Can't Reload OS on Dell11 3000

[pclaptop23hour]

I have a Dell Inspiron 11 3000 (3168, Tag GS5B0C2) that will not allow the re-installation of Win7 or win10 OS.

I have tried all combination of the BIOS Legacy/UEFI - Secure boot (OFF) settings, along with the USB boot memsticks having multiple different versions of Win7 and Win10. I have even loaded Linux/GPart on to a USB memstick, booted into Linux Gparted and wipe the hard drive clean.

This laptop was given to me because someone, prior to me, had done "something" and it would not boot whatsoever or respond to any keystrokes other than Bios setup(F2) and boot order (F12), and I would get an on screen display of either generic DOS "No boot device" message or a Dell message saying "No boot device"!

As it stands with the hard drive wiped, and a bootable USB memstick loaded with either Win 7 OR WIN 10, the installation process proceeds normally right up to the point where you choose your OS install hard drive and then an error message is displayed that says "A required drive device driver is missing" that does not appear to be on either version (Win7 or Win10) of the bootable USB memstick.

So how do I acquire/supply/provide that driver during either installation process? A second USB drive? and where do I get that driver from?

 

[ninaholic37]

If you can put Linux on the HDD that would rule out something wrong with the drive.

 

[pclaptop23hour]

OK, info update. I opened this machine up and there is NO HDD or SSD in this unit, just a permanently mounted 32gb MMC chip from Sandisk.

I d/led a couple Dell suggested file(s), in (f6flpy-x64.zip) extracted those 6 files to 2nd USB and chose that 2nd USB memstick when Win7/10 install stopped and asked for drivers for the on-board mmc 29gb device. What seems to be the drivers and driver install program starts~stops, and still Win7/10 will not install to the 29gb MMC drive!

If the Sandisk MMC 29gb drive is configured as UEFI, and the Win OS install isn't recognizing it because BIOS isn't controlling it, AND I change BIOS from Legacy to UEFI to control it, then this Dell won't boot from the (non-UEFI) USB memstick(win7 or the Win10)!

I don't think the installation medium(CD/DVD vs USB) is the problem. It's Dells screwy idea for a hard drive
(Sandisk/MMC) that needs special(?) drivers to be recognized by the Win OS!

 

[C1]

A guess is that you will only be able to re-install a special version of the OS available from Dell. Check what's available for that unit on Dell's website & download & read the user manual.

 

[pclaptop23hour]

Thanks Nina and C1, Philly Cheesesteaks waiting for you at Jim's on South St! - "Where all the hippies meet"

http://www.jimssouthstreet.com/

 

[VirtualLarry]

Ok, a few things. You say your USB OS install stick is NOT UEFI. That's a problem. Windows 7 will not install to eMMC. Windows 10 WILL, but it needs to be a UEFI installation, which requires a UEFI USB install stick. (Edit: There's no physical difference, it just has to do with how it is prepared.)

So, I suggest, using a different Windows PC, making a USB install stick using Microsoft's "Media Creation Tools" for Windows 10. Then set the laptop's BIOS up for UEFI, Fast Boot DISABLED, Secure Boot ENABLED. Then boot (possibly by using a hotkey to select it) the USB stick. When Win10 gets to the DISKS screen, hopefully you will be able to select it. If not, hit SHIFT+F10, type DiskPart, type "LIST DISK", and then "SELECT DISK #", where # is the number for the eMMC drive listed by the prior LIST DISK command, then type "CLEAN", then type EXIT, EXIT, and hit Refresh on the DISKS screen, and it should show up for installation.

If not, then install a SATA drive into the laptop, if it has the bay, and ignore the eMMC then.

Edit: A modern (Linux Mint 18 or newer, Ubuntu 16.04 or newer) should be able to install onto the eMMC too, you could try that. For that, you may have to disable Secure Boot, disable Fast Boot, and possibly set to Legacy / disable UEFI. At least, I think I had to do those things to install Mint 18 to my Acer CloudBook, with an eMMC drive.

 

[pclaptop23hour]

Virtual Larry even win10 with uefi boot looks for the drivers. As far as win 7 numerous google replies say win 7 is feasable onto this 11 3000. The problem lies in getting the driver for that mmc 32gb "HDD" chip. This is a reply from Sandisk (mfr of the MMC chip)!

From Sandisk . . . "You have reached the SanDisk retail support department. The product you are referring to is an OEM product sold directly to top tier laptop manufacturers only. We do not have any retail enduser support for this product. All technical support for this product is provided directly from the laptop manufacturers. Unfortunately, our retail products support team will not be able to assist you with this concern. You will need to contact the laptop manufacturer for assistance. Thank you for choosing Sandisk! Best regards, James SanDisk @ Global Customer Care"

the google links . . .

http://pinter.org/archives/2474
http://hiwayparkcomputers.blogspot.com/2015/01/how-to-install-windows-7-pro-dell.html
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19535394

This site had the Windows 10 upgrade fail as well due to a device driver missing!
"The Windows 10 installer wouldn’t recognize the ssd. It kept on asking for drivers."

https://www.experts-exchange.com/qu...10-again-on-Dell-Inspiron-11-3000-Series.html

Thanks for your help, for $150.00 price tag on this Dell 11-3000, I'm think I'm going to recommend to my donating friend to buy something OTHER than a Dell especially something with MORE than a 32 gb Hard Drive!! What was Dell thinking?