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Question

How To - Dell xps 15 USB bootable. 32gb SSD and 1TB hdd

by Jul 17, 2016 11:51AM PDT

Hello,

I just got my laptop with the following specification.
dell xps 15, 32gb SSD and 1tb hard disk. Currently I am unable to boot from USB and even if I manage to boot from USB it throws an error that the windows 10 cannot be installed in this drive. I am trying to install windows on my newly created partition which is of 200 mb. I have also formatted my SSD drive where the previous windows was installed. I have uploaded the screenshots of basic configuration. I have no idea about UEFI or legacy boot as this is something new. Please help me in this regard.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-PRPXI8HpCQMjhRc2NVSF...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-PRPXI8HpCQb24ycUVaVE...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-PRPXI8HpCQNnRQTUtJRk...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-PRPXI8HpCQZDd3ZGJDTG...

Thanks

Discussion is locked

12 Posts
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Clarification Request
All the picture links are dead here.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 17, 2016 12:04PM PDT

Maybe the trailing periods? Were those typed in by you?

With today's new EFI and such BIOS I can never tell you exactly what to do on each machine. I just run through the settings to get it to work. One time it's secure boot. The next time it's turning on some CSM (see google on bios modes.)

As to the W10 error I just got one like that. Turns out I had my SATA mode wrong and a bum partition scheme. So I took the BIOS defaults on the SATA and started over with a blank, no partition drive. Done.

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Picture links - fixed
by andyslim59 Jul 17, 2016 12:24PM PDT
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To me
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 17, 2016 12:33PM PDT

It sounds like the old bum partition scheme. Windows 10 will not install to 200MB so that's a dead end. Why partition before the install? It's too advanced and I won't discuss how to make a W10 partition system. It's just too hard today and specific to each PC.

That doesn't mean I walk away. I only support starting with a blank drive. Let the W10 installer do that work.

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Partition
by andyslim59 Jul 17, 2016 12:38PM PDT

The only reason I did the partition because I wanted to dedicate 200GB for windows and then the rest for normal work along side 32gb ssd. Now what do you suggest? I've got 3 partitions, i.e. 32gb ssd, 200gb and 700gb. Should I combine all of them and then run the installer or do what?
Thanks

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That's a bad partition scheme.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 17, 2016 12:54PM PDT

I can't tell why you made it this way but W7 and on use more than one partition on a drive to hold the OS. Let the installer do the work.

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Make sense
by andyslim59 Jul 17, 2016 12:56PM PDT

Alright, so whats the possible option do I have now? I dont have any running OS and want to install.

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Do what.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 17, 2016 1:04PM PDT

Sorry but combining them is also wrong. Just delete them and let Windows do the work. You can then examine that to so what partition scheme Windows wants.

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Install windows
by andyslim591 Jul 17, 2016 9:07PM PDT

So what you are saying that I should delete all partitions except for the recovery ones from the windows installation process and then try to install in one drive which should be of 1TB

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Why keep that?
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 17, 2016 9:45PM PDT

If you want to dive into what Microsoft thinks here, just give it a blank boot install drive and once it's done, examine it.

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Didn't understand
by andyslim591 Jul 18, 2016 12:38AM PDT

Sorry I am not able to get what you are proposing over here. I have 2 drives of 200gb and 700gb and one drive of 32gb ssd. Now what should I do? Should I change the configuration of UEFI, legacy boot or what?

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We were discussing partition schemes.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 18, 2016 8:01AM PDT

If you want to figure out a good Windows partition scheme, install it to a no partition drive and then when done, look at the result.

As to BIOS, UEFI, that's done as need be to get the USB or such to boot. Here I always start with defaults since I need the PCs I work on to go out and never come back. Why? Because the CMOS battery can die and folk would reset to defaults and if it's some deeply custom settings they often lose the settings and it's back for support.

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Answer
Partitions
by Jul 18, 2016 11:16AM PDT

When it becomes a hassle sometimes its just better to start again as "blank". The install creates whatever it needs and it becomes less to deal with. There is usually a 10mb partition that is created that generally handles the OS needs in a hidden way. It can be found and you tend to increase its size, it won't acknowledge it. Why that is so, is beyond me, but I know to leave it be unless some instructions are there to deal with it. Yes, removing it will help in a OS re-install NOT the upgrade install or so it seems, until you check again and the 10mb is recreated. If you want to save any older recovery partitions from some failure, you did something wrong like total wipeout, then save it as an "image". Of course, during the install you should note you want to install the upgrade in the "C" partition or main/primary. Usually, that doesn't interfere with the recovery one, just FYI.

Since, you ,mentioned UEFI, then you want to check the vendors support website. They should have details on install of new HD. -OR- the vendor of your new HD devices have advice on how the install is best handled. I strongly suggest done't get to creative or unique in SATA setups, use the default. Also, be sure what the RAID setup is OFF/disabled provided you don't use that. Legacy maybe the keyword here as it refers to older standards or provide within itself the easier way of getting things done. Also, the mtrbd. or PC manual should touch on this as well.

tada -----Willy Happy

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