Dell XPS 9560 Clean install guide + custom ISO download.

lol. No BSOD's for 2 days now. I think the system is perfectly stable. At least until I begin to undervolt.

 

Don't blame the undervolt if it does throw a machine check BSOD, I can go a couple of weeks then the fekker comes back out the blue then sods off again!

Documented around the net with no cure so I stopped looking!

 

Hi Gonzo,

Really appreciate what you have done with the ISO image.

I did a clean install as I switched from the 32g cache to a 240g Samsung 850 Evo.

Everything is working flawlessly however the computer does not detect the 1TB HDD for some reason?

Edit: It does not show up in Disk Management or Device Manager

 

You need to go into the BIOS and make sure it is detected in that 1st m8.

 

It shows up in BIOS and also as a boot option when I press F12 on start-up

I was worried that bootmanager was installed on the HDD rather than the SSD however Disk Management says that boot is on the SSD?

Any other ideas?

 

Did you leave it in RAID mode?

 

During the installation of the ISO?

I've tried switching between ACHI and RAID in BIOS but it doesn't seem to change anything..

 

run msconfig and click the boot tab, select safe boot, apply and ok then reboot when prompted. once in safe mode reboot into the BIOS and change the sata mode from RAID to AHCI, exit into safe mode and remove the safe boot flag, reboot.

Any luck?

Failing that you can try the data wipe option under maintenance in the BIOS but you would need to pop out the mSata to stop that getting wiped.

 

First tried the safeboot route with no change.

Took out the m.2 and selected the data wipe option in BIOS, popped it back in and received an inaccessible boot device error.

Turns out it was booting from the HDD then?

 

Must have been, I always wipe or remove in cases like this to prevent it adding to the original boot table.
You could download macrium onto another computer and create a recovery USB stick, this has an option to fix boot issues.
http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50168.aspx

(assuming you have changed the boot order to the M.2 1st)

 

Giving it a fresh go from the ISO with the HDD out and ACHI set before installation.

Thanks for all the help mate

 

Hey Gonzo,

Just did a fresh install and still no HDD visible?

Not sure if missing something..

 

need help to activate windows
activation failed because this device doesnt have a valid digital entitlement or product key
error code : 0x803F7001
where to find my windows cd key
bought this lappie with windows 10 pro

 

Try a BIOS reset (put it back in AHCI though)

Have you checked it installed the correct version as it will auto activate when online with the BIOS key

 

Have you checked it installed the correct version as it will auto activate when online with the BIOS key[/QUOTE]

Which one is the windows 10 pro 64bit uk

 

If you right click the start button and press system does it say 10 pro?

 

Yeah windows 10 pro

 

It may have had Win 10 pro international (or my US ISO) sometimes a live chat to M$ can resolve this but you can get your key from the slic table, try this, https://neosmart.net/OemKey/ you can leave the email entry at the end blank and it still downloads.

I use Aida64 but the evaluation version may not show the in use licence

 

thanks its activated now

 

Wanted to follow up on Windows 10 install problems on a 9550 with new Samsung 850 EVO m.2 drive as they might help others [EDITED]

A. Error code: 0x800703EE - DURING WINDOWS 10 INSTALL
Clean install of windows 10 pro via USB (from media creation tool, with Rufus-UEFI, secure boot on, legacy off, AHCI)

1. I was getting the following warning near the end of a clean install in the Windows Setup - "Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x800703EE"

2. I ran an extended ePSA (preboot system assessment) with all tests passed. Per Dell phone service, the error code is a problem transferring files from external drive. He recommended swapping the USB port, using a different USB3 key, trying a new ISO file, then trying a different SSD. That advice worked. FYI - I saw online some people had success with USB2 keys in this situation

