XPS 8930, no disk LED, software

Question

First impressions:

I received my new XPS 8930 The other day. For various reasons I didn't power it on until yesterday morning. My first and immediate disappointment was that there was no disk activity indicator. There is one on the optical drive, but none that I can find for the HDD. Another major disappointment is that there is so much bloatware installed. So much so that I will do a clean install of Windows 10 Pro, before proceeding.

Bob

JCL777 · Answer

Interesting.  My new XPS8930 is the first computer I haven't built myself in over 30 years.  Have bought plenty others for family members.  I found the XPS8930 to have the least bloatware of any I've seen.  Besides the Dell utilities, mine only had McAfee LiveSafe and the CyberLink suite.

Tesla1856 · Answer

@MagicBob58 wrote:

First impressions:

I received my new XPS 8930

1. My first and immediate disappointment was that there was no disk activity indicator.

2. there is so much bloatware installed. So much so that I will do a clean install of Windows 10 Pro, before proceeding.

1. Yeah, now that most desktops and laptops boot from SSD's most manufacturers have dropped it. On the Aurora, it's now on the back-panel.

2. Users definition of "Bloatware" varies, but I agree that your system will likely run better after a clean-install of only Windows-10 64bit. Mainly, that you end-up shedding-away the "heavy driver suites" like Intel-RST, Killer-Networking, SupportAssist, etc.

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Need-help-factory-reinstalling-Windows-10-on-new-Alienware-R7/td-p/6065268

and

https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/XPS-8930-Killer-E2400-2500-ethernet-max-20-Mbps/m-p/6135304#M16283

and

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/My-Aurora-R6-The-Adventure-Continues/m-p/6095405/highlight/true#M3971

Tesla1856 · Answer

@MagicBob58 wrote:

1. When I say a 'clean install of Windows 10 Pro" I mean taking it down to formatting the C drive. Then reinstalling.

2. I did a recovery from the AOS menu, it took several hours, but in the end it was the same as when I started.

3. I have a Windows 10 Pro DVD that I purchased in January. I checked the bios, but cannot find a way to boot from the DVD ... Just need a way to boot from the DVD to get started.

1. Right. I think we are both talking about the same thing (a clean install to bare-metal).

2. Yeah, that is something different

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-brand-new-pc-XINPUT1-3-dll-error-trying-DOOM/m-p/6149613#M5196

3. You can use the Microsoft.com Media Creation tool to create a USB. After install, it will activate using the Windows-10 key in XPS-8930's BIOS. It should already be v1709 or maybe even v1803 by now .

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/M-2-NVMe-bootable-options/td-p/6073037

Old machines (with a valid/legit Windows-7) can still be upgraded to Windows-10. No need to "burn" a new stand-alone Windows-10 license key.

MagicBob58 · Answer

When I say a 'clean install of Windows 10 Pro" I mean taking it down to formatting the C drive. Then reinstalling. I did a recovery from the AOS menu, it took several hours, but in the end it was the same as when I started.

I have a Windows 10 Pro DVD that I purchased in January. I checked the bios, but cannot find a way to boot from the DVD. In January I did a clean install on my XPS8700 from the DVD, formatted the C drive, then did a brand new install from the DVD. The PC ran so much better, that I want to start out doing this to my XPS8930. I realize that when I do this I will have to install a myriad of updates, including the April update, all my programs, and all my data, but will to do it to get the system to where I want it.

Just need a way to boot from the DVD to get started.

Bob

Vic384 · Answer

'cannot find a way to boot from the DVD' Put the DVD in the DVD drive then shutdown the PC. Power on the PC and press F12 for the boot menu and select the DVD. You can use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable DVD with the latest version of Windows 10 or as suggested create a bootable USB.

MagicBob58 · Answer

@Tesla1856 wrote:

@MagicBob58 wrote:

1. When I say a 'clean install of Windows 10 Pro" I mean taking it down to formatting the C drive. Then reinstalling.

2. I did a recovery from the AOS menu, it took several hours, but in the end it was the same as when I started.

3. I have a Windows 10 Pro DVD that I purchased in January. I checked the bios, but cannot find a way to boot from the DVD ... Just need a way to boot from the DVD to get started.

