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    Brand new 17 r3 stuck on initial startup.

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by Hjs210, Jan 8, 2016.

  1. Hjs210

    Hjs210 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi guys I have a brand new 17 r3 that gets stuck on the just a moment screen on Windows 10. I've called dell support and that they are sending out a boot usb to reinstall Windows.

    I've tried making my own so I don't have to wait till Monday sometime to receive the one from dell, but I cannot seem to get it to work. I'm using an old windows vista laptop to put the Windows 10 ISO onto usb. And I've tried using rufus and Windows usb/dvd creator but my Alienware will not detect the usb.

    If anyone can help me it would be appreciated.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2016
    Hjs210, Jan 8, 2016
    #1
  2. mew1838

    mew1838 Team Teal

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    Did you use the Windows 10 media creation tool to create the USB?

    On the Bootup screen, press F12 repeatedly and select the USB drive as the boot drive.
     
    mew1838, Jan 8, 2016
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  3. Hjs210

    Hjs210 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't have Windows 10 as I can't get past the initial setup.

    So I downloaded the Windows 10 ISO file.

    Pushing f12 and the USB is not getting detected.
     
    Hjs210, Jan 8, 2016
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  4. mew1838

    mew1838 Team Teal

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    mew1838, Jan 8, 2016
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  5. Hjs210

    Hjs210 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Redirects me because I have vista on the old laptop.
     
    Hjs210, Jan 8, 2016
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  6. mew1838

    mew1838 Team Teal

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    It shouldn't matter what windows version you use to make the USB. I made one using windows 7. It boggles me how you have the same problem with your AW17. These guys don't do any any quality checks on their HDD?
     
    mew1838, Jan 8, 2016
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  7. Hjs210

    Hjs210 Notebook Enthusiast

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    The Windows media creation tool is Windows 7 and up only. It redirects to the ISO file download.


    And yeah I'm pretty unimpressed that such an expensive laptop is essentially DOA.
     
    Hjs210, Jan 8, 2016
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  8. mew1838

    mew1838 Team Teal

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    Did yours come with a USB recovery? Mine did and it was pretty much useless.

    Might be worth a shot - change SATA setting in BIOS to AHCI. See if it'd boot.
     
    mew1838, Jan 8, 2016
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  9. Hjs210

    Hjs210 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Nah, mine came with nothing. I think thats what they are sending out to me, i tried changing the SATA still nothing. I have a feeling the boot drive isn't being done right.
     
    Hjs210, Jan 8, 2016
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  10. Hjs210

    Hjs210 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ok so got it to reinstall windows, but can only get it working by starting the hdd manually through f12 menu with legacy rom on.

    i get the checking media presence message then no bootable devices found.
     
    Hjs210, Jan 8, 2016
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  11. Hjs210

    Hjs210 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Getting worse and worse, how hopefully can just send this junk back to dell and get my money back :(
     
    Hjs210, Jan 11, 2016
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  12. sad_alien

    sad_alien Notebook Enthusiast

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    Good luck with the Support in your case...

    We bought a brand new 17 R3 with fan issue and they don't accept refund or exchange...

    Only disassemble(!) for repair which we denied.
     
    sad_alien, Jan 11, 2016
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  13. Solo wing

    Solo wing Notebook Consultant

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    Maybe windows installation formatted the HDD to MBR? That's why you can only boot with legacy-rom on. When you change the setting to Pure UEFI (no legacy rom, no fast boot..) The computer can't find a GPT formatted drive, hence the message ("no bootable devices found").
    I don't know about new AWs but it might be similar to older models.
     
    Solo wing, Jan 12, 2016
    #13