DELL XPS8900 i7 disappointing after upgrade? Is it me or something?

[UsandThem]

Saw a youtube video and they are suggesting going clean instead of mirroring an old HD. Maybe I should listen? I don't have the original install files but I think you're able to create it on a USB? So, go with a clean slate?

I'd just clone it with Samsung's Data Migration program. I have used it cloning 10 computers so far (including the Dell laptops) and it is easy-peasy.

If you have problems in the future, you can just reset Windows 10 or do a factory install using the Dell ISO download.

 

[Davem88]

I think I'll do the clean install on the SSD drive.

So, now that I have a clean USB and ISO file sitting on my desktop. What do I do? How do I create a bootable USB drive?

thanks

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I think I'll do the clean install on the SSD drive.

So, now that I have a clean USB and ISO file sitting on my desktop. What do I do? How do I create a bootable USB drive?

thanks

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

This tool thingy. Works good, been using it for years.

 

[VirtualLarry]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

This tool thingy. Works good, been using it for years.

No, don't use that, it's buggy. Use Rufus.

http://rufus.akeo.ie/

 

[UsandThem]

I think I'll do the clean install on the SSD drive.

So, now that I have a clean USB and ISO file sitting on my desktop. What do I do? How do I create a bootable USB drive?

thanks

Your call on that. However, if you do a clean install, you will have to download all those Windows updates and driver updates you just did earlier. The Dell image will be what you started with today. Seems like a waste of time to me.

 

[Davem88]

The Dell image will be what you started with today.

not sure i understand what you mean. Dell image?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

No, don't use that, it's buggy. Use Rufus.

http://rufus.akeo.ie/

TIL: Rufus works with Windows ISOs too.

 

[UsandThem]

not sure i understand what you mean. Dell image?

I thought you downloaded the Windows 10 ISO for your model from Dell's support/driver page. I now take it you are just installing the regular version of Windows 10?

Sorry, in between the cloning talk and installing Windows, I must have missed something. However, you are going to have install all the Windows updates and then install most of the Dell recommended drivers and support program (I find it handy, but it isn't necessary).

 

[Gunbuster]

SSD. That is all.

This, /end of thread.

 

[PliotronX]

I'll third the SSD; I set up last week an HP Envy with very similar specs and 12GB of RAM and the damn thing was as slow as my AMD Turion laptop. Reason: 5400RPM 2TB system drive. A SSD will unlock the potential of Skylake.

 

[ultimatebob]

I thought you downloaded the Windows 10 ISO for your model from Dell's support/driver page. I now take it you are just installing the regular version of Windows 10?

Sorry, in between the cloning talk and installing Windows, I must have missed something. However, you are going to have install all the Windows updates and then install most of the Dell recommended drivers and support program (I find it handy, but it isn't necessary).

Unless that Dell came with a bunch of bloatware (and I doubt it did, the XPS installs are pretty clean except for the McAfee bloatware trial), I would just clone the existing Windows install and be done with it. Updating drivers can be a pain if you're not familiar with the process.

 

[VirtualLarry]

TIL: Rufus works with Windows ISOs too.

I'm just saying... I had a "trusty" Win7 64-bit install USB on a decent-quality flash drive, that was made with the Win7 MS ISO tool, and it refused to boot on one system, and I couldn't figure out why. I made a new one with Rufus, and it booted fine. So now, I don't completely trust the MS ISO tool. Also, the MS ISO tool formats to NTFS, and the Rufus tool uses FAT32.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'm just saying... I had a "trusty" Win7 64-bit install USB on a decent-quality flash drive, that was made with the Win7 MS ISO tool, and it refused to boot on one system, and I couldn't figure out why. I made a new one with Rufus, and it booted fine. So now, I don't completely trust the MS ISO tool. Also, the MS ISO tool formats to NTFS, and the Rufus tool uses FAT32.

Maybe it's the tool, maybe it's the alignment of the planets. I've never had an issue with mine, but you probably do more Windows installs than I do.

But yeah, no snark - I honestly had no idea Rufus worked with anything but Linux ISOs.

 

[Gunbuster]

TIL: Rufus works with Windows ISOs too.

Funny thing is Rufus was the ONLY thing that worked on Server 2012 R2 UEFI because some genius made it with 4GB+ WIM archives yet UEFI requires a FAT 32 USB stick to boot from.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Funny thing is Rufus was the ONLY thing that worked on Server 2012 R2 UEFI because some genius made it with 4GB+ WIM archives yet UEFI requires a FAT 32 USB stick to boot from.

Ok, now I'm curious. How does that work? If Rufus formats to FAT32, and the UEFI installer needs 4GB+ files? Or did you use Rufus to create a FAT32 UEFI boot partition, and an NTFS install partition? Can it do that?