1. Right. I think we are both talking about the same thing (a clean install to bare-metal).

2. Yeah, that is something different

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-brand-new-pc-XINPUT1-3-dll-error-trying-DOOM/m-p/6149613#M5196

3. You can use the Microsoft.com Media Creation tool to create a USB. After install, it will activate using the Windows-10 key in XPS-8930's BIOS. It should already be v1709 or maybe even v1803 by now .

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/M-2-NVMe-bootable-options/td-p/6073037

Old machines (with a valid/legit Windows-7) can still be upgraded to Windows-10. No need to "burn" a new stand-alone Windows-10 license key.

Thanks Tesla,

You said "You can use the Microsoft.com Media Creation tool to create a USB. After install, it will activate using the Windows-10 key in XPS-8930's BIOS. It should already be v1709 or maybe even v1803 by now"

I found the site to download Microsoft.com Media Creation tool Windows 10 at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10.

I am a bit confused. Does this download tool give me a choice of which Windows edition to download? I now have the Pro and need to keep it.

Also, the Windows 10 key you mentioned it is in the BIOS. Is there any way I can get it to record it? Makes me much more comfortable if I have it stored somewhere off the machine. I read on a site that if a PC is bought with Windows installed there should be a sticker on the back showing the Windows 25 digit key, but it is not on mine.

Bob

RoHe · Answer

RWEverything (rw.exe) is another useful free tool that can retrieve your embedded Win 10 product key, amongst other things. Select ACPI on its toolbar, then click the MSDM tab to find the key.

You'll need an empty USB stick that's at least 8 GB to create the bootable media.

Tesla1856 · Answer

@MagicBob58 wrote:

1. I found the site to download Microsoft.com Media Creation tool Windows 10 at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10.

2. Does this download tool give me a choice of which Windows edition to download?

3. Is there any way I can get it to record it?

1. Right

2. Yes

3. Yes (but it's not going anywhere). One such tool is NirSoft's Produkey.

546insp · Answer

Can this info be on a thumb drive/ memory stick/ usb stick/ flash drive  that already has stuff on it?

RoHe · Answer

@546insp wrote:

Can this info be on a thumb drive/ memory stick/ usb stick/ flash drive that already has stuff on it?

No, downloading the Win 10 ISO file onto the USB will erase everything already on it. And you won't be able to store anything on that USB afterwards, without destroying the ISO.

But if you don't care about the ISO after you use it to do a clean install now, you can wipe the USB stick and use it to store other files again. You can always download the latest ISO version again from Microsoft onto a USB if you ever need it in the future.

If you don't have a "spare" USB, burn whatever's on it now to CDs or DVDs or copy onto an external USB hard drive so you can use it for the ISO.

546insp · Answer

I have a spare flash drive but one more question; Can I reformat the flash drive and download the latest ISO anytime?

RoHe · Answer

@546insp wrote: I have a spare flash drive but one more question; Can I reformat the flash drive and download the latest ISO anytime? Affirmative!

JCBII · Answer

I just bought the XPS8930 and setup today.  I don't notice a lot of bloatware either, but I am disappointed in the missing activity light.  Always good to know if the drive is working or if the system is locked.  Now I can only guess.

Tesla1856 · Answer

@JCBII wrote:

1. I just bought the XPS8930 and setup today.

2. I don't notice a lot of bloatware either,

3. but I am disappointed in the missing activity light. Always good to know if the drive is working or if the system is locked. Now I can only guess.

Yeah, now that most desktops and laptops boot from SSD's most manufacturers have dropped it. On the Aurora, it's now on the back-panel.

It's become irrelevant. Either it flashes super-quick (like for SSD) or Windows is doing something in the background so it's always flashing (but not related to anything you are doing).

Here is a virtual one, but there are others. I do not use them.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/add-a-hard-drive-activity-indicator-to-the-windows-system-tray/

XPS Desktops

XPS 8930, no disk LED, software

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