 8GB flashdrive formatted for windows, I tried to boot the laptop from the flashdrive, but the boot order has the flashdrive in position 3, with the DVD drive in position 1.

I have tried to burn windows 10 ISO to a Memorex DVDRW using the Mac optical drive, but I have been unable to get that to work and I have used a compressed air duster in the slot of the optical drive. That did get it working to play DVD's, but for what ever reason reading a blank DVDRW is not happening.

I was hoping to post a report on the Diagnostics by now, but it is still working - when it started it said 126 min. that was at 12:Noon today and it
is just now going through the final Verify test.

OK = First everything has passed with the Dell Diagnostic Disk test.

Second - I was finally able to make a DVDRW with the Windows link and am now using on the laptop, I'll see how far I get and report

I was able to download Windows 10 ISO onto a DVDRW, I used it on the Dell Laptop, that is how I got the Start Up repaired. I wanted to erase the HD, before doing the clean install - that way I can be sure all the problem stuff is gone. The problem non of the DEll Recovery & Back Up works I keep getting a message saying there is no Windows Recover - so I'm guessing that part of Windows never got installed.

Now I have to figure out how to erase the Dell HD, before doing a clean install.

alphanumeric said:

During the install select "custom". That will get you a screen where you can use disk tools to delete all the partitions. Then just install into the unallocated space. Windows will then create all the custom partitions it needs automatically. You can pick and chose what partitions to delete. I keep my personal folders like Pictures etc on a Data partition. I leave that one intact and delete all the rest.

Just to clarify: Is this done with the DVDRW I made with the Windows ISO download or with the Dell Utilities Disk?

alphanumeric said:

Its done during the Windows install process. Boot from your Windows DVD and select custom install.
Step 10 here, Clean Install Windows 10

OK - I chose the Primary HD, I did a formatting and I'm going through set-up now.

I "love" the little lady with her instructions.