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Question

My problem with Partitions (video)

Apr 24, 2018 3:36PM PDT

I suggest watching on YouTube, as you may not be able to see what's going on. Sorry for the vertical lines, I'm an idiot. Happy


The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 15 3521. The HDD is a Western Digital 500GiB.
I just thought it would be appropriate to include a video this time, of my problem. Thank you all, CNet mods and forum-goers!

Post was last edited on April 24, 2018 3:38 PM PDT

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
That looks like one of those Pirate Windows installers.
Apr 24, 2018 3:52PM PDT

All bets are off here. Get to those that made this installer to see what to do next.

Note: After I saw that menu, I stopped. It's either a pirate system or something you don't get from the usual channels. Tell more.

As to partitions, this is easy. Start with none and just point the installer to the blank drive. The installer will do the rest.

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Microsoft's tryna get me arrested?
Apr 24, 2018 3:59PM PDT

The installation is actually from Microsoft's Media Creation Tool that you can download:
Microsoft Windows MCT for Win10.0

Going through the MCT, there is no option to select an HDD or anything, probably because I'm installing Win10 to a Thumb Drive. If you mean, on the laptop during the installation, how would I do that? Is there a Keyboard Shortcut to get there? Where would I go manually to get there?

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It's new to me.
Apr 24, 2018 4:04PM PDT

I think this is not the usual MCK (Microsoft Creation Kit.)

Now that's out of the way ONLY Microsoft Windows To Go installs to Thumb Drives. Nothing broke here. You just have the wrong Windows version.

This version is very expensive from what I hear.

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Alright!
Apr 24, 2018 4:11PM PDT

"Expensive" oh boy, no way am I using MCT ever again. I'm downloading MCK after I post this. What kind of "wrong version" do you mean? Like, wrong as in wrong media tool, or "you are trying to use Win10 on a Win8.1 Original" wrong version? Should I try Win8.1, because that was the original OS for that laptop?

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MCK, MCT I don't think any of those will be correct.
Apr 24, 2018 4:38PM PDT

Google up "Windows To Go" and I think this is an Enterprise version (I'm going from memory here) but Windows 8.1 won't install to USB either. Maybe it's installer but not the OS.

Are you after some Dell OEM release? Oh wait, now that I've read your other post I have to walk back so much.

-> Windows 8.1 doesn't have digital entitlement so this is going to cost a lot more than if you order restore media from Dell or ask if Dell has the restore up on Digital River. Be sure to check Dell forums on this as last year I recall the restore media was up on Digital River for Dells.

https://www.google.com/search?q=windows+8.1+dell+digital+river+download finds
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-windows-8-1-retail-and-oem-iso/


But I'm not a Dell specialist. I only know "it's different" and order restore media because any other way is time consuming and we charge by the hour.

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Right now, I'm...
Apr 24, 2018 4:46PM PDT

I'm installing an ISO for Win8, instead of just extracting it immediately to a USB. I've got Windows To Go in a ISO to USB converter on my (working) PC, the same converter I used to extract DBaN (sucks that cleaning the HDD didn't work) Right now the install is at 30% complete, should be done by 7:57 PM EST.

Post was last edited on April 24, 2018 4:48 PM PDT

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I think I'm confused.
Apr 24, 2018 4:51PM PDT

To make a Windows install stick we use one of the .iso's and a guide. We can't unpack the .iso because we'll be missing the boot information on the stick.

To install Windows to some usb drive, there's only one supported version which is Windows To Go. There are unsupported ways to get Windows to run from USB but I can't go there. Folk might get the idea these should work. Sorry, nope. Those hacks are just that. Roll of the dice, flip of the coin as they say.

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So I'll install Windows To Go.
Apr 24, 2018 4:58PM PDT

Is that an OS? Or is hearing "Windows" making me think it is an OS?

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Oh yeah, and...
Apr 24, 2018 4:55PM PDT

Looking into it, there may not be Digital Entitlement for Win8, but somehow this laptop is recognizing that it's OG OS was Windows 8, therefore I won't be needing a Product Key, because the laptop already has one remembered. Weird. :\

Post was last edited on April 24, 2018 4:55 PM PDT

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Sounds like progress
Apr 24, 2018 5:45PM PDT

Even if I'm a little confused about what you needed to do.