3. My new USB3 key clean installs fine from the left port but is trouble on the right USB port (even in windows before configuration it was being continuously ejected from the right port - I did some quick configuration in windows that solved that problem last week but forgot what it was). That may be a bad key or flakey right port; in prior laptops one port always seems to be more reliable so I will assume it is not a "unique" laptop defect for now.
==>SOLVED USING SAME USB3 KEY IN LEFT PORT (2 successful clean installs without incident)

B. Errors INSTALLING LATEST INTEL HD GRAPHICS 530 DRIVERS

EASY ALTERNATIVE
? Maybe you could try the zip file at intel.com and finding a way to install via device manager

Error: 0x800f0906 (sometimes 0x800F081F afterwards) (sfc /scannow) ON NEW INSTALLS FROM three RECENT HD GRAPHICS DRIVERS
15.40.25.4464 dated June 17, 2016 (from Intel.com)
15.40.22.4424 dated April 22, 2016 (from Intel.com)
20.19.15.4390 dated March 30 2016 (Directly from dell.com)

==>THE FOLLOWING STEPS USING THE 20.19.15.4390 FILE WORKED (THE COMMANDS WORKED WITH ALL THREE DRIVERS BUT MIGHT HAVE REQUIRED A FEW MORE REBOOTS...)

INSTALLING W10 PRO from TECHBENCH (Not windows media creator)

sfc/ scannow
==>"Windows resource protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them..."

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
==>ERROR: 0x800f0906

Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source:H:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess
==>The operation completed successfully

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:H:\sources\install.wim:1 /limitaccess
==>The restore operation completed successfully
==>The operation completed successfully

reboot

sfc/ scannow
==>Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them...

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
==>OK!!!

(H was my USB key, change directory as appropriate)

IMPORTANT
If you downloaded W10 via "windows media creator" you get a file called install.esd. Some people can't get that to work with the last line above; I think it is compressed and cripples the DISM executable. Maybe others can decompress it). The only way I found to get the install.wim file is with TechBench version of W10.

VERY HELPFUL GUIDANCE FOR HD GRAPHICS PROBLEM
http://www.urtech.ca/2014/09/solved...n-windows-8-1error-0x800f0906-and-0x800f081f/
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2734782
https://social.technet.microsoft.co...sfc-failed-to-repair?forum=win10itprohardware
(especially MSD_7 (Feb 6 2016 post)

Other resources:
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7808-dism-repair-windows-10-image.html
http://appuals.com/dism-error-0x800f081f-the-source-files-could-not-be-found/
http://www.tenforums.com/general-support/30722-difference-between-techbench-media-creation-tool.html
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9230-windows-10-iso-download.html#option1
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh506443(v=vs.110).aspx#ControlPanel

Also will note the Windows 10 restore failed (easy test as I just had windows and 12 drivers, no data or other programs)

 

My ISO is based on the techbench releases, only issue is they are over 4gb as the install.wim isn't compressed so I convert to a esd to get it under 4gb and onto a fat32 formatted drive to allow secure boot, maybe time you delved into MyDigitalLife

 

Maybe time for me to throw this brick out the window!

EDIT - Solutions are posted above

EDIT2 - Concrete steps posted above should be helpful to others with same error...I wonder why that Intel HD Graphics driver is so problematic on my 9550...

 

Hi folks,

can we fresh install using Gonzo's guide directly from windows instead of going through the "restart press F12 method?" Thanks.

 

Probably via advanced startup options in settings?

 

Yeah, I think its possible. I tried to install your guide I had set up before your update but for some reason I couldn't. I have Dell Stock IO right now and am thinking of keeping it that way since I haven't experienced any troubles. Thanks Gonzo.

 

When I initialize the M.2 drive, which method do I need to use between MBR or GPT layout? When I use GPT layout and select a new partition created during Windows 10 set-up, it says Windows cannot be installed because the disk is of the GPT style. Under the BIOS, I selected UEFI, Enable Legacy option ROM, and Raid on. Thanks.

