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Question

format please help

Aug 12, 2017 1:34PM PDT

Hello everyone, I want to format my laptop but it won't let me.
let me explain, I am using windows 10 I wanted to reset it using the tools but it didn't let, it always was blocking me, I tried everything so I decided to reformat it but now I want to use my USB but my laptop doesn't won't find it. i check the bios to setup it to boot from my USB but nothing, I put a brand new hard drivee but the laptop says "no booting system found" even with my usb plug in. How could fix my laptop when the the laptop doesn't see the usb and it doesn't have a cd/dvd reader installed. i think the drivers for the usb are corrupted but how do i install new drivers when my laptop won't let me run anything after download./

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Why not try an USB CD/DVD reader?
Aug 12, 2017 1:51PM PDT

Post was last edited on August 12, 2017 1:53 PM PDT

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usb ports don;t work
Aug 12, 2017 2:34PM PDT

the laptop will not see the USB. I have a windows OS on a USB to install but it won;t see it when I reboot the laptop, i press F12 nothing shows even if the usb stick is plug in. My laptop has 3 usb ports none of them work.the laptop will not see the USB. I have a windows OS on a USB to install but it won;t see it

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Answer
DVDRW USB drives are now under 25 bucks.
Aug 12, 2017 1:59PM PDT

And worth every dollar.

Did you check if your USB key boots in other PCs?

I find many use very interesting methods to make the USB reinstall/repair key. The right way for W10 is the Microsoft Media Creation kit.

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usb stick works
Aug 12, 2017 2:33PM PDT

the laptop will not see the USB. I have a windows OS on a USB to install but it won;t see it when I reboot the laptop, i press F12 nothing shows even if the usb stick is plug in. My laptop has 3 usb ports none of them work.

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I have to ask what you mean by works.
Aug 12, 2017 2:36PM PDT

I've had folk tell me it works and they mean they can see the ISO file on the stick.

That's not right either.

What do you mean by the USB stick works? To work it has to boot in other PCs.

Also what are you saying here about the 3 USB ports? Are they dead?

Finally, there are some laptops that won't boot over 32GB memory sticks. I use 4, 8 and 16GB sticks for my W10 install sticks which I made with Microsoft's Media Creation Kit.

Why is using the kit important? It avoids dead ends where folk take the .iso to the stick in odd new ways.

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Seems like the ISO to USB issue.
Aug 12, 2017 3:04PM PDT

Can you tell us how you made this USB stick with Win 10?
Dafydd.

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media tool
Aug 12, 2017 3:10PM PDT

I have two usb :
One that I've always used to format different laptop
and the second i created using the media tool. downloaded from microsoft

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used it before
Aug 12, 2017 3:05PM PDT

when I say it works it's because i used this stick to format other laptop and never have a problem, I tried different usb stick and none are shown in the booting. when I put back the old hard drive I can on the device manager the usb section and I see that i missing drivers i've done everything to install the new drivers but nothing works, so i was able to reformat the laptop using windows 10 media tool and everything was ok but the usb never got fixed, so i've been using a sd card to save files or do different things since none of the usb port work. Now I want to reformat my disk again because it was badly infected but nothing works, meaning,,, windos 10 reset, media, i can't even go to device manager or edit anything it keeps blocking me. it gives me a message, this is why I bought a new hard drive and have a completely flesh install but when i go into the bios to select the booting order i make sure it boots from usb but when it restart it says no booting device found

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What was it infected with?
Aug 12, 2017 3:14PM PDT

Might give us a clue.
Dafydd.

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no idea
Aug 12, 2017 3:26PM PDT

i don;t know what type of virus all i know is that it was acting weird and wouldn't allow me to do anything. can i boot it from sd. card.
my laptop is acer E1-510

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Reason I asked...
Aug 12, 2017 3:32PM PDT

I wondered if it was ransomeware but you would have had a message along the lines of "your files have been encrypted".
Dafydd.

Post was last edited on August 12, 2017 3:36 PM PDT

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Those infected PCs
Aug 12, 2017 3:17PM PDT

Can jump to connected drives.

Anyhow, time to create some other bootable sticks and re-test. If the USB ports are gone, this is usually the end for this unknown laptop.

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is it dead?
Aug 12, 2017 3:22PM PDT

Are you saying that mb is not good anymore since the usb don't work even though it shows on the bios boot order?

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uefi?
Aug 12, 2017 3:36PM PDT

So this article says that it's better to work with uefi, so how do i change on mylaptop acer e1-510. maybe this will allow me to boot from usb if it sees it

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I removed that post.
Aug 12, 2017 3:41PM PDT

We knew very little about your machine. Did you upgrade from Win 7?
Dafydd.

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no
Aug 12, 2017 3:45PM PDT

this laptop came with windows 8 when i bought i think

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I'm really thinking it's your MOBO now.
Aug 12, 2017 3:59PM PDT

Lets wait and see what Bob has to say.
Dafydd.

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You may be looking at dead or disabled ports.
Aug 12, 2017 5:13PM PDT

I'm not there to check your work. Be sure to test boot your sticks on other PCs. Be sure to set the BIOS to include the USB as boot items and then you must know if your PC supports a W10 USB boot.

The machine is a mystery machine so far but yes if the USB ports are blown it's usually the end.

Any chance of finding out what the PC make, model is?

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USB tested
Aug 12, 2017 6:49PM PDT

I'm working with two USB, both work on my other laptop, I have an Acer E1-510, how could all three USB ports be blown? I have 2 on one side and 1 on the other side

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Here's how.
Aug 12, 2017 10:38PM PDT
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More about this Acer e1
Aug 12, 2017 5:15PM PDT
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Windows 8
Aug 12, 2017 6:45PM PDT

It came with windows 8.1

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Answer
Formatting your hard drive
Aug 15, 2017 10:30AM PDT

You could set up networking and do a network install. You have no drivers for your USB drive on that new hard drive, so I would try putting the old HD back in, then try booting from the USB drive and reinstall that way. Can you get to the command prompt? If you can get to the command prompt, you can do a format c:\ which will format the hard drive listed as C:\Drive on your system. (Make sure C:\ is your default. 99% of them are but you never know.) Once formatted then you should be able to install from your boot drive of choice. If you try the networking approach, I would try it using a wired network connection as opposed to wireless. (You will need drivers for your wi-fi.) Anyhow, hope that helps!

Michael Pereira
Adobe Evangelist