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March 9th, 2025 05:04
XPS 8960, Disk Partition not found
I have been trying to do a clean install of Windows 11 Pro on my newish XPS 8960 with no luck.
I have downloaded the Media Creation Tool and created a usb-key for clean install.
In Windows Disk Management, the C-drive shows as it is "NTFS Bitlocker Encrypted" although I haven't done so.
From Bitlocker Drive Encryption. it shows "Turn Bitlocker On" - would assume that the C-drive is not encrypted and as such should be able to see available disk to do a clean install.
On the Select Disk clean install screen when selecting the partition to install, only the usb-partitions are shown, and no other disks are available.
Any help is as always greatly appreciated, thanks
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Chino de Oro
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March 9th, 2025 06:29
There are multiple options for Windows 11 installation. It will depend on your preference. A fast solution for Disk Partition not found is go into BIOS settings and change RAID to AHCI.
If you prefer to use Intel storage controller native driver, leave the settings at RAID, go to Dell Support site and download this Intel RST driver https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=gd9wy&oscode=w2021&productcode=xps-8960-desktop
Double click to run, then select extract, copy all extracted folders on to a USB and use it to load driver during Windows installation. It will make all NVMe drives visible for selection as boot drive. Remember to delete each and every partitions on the NVMe to become one unallocated space, then allow Windows to format and create all needed partitions.
Windows 11 24H2 default setting to turn BitLocker ON. You can turn them OFF after Windows installation or you can use RUFUS to create the Windows installer with selected option to disable BitLocker during installation.
It's all come down to your preferences after all.
Tedco
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March 9th, 2025 07:01
Thanks @Chino de Oro
I will look into this later on in the week, but I find it strange that Windows by default is set to have Bitlocker On in Windows Pro.
I didn't see any information about this when I installed the OS on first configuring my pc.
Could be hiding in small fonts somewhere.....
I have two extra mechanical hard drives in my pc - drive D and F for data and backup.
If I take one of the drives from the pc with Windows Pro and install it in my old pc, which runs Windows 11 Home, do the data have to be decrypted first.
From what I have read, it takes up to 64 hours to decrypt 2GB....
Any tips on how to turn Bitlocker off after installation ?
Thanks again for your help, very much appreciated
Chino de Oro
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March 9th, 2025 07:18
If you google Win 11 24H2 and BitLocker, many results will confirm the default of BitLocker ON. This is the first example link for your review.
When I create Win 11 24H2 installer, I use RUFUS to select option to allow local account setup (don't have to create a MS account user) and to disable BitLocker ON from the installer.
If you want to disable BitLocker after Windows installation, go to Settings, select Privacy & Security, select Device Encryption then turn the slider to OFF. Under related section, select BitLocker drive encryption, it will display the old Control Panel with all fixed drives and their status. You can make change from there.
There are drives with self-encryption (SED), not BitLocker. But, that would be a separate topic for discussion.
Tedco
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March 12th, 2025 00:35
Thank you so much for your time and help @Chino de Oro
I change to AHCI in Bios setting and had no problems installing a clean Windows 11 Pro.
On my next clean install (in years to come) I'll try Rufus and disable Bitlocker.
But for now, I have a clean system working perfectly.
Thanks again for your help,
Chino de Oro
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March 13th, 2025 01:41
Glad to help out. Also, you may want to open file explorer and check your C drive. If the installation created a Windows.old folder, you can delete it.
Tedco
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March 14th, 2025 04:38
Thanks @Chino de Oro - I checked and there were no Windows.old folder.
Your help is very much appreciated, thanks