 

R

read the 1st post again and you will see your mistake

 

Hello
I have the same problem with the the windows activation. I recovered the key from aida and also tried a key rom the link you provided
neither of them worked
any other idea?
I installed the us version of win

Thanks

 

Can you take a screenshot of your system page please. Host it on flickr (or another hosting site) and link to it

 

I fixed the problem with Microsoft Toolkit

 

I also have another problem
When i set my ssd (512gb) on AHCI mode i have a BSOD and the laptop does not boot
It makes a loop until i change it back to RAID
Is it normal?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

You really should google your problems instead of asking, this thread isn't about the problem you currently have. FYI you need to be in safe mode to swap ahci/raid mode

and microsoft toolkit, did you let it install the bootloader (auto) cracking the install or as you can do manually activate the BIOS key?
Basically you used a cracking tool so god knows what else got sideloaded depending on where you "acquired" the illegal software from.

 

Yes, "secure boot on" and "Legacy mode off". Now it works. Thanks. But, just wondering why "secure boot on" is required...

Also, I don't have 4K screen and am wondering how to remove Premier Colour if I want to. I don't see it under the "Uninstall or change a program" of Control Panel. Thanks again.

One more thing. I also got a code of 0x803F7001 - Activation failed because this device does not have a valid digital entitlement or product key. But, I resolved by directly calling Microsoft.

 

Secure boot on legacy off is a default setting for this laptop, it is an extra layer of security. so I left it at that. Without secure boot you get the old style install with the windows logo instead of the Dell one when your sat staring at the swirly icon for a few seconds whilst waiting for the login screen. More details here https://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/hh824987.aspx

If you can't see prem colour go to C:\Program Files\Portrait Displays\Dell PremierColor and click uninstall

 

I see.

Under C:\Program Files\Portrait Displays\Dell PremierColor, I only see a "dellerrolog.txt" containing the message below in it. I don't see any uninstallation file.

07-20-2016 14:24:54
0x01

Thanks.

 

search for premiercolor then, find where the exe lives as it has to be somewhere if it is starting with windows. the uninstaller is in the same folder.

 

EDIT: I believe the ISO provided in this thread works well in a number of XPS 15, and my post is only about some clues and suggestions for the BSOD issue.
--------

Thanks for your ISO. Although it didn't work well on my laptop, I want to tell everyone about my experience in BSOD issues. It might be useful.

My XPS 15 9550: FHD and 512G SSD

It was about one week ago when I found this thread. At that time I was suffering from BSODs (nearly twice an hour). They showed various messages, like the most frequent one IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, as well as UNEXPECTED_KERNAL_MODE_TRAP, PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA, etc.

At that time my XPS was in RAID mode, and it had been running with no BSOD for more than a month. However, one week ago it suddenly came as a nightmare. You must say that RAID is not the right mode for my model, but I reinstalled the windows system in AHCI mode for at least 5 times before changing it to RAID mode. Every time it could hardly run for more than one week with no BSOD, and all the drivers were the same as RAID. Therefore I thought that RAID was no problem, but it fell into the swamp finally.

So I tried the ISO in this thread with AHCI mode. Installation went well, and it was great that all of the drivers were automatically installed well. However, BSOD came up after only an hour. Then I changed the SATA mode to RAID. The BSOD disappeared miraculously, but a screen freezing problem came for the first time. The details of this problem was carefully described by a man in some previous posts, but it seemed that he didn't find out how to solve this problem.

Finally I decided to install the original win10 pro ISO (a Chinese version 10586) in RAID mode again. It have been working fine for more than a week. RAID might still have some possibility of BSOD, but I just don't know what to do next.

Here are something concluded from my long-term fighting with BSOD.

