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    Alienware 13 reformat?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by sabricaze, Dec 18, 2014.

  1. sabricaze

    sabricaze Notebook Evangelist

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    Hey all,

    I'm by no means a beginner when it comes to this. I've used my usb drive to reformat many times with other comps too.

    The 13 does not recognize the drive (usb port is fine). There is no option to add usb in boot of BIOS.

    Anybody found a way to do a fresh install?
     
    sabricaze, Dec 18, 2014
    #1
  2. sabricaze

    sabricaze Notebook Evangelist

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    By the way, the Alienware tech service is absolutely useless. I spoke with 3 and they have no freakin idea.
     
    sabricaze, Dec 18, 2014
    #2
  3. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You can ask Technical Support for a recovery USB drive. It will come with Windows pre-installed.

    Wait... There's no USB boot option in the BIOS? :confused:
     
    J.Dre, Dec 18, 2014
    #3
  4. sabricaze

    sabricaze Notebook Evangelist

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    No, that's why I'm dumbfounded. Maybe it's just my unit... if others can verify and that theirs do show, I may try updating BIOS.
     
    sabricaze, Dec 18, 2014
    #4
  5. mickeykool

    mickeykool Notebook Enthusiast

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    What key do u press to get into bios?
     
    mickeykool, Dec 18, 2014
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  6. sabricaze

    sabricaze Notebook Evangelist

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    nevermind - I got it to work, but it was stupidly different.
     
    sabricaze, Dec 18, 2014
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  7. mickeykool

    mickeykool Notebook Enthusiast

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    How you do it?
     
    mickeykool, Dec 18, 2014
    #7
    Egnix likes this.
  8. tom_mai78101

    tom_mai78101 Notebook Consultant

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    Pressing F8 multiple times in quick session, non-stop during the boot up.

    When the "Alienware" logo appears, start mashing F8, until you go into the BIOS.

    This is what I found on Reddit, can someone here confirm, so that this information has credibility?
     
    tom_mai78101, Dec 19, 2014
    #8
  9. sabricaze

    sabricaze Notebook Evangelist

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    Well, yes.

    F2 is for BIOS and F8 is for boot options. You see this during the boot in the bottom right corner.

    In the boot options, you need to turn on the legacy in order for the USB to be recognized. Default first on is the network card. Replace that with USB and you'll be able to boot from the USB.

    Hope this helps.
     
    sabricaze, Dec 20, 2014
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  10. mickeykool

    mickeykool Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks Sabricaze.
     
    mickeykool, Dec 20, 2014
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  11. tom_mai78101

    tom_mai78101 Notebook Consultant

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    I see nothing in the boot screen. Just the "Alienware" logo and the Klipsh text.
     
    tom_mai78101, Dec 20, 2014
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  12. AA95101

    AA95101 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes he is correct u need to turn on legacy support to run normal bootable usb, just don't forget to switch the settings back when ur done.
     
    AA95101, Jan 31, 2015
    #12