SSD Disk partitioning issues

wongataa

danthemoneysavingman said:

Couple more questions...   (it's my sister's laptop so dont really know these)
1. How can I find out which flavour of Windows 10 she had?

Settings -> System -> About

danthemoneysavingman said:

2. How can I find here windows Key to activate the fresh install?

You don't need a key.  Microsoft have recorded the fact that the computer has an activated copy of Windows 10 on it.  If you re-install Windows 10 it will check with Microsoft, see that Windows 10 was activated on the computer before and activate the new install.

HereToday

danthemoneysavingman said:

Couple more questions...   (it's my sister's laptop so dont really know these)
1. How can I find out which flavour of Windows 10 she had?
2. How can I find here windows Key to activate the fresh install?

Thanks

The install will pick up that there was Windows 10 installed before. You won't need a key. All much easier than you imagine...but wait!
Does your sister sign in using a local account or a Microsoft account? I ask because nowadays the Windows 10 install pushes you to sign in with a Microsoft account. But if she doesn't want to that you should remember to not connect to the Internet at all during the install. This will render the system unable to register you to a Microsoft account; you will then be offered the old usual local account sign in option.
Also you need to know what to select during the install, otherwise she might end up with a lot more unwanted features and tracking.https://pixelprivacy.com/resources/windows-privacy-settings/ So during the install DO NOT choose the Express Install and decline and untick everything as you go through the pages.

HereToday

[Deleted User] said:

If you have the ability to build a USB on another machine, I highly recommend Parted Magic. It is a lightweight Linux with all the disk tools you can imagine.

Personally I'd do the following:
1. Reset your bios to default settings (optional but I prefer this)
2. Boot with Parted Magic on USB
3. Secure erase the SSD
4. Reinstall Windows from USB / DVD

There are tools to check the disk, change the partitions etc however I'd just go with the cleanest option above.

Really no need for that extra step. The Window 10 installation should fix the partition issues.

pbartlett

Get the latest W10 from here - click 'download tool now' and when finished burn the iso to a dvd

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

There are other ways but this is the simplest. Then boot the laptop from the dvd

HereToday

pbartlett said:

Get the latest W10 from here - click 'download tool now' and when finished burn the iso to a dvd

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

There are other ways but this is the simplest. Then boot the laptop from the dvd

Creating the Windows 10 USB flash drive

1. Visit the Microsoft Media Creation Tool website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
2. Click Download Tool Now.
3. Save the Application.
4. Plug your USB Flash Drive of at least 8GB capacity into the PC where you saved the application.
5. Run the Application.
6. Accept the EULA
7. Select Create installation media for another PC and click Next.
8. Choose the correct settings for your version of Windows 10

• Language (Country)
• Windows 10
• 64-bit (x64)

Click Next.Select USB Flash Drive and click Next.Select the Flash Drive and click Next.Allow the application to complete. You will be prompted when it is finished and has successfully created the bootable drive.

danthemoneysavingman

wongataa said:

danthemoneysavingman said:

Couple more questions...   (it's my sister's laptop so dont really know these)
1. How can I find out which flavour of Windows 10 she had?

Settings -> System -> About

Sadly this isnt possible as I cant boot to windows - unless you mean something else.

So... as my sister didn't even know she had windows 10, no point asking her... 
Can anyone tell me how to work out what flavour of WIndows 10 was on that partition. I have backed it up as a clone and an acronis backup .TIB file so can access the data thereon easily enough - just can't run it.

Please advise if you are wise!

Thanks for help so far guys.
I am going to do fresh install, hope she has her software details as I haven't got that info.
{this is why I wanted to save the existing install...
and on this point, wondering if (once the laptop is bootable) i will be able to replace the windows install with that from the backup }

Lots more points here if you want to add your thoughts folks. 

Cheers!

grumpycrab

Its a Dell isn't it?  Enter Service Tag (look for stickers on computer) here https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk?app=products
It'll tell you what was on the computer from new.

wongataa

danthemoneysavingman said:

wongataa said:

danthemoneysavingman said:

Couple more questions...   (it's my sister's laptop so dont really know these)
1. How can I find out which flavour of Windows 10 she had?

Settings -> System -> About

Sadly this isnt possible as I cant boot to windows - unless you mean something else.

It's more than likely it was Windows 10 Home.  That is what you tend to get unless you are buying computers aimed at businesses.

HereToday

danthemoneysavingman said:

wongataa said:

danthemoneysavingman said:

Couple more questions...   (it's my sister's laptop so dont really know these)
1. How can I find out which flavour of Windows 10 she had?

Settings -> System -> About

Sadly this isnt possible as I cant boot to windows - unless you mean something else.

So... as my sister didn't even know she had windows 10, no point asking her... 
Can anyone tell me how to work out what flavour of WIndows 10 was on that partition. I have backed it up as a clone and an acronis backup .TIB file so can access the data thereon easily enough - just can't run it.

Please advise if you are wise!

Thanks for help so far guys.
I am going to do fresh install, hope she has her software details as I haven't got that info.
{this is why I wanted to save the existing install...
and on this point, wondering if (once the laptop is bootable) i will be able to replace the windows install with that from the backup }

Lots more points here if you want to add your thoughts folks. 

Cheers!

As I told you earlier; the installer will pick up what was on there. Don't worry about that.
But you need to track down the reason for the errors. The SSD could have bad blocks. So you could be doing it all for nothing unless you change the drive. Also check the RAM.

danthemoneysavingman

Installer just offered me 16 flavours of Windows 10. Don't feel the "as I told you before" was necessary! But thanks for your help.

All sorted now. Case closed