OK so no one had the answer. I'm left with the only option being to log in as administrator and remove my usual login name and account and re-create it with the same Microsoft credentials and hope...

I've looked there but there's no repair option. Only add or remove.

Since I bought this PC I've logged into it with myMicrosoft user account which uses my own domain email account. The account had the display name of Norman but the folder in "Users" was named with...

That's actually a homegroup password. :)

That's the plan. Just not looking forward to re-installing all my software. I did it a week or so ago after a clean install of 1511 trying to cure the cumulative update problem doing a disappearing...

I'm frightened to do it in case it starts downloading the cumulative update. :)

I'm getting ready to do a clean install of the AU once I've got Macrium images of both my C: and D: drives. The in...

It seems you can't choose what to install, just "Install now".
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If you click on "Details" it shows the KB3176493 is waiting to download but the Defender definitions are waiting for install...

After posting I found this and applied the option Never_Notify_or_Check_for_Updates.reg I then went in to Settings/Update and saw that there was a flag saying "Some settings are managed by your...

I'm having some real problems with KB3176493 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems. After the update one of my disk drives disappears. The disk (D:) is my main data...

Cliff S thanks for the pointer. The directory C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther has a number of files named like "CompatData_2016_08_09_10_32_59_3_006f0018.xml". This being the final one at around the...

Anyone have an answer? Is there an install log file somewhere that would tell me what application the install is baulking at?

Yes, no links active at all.

Just run the Setup which checked my PC and found no problems. It then downloaded and run the setup but has stopped at this screen.

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I have no idea what program is causing the problem and I...

No further problems since ditching the cheap USB hub. Hope you find the answer.

But I have a 700GB a 300GB as well as the WINRETOOLS partition which is 867MB. The first two are unused and unallocated.

Windows 10.

I understand and accept the view that no further changes should be made it's just that I hate to see nearly 2GB of disk space going begging particularly as I bought the largest SSD...

Thank you. I just ran Macrium and the option to create rescue boot asked where to place it and I just pointed to the external hard disk. It created a MBR boot sector and all is well (see my last...

The 449mb is the recovery partition and it is flagged as enabled.

Probably my OCD kicking in but this is what EasUS is showing now.

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Think I might tidy it up later, after getting...

Thanks for that. Yes the new partition is the 449mb one. I didn't re-name the Windows partition EaseUS did that. I'll re-arrange them later if it's not needed.

A weird thing.

During yesterday's shenanigans the laptop told me it needed to install an update and had scheduled it for 03:30 today. That update took place and it was a "biggie" - several...

I did try to create USB rescue but the only flash drives I had were USB2 and all the ports are USB3. They didn't work. I've ordered a couple of USB3 sticks so will get that organised.

BTW I did do a full disk image with Macrium first and saved it to the portable. I'll do another when I'm happy that all is well with the system.

Thanks again
Norman

Thanks to all 4 of you.

I downloaded EaseUS partition manager and this showed me what each of the partitions were used for. I was then able to extend the OS partition with the 20GB recovery...

I've spent 3 hours on the phone to Dell this morning and been passed from pillar to post before I gave up.

The complete story is as follows.

I bought the laptop which came with NO disks. There...

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 15 7000 with a 120GB SSD and a 1TB hard disk. I have the OS on the SSD (C:\) together with the programs. So far I have installed Office 365 and little else. I have moved...