[SOLVED] Removing WIN-11 Alienware x15 preinstall

[GearJJ]

Is there anyway to remove windows 11 from a pre-installed Alienware x15 laptop?
I cant find the partition when i use the windows reinstall tool.

 

[rgd1101]

do you mean you want to fresh install something else? or installing windows 11

 

[GearJJ]

I would like to fresh install windows 10.

 

[hotaru.hino]

Grab the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

The only issue is whether or not the key on your laptop is good for Windows 10. You can go forwards, but I haven't heard of a case where you could go backwards.

 

[GearJJ]

Yeah i haven't either. So when i use the tool i boot to my external drive. Then get through the first section into formatting the drive it is not in the list. Why is that?

 

[dwd999]

Yeah i haven't either. So when i use the tool i boot to my external drive. Then get through the first section into formatting the drive it is not in the list. Why is that?

Try using a disk partitioning tool like Gparted to delete all of the previous partitions so that all of the disk space is unallocated and you can verify that the disk contains a GPT partition identifier.

 

[GearJJ]

I was able to create un-allocated space on the drive but the Microsoft reinstall tool still i not detecting the drive even the un-allocated space is somehow hidden.

 

[USAFRet]

What do you mean by "So when i use the tool i boot to my external drive. " ?

Please give us a step by step list of what you've done so far.
Details, please.

 

[dwd999]

I was able to create un-allocated space on the drive but the Microsoft reinstall tool still i not detecting the drive even the un-allocated space is somehow hidden.

It sounds like you are trying to install to an external usb connected drive which is not allowed based on Microsoft's copy protection rules. Only 1 internal drive is allowed by the windows installer and its space should be totally unallocated.

 

[GearJJ]

What do you mean by "So when i use the tool i boot to my external drive. " ?

Please give us a step by step list of what you've done so far.
Details, please.

I have two 32gb flash drives one with Gparted and one with my windows tool.
Step one: Used the Gparted tool to make the un-allocated space by wiping the windows OS off the drive.
Step two: tried to use the other 32gb flash drive with the tool to install windows 10 on the alienware.
Step three: Wont recognize the drive or the allocated space.
Step four: Ask Toms Hardware am i screwed?

 

[USAFRet]

I have two 32gb flash drives one with Gparted and one with my windows tool.
Step one: Used the Gparted tool to make the un-allocated space by wiping the windows OS off the drive.
Step two: tried to use the other 32gb flash drive with the tool to install windows 10 on the alienware.
Step three: Wont recognize the drive or the allocated space.
Step four: Ask Toms Hardware am i screwed?

Step Two: Did you just download the MediaCreation tool exe to that 32GB flash drive?

 

[TerryLaze]

I have two 32gb flash drives one with Gparted and one with my windows tool.
Step one: Used the Gparted tool to make the un-allocated space by wiping the windows OS off the drive.
Step two: tried to use the other 32gb flash drive with the tool to install windows 10 on the alienware.
Step three: Wont recognize the drive or the allocated space.
Step four: Ask Toms Hardware am i screwed?

Go to your laptops webpage and search for drivers, if a drive doesn't show up in the list of disks it means that it needs a pre install driver, that's why there is a load drivers button, since the laptop webpage is probably not going to have it you will have to search for drivers for your specific hardware

 

[GearJJ]

I'm back! I got the Dell to reinstall windows twice now both time it reinstalled 11 from the Bios support it will not let me choose the operating system in the list it just defaults to 11. Is there a way to make it default the install to 10. Do i have to remove the windows key from the bios?

 

[TerryLaze]

I'm back! I got the Dell to reinstall windows twice now both time it reinstalled 11 from the Bios support it will not let me choose the operating system in the list it just defaults to 11. Is there a way to make it default the install to 10. Do i have to remove the windows key from the bios?

Type msconfig in windows search (just press windows key) go to boot in the app that opens, select windows 10 and select set as default you can also change the duration the selection is shown.

Press the "make all changes permanent" button if that's what you want.

 

[GearJJ]

That didn't seem to do anything relating to removing windows 11. I want to remove the Windows 11 OEM pretty much removing Bill's new trash world order software. Then replacing it with Windows 10. How would i go about removing this key reverting this laptop. Should i remove the Alienware software too? Is there a way to maybe load a older version of alienware recovery software?

 

[USAFRet]

A full wipe and reinstall of Win 10 will leave nothing of Win 11 behind.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

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