Which partition to install Windows 10 on
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Anonymous user
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MPMP10 Posted messages 47235 Registration date Status Member Last intervention -
MPMP10 Posted messages 47235 Registration date Status Member Last intervention -
Hello,
I decided a few days ago to reinstall Windows 10 on my Dell Inspiron 15 laptop, using an older version of Windows 10 that I find much better.
I'm proceeding with a bootable USB drive, everything is going smoothly until I need to choose which partition I want to install Windows 10 on:
- Partition 1: System - 500 MB
- Partition 2: OEM - 40 MB
- Partition 3: Reserved - 128 MB ("wintools")
- Partition 4: Recovery - 500 MB
- Partition 5: Main - 916 GB
- Partition 6: Recovery - 350 MB (there are files but I don't know where they come from)
- Partition 7: Recovery - 13 GB (there are files specific to DELL)
Obviously, none of these partitions are "compatible for installing Windows 10".
It’s impossible for me to create a new partition (as all the available space is occupied by the above partitions).
I can, however, format all of them, but I’m afraid of making a mistake (and I’m not sure that will ultimately make the partition "compatible").
I therefore stopped the installation, which could not begin anyway, and now I can't restart normally; I’m greeted with the bootloader at startup.
I’m really sorry, I’m a total noob in this area.
I decided a few days ago to reinstall Windows 10 on my Dell Inspiron 15 laptop, using an older version of Windows 10 that I find much better.
I'm proceeding with a bootable USB drive, everything is going smoothly until I need to choose which partition I want to install Windows 10 on:
- Partition 1: System - 500 MB
- Partition 2: OEM - 40 MB
- Partition 3: Reserved - 128 MB ("wintools")
- Partition 4: Recovery - 500 MB
- Partition 5: Main - 916 GB
- Partition 6: Recovery - 350 MB (there are files but I don't know where they come from)
- Partition 7: Recovery - 13 GB (there are files specific to DELL)
Obviously, none of these partitions are "compatible for installing Windows 10".
It’s impossible for me to create a new partition (as all the available space is occupied by the above partitions).
I can, however, format all of them, but I’m afraid of making a mistake (and I’m not sure that will ultimately make the partition "compatible").
I therefore stopped the installation, which could not begin anyway, and now I can't restart normally; I’m greeted with the bootloader at startup.
I’m really sorry, I’m a total noob in this area.
4 answers
Personally, you have 2 options:
1 - take note of this > https://www.dell.com/support/article/en/en/frbsdt1/sln297920/restoring-or-reinstalling-windows-10-on-your-dell-computer?lang=en#WinRE
2 - Stop using the manufacturer's configuration and install your own version of Windows on a clean disk. Then update the drivers from the Dell website. To make your disk clean, you need to use diskpart in command line during boot from a UEFI USB drive. Once the disk is clean, the installation won’t pose any problems. Plus, you will have a single partition, hence the entirety of the disk space.
The advantage of the second option is that you can choose your applications and not have to deal with the entire suite of manufacturer software, such as the default antivirus and all the other useless gadgets.
After that, you are not obliged to follow my suggestions; it's up to you to see what makes the most sense.
1 - take note of this > https://www.dell.com/support/article/en/en/frbsdt1/sln297920/restoring-or-reinstalling-windows-10-on-your-dell-computer?lang=en#WinRE
2 - Stop using the manufacturer's configuration and install your own version of Windows on a clean disk. Then update the drivers from the Dell website. To make your disk clean, you need to use diskpart in command line during boot from a UEFI USB drive. Once the disk is clean, the installation won’t pose any problems. Plus, you will have a single partition, hence the entirety of the disk space.
The advantage of the second option is that you can choose your applications and not have to deal with the entire suite of manufacturer software, such as the default antivirus and all the other useless gadgets.
After that, you are not obliged to follow my suggestions; it's up to you to see what makes the most sense.
I'm more inclined towards solution 2, but I have another problem: I can't seem to boot in UEFI. No matter how much I fiddle with the settings, for UEFI mode, I can only choose to boot from:
- Windows Boot Manager
- UEFI Onboard LAN IPv4
- UEFI Onboard LAN IPv6
On the other hand, I can boot the USB key in "Legacy" without any issues, but then the partitions aren't in the correct format (they appear to be in GPT).
I'm wondering if my PC is UEFI compatible, but since the option appears, it should be, normally.
To check if your disk is on a GPT or MBR partition type, from Disk Management, right-click on Disk 0, then go to Properties and Volume.