1. The BSOD issue of XPS 9550 is mostly related to the SATA driver (or mode) and the graphic cards drivers. Overheat can be a minor cause.
2. If BSOD, try different version of SATA drivers. (I am fine with the latest version 15.0.0.1039 released in May 2016)
3. Be sure to install IRST Drivers & Software Set AS SOON AS POSSIBE (even before the chipset driver)
4. It's always better to use the latest graphic card drivers (I am fine with Intel 15.40.26.64.4474 and NVIDIA 368.81)

 

Hi GoNz0,

Thanks for this thread and your ISO. I've been pouring over all of this information waiting for my 9550 to get back from Dell repair (bad charging cable). I believe I have everything correct (which I'm sure means I don't) up to the USB boot.

I'm able to get to the point where the system shows my USB stick, but when I hit enter to boot from it, I either get an Inaccessible boot device error, or I get "preparing automatic repair" and what looks like either a Dell or Windows 10 recovery screen. I'm assuming I'm messing something up, but I don't know what. I've tried two different USB sticks with the same problem. Any suggestions?

Thanks so much for your time and help.

 

Check the pics match for Rufus on page 1 as it can try and force NTFS instead of FAT, then make sure secure boot is on and legacy off.
Try the other USB port as it can be picky then reset the BIOS and set the correct sata mode (AHCI or RAID)
any good?

 

BIOS reset did it, and I've made it to the WIN10 install screen.

You're doing God's work here GoNz0, cannot thank you enough and I'm sure there are many who read and don't post who think the same. Appreciate your time!

 

is this custom ISO working in a xps13 too?

 

No it will install drivers you don't have.

 

If anyone is thinking about a reinstall I would hold off as I will be doing a fresh ISO with the anniversary edition due out on the 2nd of August. I do expect to have this ready before the 2nd as it has been signed off to OEM's with build Build 14393 (Build 14393.3 with the current 0 day patch)

I think in this one I am going to skip the post install stuff and put it back into a folder as optional installs as it did cause issues for some of us with the script causing a BSOD.

 

@gonzo Is your ISO also for a german system usable?
How you create your ISO?

 

tbh if you read the 1st post I link to the Raid/AHCI driver integration thread & Rufus has a how to on creating an ISO but make sure you do it the same as I do (check the picture of Rufus)

If you want to go further with NTLite you can add other drivers that I list (check for the new ones)

Otherwise my ISO allows language packs to be added after install.

 

Can you also post how to make the ISO file using our own Windows 10? I have Windows 10 Enterprise, and cannot install it on my XPS 15. The Windows 10 Enterprise bootable USB cannot detect the original M.2 drive even after adding the Intel RST device drivers during the clean installation step. The M.2 drive was initialized with GPT format. But, your Windows 10 ISO file can detect my M.2 drive. This will eliminate a need to contact Microsoft to activate Windows 10 after a clean-installation using your ISO file. Thanks.

 

Most of the info is in the 1st post, did you try a BIOS reset?

I link to the driver integration and after you make the WIM file you need to convert it back to an ESD file (it's in NTLite under convert I think) then create the ISO using Rufus as per the pic on the 1st post.

Daft question, you did add the boot drivers to the boot.wim as well as install.wim?

 

I did not try a BIOS reset, but remember the UEFI, SATA, and secure boot settings were the same as the original Dell settings. The original Dell settings had UEFI with enable Legacy ROM and secure boot off.

I don't know much about converting the wim file to ESD... Where can I find the information about the process in your 2nd paragraph?

I added the boot drivers to boot.wim, but did not add them to install.wim. Should I have done it? Thanks.

 

My opening post states to do a BIOS reset when all else fails as the laptop doesn't like some USB installs until you do (yo will need to select the right sata mode as it defaults to raid)
I also don't go into any details about converting wim/esd as it isn't relevant but the into is easy enough to find https://www.ntlite.com/esd-conversion-feature-and-iso-information/

Drivers in Boot.wim is fine but adding to install.*** will allow the OS to install them without connecting to the net.

 

hey gonzo, i just realized upon yet another clean install that my windows isn't activated? any idea why?