WINDOWS 11 PAIN IN THE *******

[Razor]

Well, it's been a long, long period. I spent hours on a chat line with a Microsoft tech. (in south Africa). He convinced me to DL a Microsoft Media tool & reinstall Windows 10 over Windows 11. It seemed like it was going to be OK. It installed Win 10 over Win11, rebooted did some updates then went blank: the display. Now nothing, Just a blank screen. When you reboot, you can hear voices in the background giving some sort of instructions, but that's it. No display, no access to bios, NO NOTHING!! . I checked the contents of the freshly installed OS & all looks well. I am at a TOTAL loss as what I can do other than ship the PC to perhaps Dell, but then what??

[jdc2000]

OK, that is some useful information.

If, when you reboot, you can hear audio form the computer, then you know Windows is running. If you cannot see anything on the monitor, then that means that your video adapter driver, or the video adapter itself is not working properly. This might be troublesome to fix, since you cannot see what is on the display.

Does the computer have an add-in video card or is it using the video adapter on the motherboard?

If it is using the video adapter on the motherboard, you could try installing an add-in video card and switching the monitor connection to that to see if you can see the screen display.

[Razor]

The audio is no longer there. There is no means to ad a card of any sort. Without any means to access the Bios, I'm afraid that I now have a costly boat anchor....

[jdc2000]

When you boot the computer, does the hard drive activity light flash?

According to the specs I have seen, there should be a slot to add a video card.

The manual for the computer can be found here:

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/xps-89...uide_en-us.pdf

If you look at page 10, you will notice that it indicates the computer should be supplied with a video card from the factory. Please check to see where the monitor video cable is plugged in to the computer. If it is plugged in to the slot labeled #2 on the diagram, then it is connected to an add-in video card. If that is the case, plug the cable in to the appropriate socket in area #1 on the diagram, as new Windows installation will probably be using the video adapter on the motherboard, since no drivers for the add-in video card are likely to be installed.

If the video cable from the monitor is plugged in to the onboard video adapter socket in the group of sockets in area #1 on the diagram, then try the socket on the video card to see what happens.

Report back where the video cable from the monitor was plugged in to the computer, and any results of moving it.

[Razor]

You know jdc, you are very observant . I can see where I'm never too old to learn. Looking at the back of the PC, there are several HDMI ports. The monitor had been plugged into a slot on the MB. I plugged the monitor into the V card port, fired up the PC & Viola, I can now finish the Win 10 install cuz it is now displayed on the monitor. Excuse me, while I go & finish the install. I WILL report back............

[jdc2000]

Here is a link to drivers for that computer. You may want to download and save the files, and possibly update them.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en...esktop/drivers

There is also information on how to make a recovery drive for the computer, which you may want to do also.

Another good idea would be to make an image backup of the drive once you get everything set up and your application software installed. Then you would be able to restore everything to a new SSD in case of a failure.

[Razor]

Well jdc, I cannot thank you enough, for bailing me out of this dilemma. All seems to be going quite well now, except for email (Eudora) and Gmail. I can never seem to get them back like they were originally. Something I've dealt with many times in the past. Anyway, I'll get the drivers installed & see what I can do for making a recovery drive. An image backup would be new to me, so might need help with that.

I really can't believe I missed the boat on that extra HDMI thing. But it sort of falls in with my other situations. I have to do all of the grocery shopping, so the wife gives me a list to buy. I pick something out, not paying attention to the labels & invariably, I bring home the wrong item.. So much for age.. Thanks again, jdc............,

[jdc2000]

Now that you have Windows 10 back again, I would suggest ignoring advice from Microsoft to "upgrade" to Windows 11 at least until support for Windows 10 ends. There is a way to block automatic "upgrades" to Windows 11 using a registry entry. It is method number 4 at the link below:

https://www.easeus.com/knowledge-cen...11-update.html

Also, more info here:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

Note that you should set the value to 22H2 now, as indicated by the second link, if you decide you add this Registry entry.

Below is a link to some information on how to make an image backup of your system drive:

https://www.easeus.com/backup-utilit...-software.html

There are other free imaging tools available also, in case you want to try a different one.

[jdc2000]

Some time before you need to switch to Windows 11, you may want to try setting up Windows 11 on a test computer, if possible, in order to have a chance to see what you will need to change in the way of settings, and what additional software setup you may need to a Windows 11 computer working the way you want it to.

If you thought getting Windows 10 set up properly was a chore, Windows 11 takes even more work.

[Razor]

I thought I had mentioned it before. I already have Win11 on another PC. Have had it for close to a year. Hardly ever accessed it. Too busy with other problems. With the type of editing I do, I will stay with win10.

[jdc2000]

OK.

Glad you got your Windows 10 working again. I have extensive notes on Windows 11 issues, if you have questions at some future date. Microsoft will undoubtedly make many more changes to Windows 11 in the next 2 years.

[Downb]

Now that you have Windows 10 back again, I would suggest ignoring advice from Microsoft to "upgrade" to Windows 11 at least until support for Windows 10 ends. There is a way to block automatic "upgrades" to Windows 11 using a registry entry. It is method number 4 at the link below:

https://www.easeus.com/knowledge-cen...11-update.html

Also, more info here:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

Note that you should set the value to 22H2 now, as indicated by the second link, if you decide you add this Registry entry.

Below is a link to some information on how to make an image backup of your system drive:

https://www.easeus.com/backup-utilit...-software.html

There are other free imaging tools available also, in case you want to try a different one.

Is there any way to revert back to Windows 10? I recently upgraded to 11, but I really don't like it.

[jdc2000]

Possibly useful links:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to...to-windows-10/

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/...10/m-p/3628140

https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/...to-windows-10/