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September 6th, 2024 19:58
Precision 7820 Tower Issues
Greetings, I recently purchased a Precision 7820 tower workstation and I am having some issues related to Windows 11. Certain features in the Windows Recovery Environment are missing, most notably "Startup Settings" and i'm sure others are missing as well. I also attempted to do a Windows Defender Offline Scan just to be safe because I bought it "open box new condition and never used" from a private Ebay seller. When I launch the defender offline scan, it just restarts into the keyboard layout screen. This is my second time completely reinstalling windows 11, all of these issues existed with my previous try of the win 11 installation too. I'm not sure if it's something with this specific model of Precision, or I did something wrong during the install, or there are settings in BIOS that need to be changed/set? I'm totally lost and don't know what to do. I've did sfc /scannow and it initially reported corrupted files, I think the log file said it was some bluetooth driver, that's all I guess. I did the command again and it then reported that there were no integrity violations. I also entered the reagentc /info command and it reported to be enabled.
Background:
The machine shipped with Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, I can also confirm this because I checked the original configuration list that my machine shipped with on Dell's site. I used a USB flash drive with the windows 11 installation software to clean reinstall and move this machine to windows 11. The edition of windows 11 that I installed was education edition. I've heard this model is one of a few that people can't see the FlexBay drive on the drives and partions part of the windows installation. I downloaded the Intel Virtual Raid on CPU driver from Dell's site under the 7820 tower support page. I put the driver on a separate USB flash drive and loaded it during the install. It seemed to work perfectly! the driver was recognized and loaded, and I could then see the flex bay drive and its partitions all show up. I deleted all partitions and data and installed windows to the flexbay ssd. After completing the rest of the installation processes, I successfully got to the Windows 11 desktop!
I paused windows updates so that it doesn't try to install drivers for my machine that may be outdated or not correct, I then downloaded dell supportassist. I then downloaded every missing driver that supportassist reported I was missing, one by one. After there were no more missing drivers and supportassist said I was all up to date, I then resumed windows updates. After everything was up to date I tried the windows defender offline scan and also tried to experiment with safemode and again, neither works as intended, just like the previous windows 11 install that I attempted.
Below are images that i've taken
Anyone who has extensive knowledge about this model, or owns one with windows 11, or can point something out to me or provide any help, I will greatly appreciate any replies or comments.
Thank you
mazzinia_
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September 6th, 2024 23:06
Hello,
what made you pick the education version when you are entitled to the pro for workstation ?
and main question, why didn't you just let win10 preinstalled , update & offer the upgrade to win 11 that's entitled ?
Chino de Oro
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September 7th, 2024 01:01
A few tips for installation that might fix issue and improve your system to optimal performance.
* Use installer media from Microsoft Windows Creation Tool.
* Disconnect internet (unplug ethernet cable) prior to installation.
* During installation process, if enter product is required, check the box "don't have key" and you will be given option to select Windows 11 Professional for Workstation (for best performance)
* After loading storage driver, delete all partitions from all disks. Select next and allow Windows to create all needed partitions.
* At personalization page, select no internet to be given local account selection and create username, password (Microsoft account can be added at later time)
* After installation is complete, manually install chipset driver, reboot and install ME driver. Connecting to internet to allow Windows activation and running Windows updates to install all updates and all remaining drivers. Select advanced options and installing all optional updates. Any unknown device in Device Manager can be resolved with driver from Dell support site. Windows updates should be sufficient, don't use Support Assist if you want control of you system, when to update and what to update.
Any other issue, just throw the question here for inputs.
bradthetechnut
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September 7th, 2024 03:11
This one I didn't make sense of: * After loading storage driver, delete all partitions from all disks. Select next and allow Windows to create all needed partitions.
Isn't it suppose to be? - When a window pops up asking what partition do you want to load Win11 to, delete all partitions on all disks. ...
Besides, how do you load a storage driver and then delete all partitions before OS is loaded? Unless I missed something... :)
Chino de Oro
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September 7th, 2024 03:24
Hello Brad, sorry if my wordings were not clear. I was providing tips to OP installation process to certain sequence using OP attached pictures.
Loading storage driver (VROC)
Deleting partitions from all disks at this step
bradthetechnut
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September 7th, 2024 03:29
No need to be sorry. I get it now. May be "When a window pops up..." after "After loading storage driver..." You do good job.
Nick0813
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September 7th, 2024 07:34
@Chino de Oro
So you don't think its supportassist thats causing the missing features, is it?
Chino de Oro
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September 7th, 2024 09:23
It should take around 15 minutes of Windows installation to find out if the issue was with previous installation. If the issue is persisted, more valid of question for troubleshooting.
(edited)
Nick0813
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September 7th, 2024 23:15
@Chino de Oro Also, I would like to point out that I've used Rufus for these two installations, I wonder if that has something to do with it. This next try, I will be doing it completely vanilla with just windows media creation software and no rufus.
bradthetechnut
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September 7th, 2024 23:20
That is a good idea. Making a bootable flash drive from the Microsoft site is often recommended. It's the way I do my installs.
Chino de Oro
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September 8th, 2024 01:22
That was the first tip in the list from my first response.
You also never did tell us the reason for choosing Education edition over Pro for Workstation.
Nick0813
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September 8th, 2024 01:42
@Chino de Oro My school was giving away license keys
bradthetechnut
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September 8th, 2024 02:02
@Chino de Oro
In reviewing your first response, I think it's a good idea to remember that installing all optional updates could include BIOS updates, listed as Firmware in Optional Updates.
Chino de Oro
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September 8th, 2024 02:16
It is not a big risk to update firmware on newer workstations. They are mostly recoverable.
OP mentioned the system was shipped with Windows Pro for Workstation. Replacing with Education edition was not a good choice.
Use MS Creation Tool to make an installer USB. Combine the tips into your installation process, you should get your system up and running in less than an hour.
(edited)
Nick0813
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September 8th, 2024 02:26
@Chino de Oro So do you think I should just try win 11 pro for workstations, is education not designed to be compatible with this system?
Chino de Oro
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September 8th, 2024 02:31
Absolutely. Think of features to be used in school comparing to features to maximize the performance in business enterprises systems. Pro for Workstation for more than 4 cores (which you have) would cost even more.
As home user, you may not need all of the features but if it came with the system, use it.