Dell Venue 8 Pro -- Reloading Windows 10 -- inaccessible boot device

You'll need to connect a usb hub and use a wired mouse or keyboard.

I did that to no avail. I used a powered USB hub (not Dell's, but Anker's) and hooked up a Dell keyboard and the Windows recovery USB flash drive, 32-bit). The tablet doesn't respond so that I can continue the Win 10 install.

Separately, I also copied the Windows 10 recovery files to a mini SD drive. I tried to change the BIOS so that it would boot to the mini SD drive,but it did not recognize the SD drive.

And did you connect the hub to the tablet using a USB OTG adapter/cable adapter?  Needed--a direct USB connection without the OTG tech. built into the USB OTG adapter will not work.

I believe I used the right adapter, but not entirely sure. Here's the link to what I used -

www.amazon.com/.../ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00

It's an Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub with 12W Power Adapter / USB Wall Charger.

Or using The NTLite program to insert drivers into boot.wim and install.wim.

Using the media creation tool (microsoft website) and download the iso. Don't create a USB stick directly because you end up with a install.esd rather then a install.wim on the stick.  Be sure you download the right ISO (32bit), it contains both the pro and home version and a install.wim. Mount the ISO and copy both the boot.wim and install.wim from the ISO to another location (e.g. Documents). Use the Rufus 2.1/2.2 to burn the ISO to a 8gb stick. Rename both then install.wim and boot.wim to say install.wim-old etc.

Download first the driver package (the Z3700 drivers in cab file format) from the dell website and Unzip with 7-zip or so. Now use NTlite to insert the drivers into the boot.wim and repeat it for install.wim. Note that if you open install.wim you get two versions (home and pro). Select the right version. When you come to the point the drivers have to be selected, select the folder where you unzipped the cab file (multiple driver inf). After inserting drivers copy both .wim files back to the USB stick. Read on the net how NTLIte works.

Now you have a bootable USB stick, with windows and being able to use the touchscreen. Done it many times. I have a special USB stick with a full USB and a micro-USB connection (2 sides have a connection) so i don't need a USB on the go cable.

As I frequently export my drivers (via power Shell), I have up to date drivers which I insert into boot and install rather then starting with the z3700 driver pack.

I downloaded Rufus and NTLite and will give this a shot and report back. Thank you.

I believe I used the right adapter, but not entirely sure. Here's the link to what I used - www.amazon.com/.../ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00 It's an Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub with 12W Power Adapter / USB Wall Charger.

Yep, that's not a USB OTG adapter, and needs to be connected to one.  An easy way to tell if a cable is a USB OTG cable/adapter: it will say USB OTG.  :emotion-5:

A sample:  

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Samusung-Android-Windows-Function/dp/B00LN3LQKQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1482944336&sr=1-3&keywords=usb+otg.

There are many out there, at low cost (including at the Dell store, but at a higher cost than needed). 

I downloaded the iso file, 32 bit, for win 8.1 pro. I chose the iso file, not the file that boots from a USB stick. The win 8.1 pro iso did contain the boot.wim file, which I copied to another directory. But there isn't an install.wim file. The install files I found were install.esd, install.exe, installprep.exe, and installeventres.dll.

I also downloaded 32-bit iso files for win 8 and win 10. These did not have install.wim file as well.

Not sure how to proceed now.

Also, I didn't find the Z3700 driver pack on Dell's web site. But I did find the Intel Atom Z3000 chipset driver for my Dell Venue 8 Pro (model 5830). Is that it?

Here's a link to a sample USB-OTG cable/adapter (assuming Dell allows the posting--it still hasn't approved a post here I made yesterday with a link).

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Samusung-Android-Windows-Function/dp/B00LN3LQKQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1482944336&sr=1-3&keywords=usb+otg

And likewise:  https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Micro-USB-Adapter-6-Inch/dp/B00GM0OZ4O/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1483031702&sr=1-5&keywords=usb+otgv

I believe I used the right adapter, but not entirely sure. Here's the link to what I used - www.amazon.com/.../ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00 It's an Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub with 12W Power Adapter / USB Wall Charger.

Note that the above do not allow power plus data at the same time, and so make sure that your tablet is charged before using them.  There are for sale separate USB OTG adapters that have both a power as well as data connection, and some which even combine that with a USB hub, such as:

https://www.amazon.com/TechIntheBox-Extension-Smartphone-Simultaneous-Transmisson/dp/B00U90AM04/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1483032577&sr=8-10&keywords=usb+otg+hub

I did get the post yesterday and bought the Ugreen micro OTG. It arrives tomorrow.

I did get the post yesterday and bought the Ugreen micro OTG. It arrives tomorrow.