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[Solved] Back To Windows

Discussion in 'Linux' started by Almost Nearly Sociable, Jan 5, 2025.

  1. Almost Nearly Sociable

    Almost Nearly Sociable Registered Members

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    Switching back to Windows from Linux, but my problem is how to do it. My Linux OS got corrupted and am unable to log in to it. Also, I can't just boot with my Windows boot USB because my hard disk is not formatted with NTFS. I am rather stuck as I see no option in my BIOS to reform a disk or partition. My desk top is a Bosston Gaming PC with Ryzen, and 250 Gigs Hard Drive., I think, hard drive. So, as far as I know the only thing I have to work with is the BIOS, but I saw no option to format the disk or partition in the bios unless I somehow missed it. Whenever I try to boot from my bootable USB for Windows, I get the error that tells me my hard dick is not NTFS. I do not have a bootable USB for Linux currently, although I have one on order. I must find a way to reformat that drive. If the drive was a standard PC Seagate or similar drive, I could switch it to another PC and reformat it there, but it isn't. It is one of those long, narrow modern drives. Any ideas what I can do? Thank You.
     
  2. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    I'm 99.99% sure there's an option to format the drive when you boot to a USB Windows install disk. Are you sure it's booting to the USB drive?
    While waiting for your response, I'll try doing the same with a Linux machine and Windows install drive I have here.
     
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  3. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    If you booted from a Windows USB Drive, here's what you should see:
    1) Windows Setup window w/Language, Time/Currency, Keyboard options
    2) Install Now button
    3) Select "I don't have a product key" for now.
    4) Windows version - you probably want Windows 10 Home or version for the license you have.
    5) Accept the license agreement
    6) Custom Install
    At this point, you should see drives and partions available. You'll have the option to Format them.​
     
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  4. Almost Nearly Sociable

    Almost Nearly Sociable Registered Members

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    Yes, absolutely the same but when I get to the option of "Format" I select it but nothing happens. No format takes place. At the point of "drives and partitions", I had an option of three partitions but for each one a notice at the bottom said "You cannot install Windows here, the drive must be formatted in NTFS." I tried all three drives and Windows would accept none of them.

    If there is, I can't find it. This is a Gigabyte machine and very much unlike the standard BIOS on laptops like my Acer Aspire.
    Thanks
     

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  5. Almost Nearly Sociable

    Almost Nearly Sociable Registered Members

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    Another thing, maybe I did the bootable USB wrong. I went to the Microsoft site and downloaded the Media Creation Tool and put it on my bootable USB. That is what I tried to boot from. I didn't download the ISO because the site indicated that I needed to burn it to a CD, and I have no CD.
     
  6. Almost Nearly Sociable

    Almost Nearly Sociable Registered Members

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    I don't know if these pics will help, but 472371951_401558962978937_248978282492850109_n(2).jpg 472371951_401558962978937_248978282492850109_n.jpg I took what I could but never saw a way to reformat to NTFS. Some might be duplicates, sorry.
     
  7. IJAC

    IJAC Super-Moderator Super Moderators

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    You are not going to see a way to format in the bios. When you download the media creation tool you need to make a bootable USB drive from the ISO. The media creation tool should have a place to check mark either up grade this PC or make a USB drive to boot from.
     
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  8. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    Select each patition and Delete it. Once they're all deleted you should have one drive that you can now format.
     
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  9. IJAC

    IJAC Super-Moderator Super Moderators

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    Here is a good video on how to make a bootable drive. It is for windows 11 but will work for 1o also. The USB part starts at 8:35 in the video.
     
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  10. Almost Nearly Sociable

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    Ok, fine, no way to format from bios. I downloaded the Media Creation Tool and selected for another computer, to boot from.
     
  11. Almost Nearly Sociable

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    I would love to select and delete each partition but I cannot, I am not allowed to.

    This video only recapped what I have already done. When I get to the page in Windows Setup that asks me "Where do you want to install Windows?", I try to format, nothing happens, I try to delete, nothing happens, the only thing that works on that page is REFRESH.
     
  12. IJAC

    IJAC Super-Moderator Super Moderators

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    Have you tried what Tony suggested?
     
  13. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    That has never happened to me. I don’t know why you wouldn’t be able to delete the partitions.
    Are you able to even select a partition?
    Do you get any error messages
     
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  14. Almost Nearly Sociable

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    Yes, over and over again, but nothing happens. See the attachment. I tried format, delete, new, the only thing that worked was refresh. I downloaded the Media Creation Tool and set it for use on another PC. It loaded and began the process. I selected the 2nd option about a new installation. I did not select keep my old files and Apps. From then on, you know the rest. The tool should work on the computer but frustratedly it does not. Thanks.
     

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  15. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    Maybe it’s because the Linux drive might have a GPT instead of a MBR.
    It’s a bit late here and I’m on an iPad. I’ll have to get back to you tomorrow. In the meantime, do a search for can’t delete partition with windows install. You’ll see others with the same problem.
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2025
  16. Almost Nearly Sociable

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    Yes, you are right. It is GPT, I remember seeing that during installation. I even dug out my old Windows 8 CD and tried that and got the same results, so it looks like it is the GPT not the USB or the disk. I'll do the search. Thanks
     
  17. Almost Nearly Sociable

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    I took your advice Tony and searched online "can't delete a partition". So now I have Windows 8 on my pc, but another problem, can't get on the internet. I searched that too but was not successful in finding a solution. WIFI does not show up to connect to. I looked at the adapter's in device manager, but there were none, nor any drivers. I do have a WIFI card and toggle, and it has always worked with Linux and Windows 11 before. Likewise, I looked around for the right adapter and drivers but no luck. Maybe you could point me in the right direction. Of course, I went to the control panel and connections but only found cable connector, no WIFI. Thanks.
     

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  18. Almost Nearly Sociable

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    These are the steps I followed to fix the adapter at , but it didn't work. I tried to get drivers but do not know the right download site if that is what the problem is. Thanks.
     
  19. Tony D

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    Great, we've made progress. I can usually get most of the drivers by connecting to the Internet with an Ethernet cable first. If you have an Internet connection, most of the drivers will be installed behind the scenes. You can force that by doing a Windows update.

    If a driver isn't found automatically, you have to go hunting for it. First you need to figure out what you'll be hunting for.
    Right click on a device that has the yellow exclamation mark. (I suggest the SM Bus Controller first)
    Go to Properties and then the Details tab.
    Click on the Properties drop down menu and select Hardware IDs.
    You'll see the ID which identifies the manufacture and specific piece of hardware. It'll look something like
    Then do a search on that ID to find the driver.
     
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  20. Almost Nearly Sociable

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    I wish I could do that as updating would be much easier, but I have no Ethernet Cable, only Wi-Fi and it is not working. As far as I know, the only thing I can do is search on my laptop that does have Wi-Fi and download the drivers to a USB, then put them on the desktop PC. Is this doable?
    I need to know where to get them from, so I am getting the right ones. Thanks.

    Edit: Another thing I thought of, if I could get the Media Creation Tool for Windows 11 on my desktop and run it, it would have all the drivers necessary already. My goal is to get Windows 11 back on the machine as that is what was there particular to this machine so the Media Creation Tool should recognize it. Is this something I can/should do instead? Thanks.

    ++ sdwe324
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2025

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