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    dell license and windows s mode

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by summersun, Aug 4, 2021.

  1. summersun

    summersun Notebook Geek

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    Looking at a laptop that has Windows 10 Home (S mode) 64-bit, English

    With the dell windows license is it possible and is there a cost to switch it out of S mode so I can install normal desktop software on it?
     
    summersun, Aug 4, 2021
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  2. kojack

    kojack Notebook Prophet

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    As far as I know regarding S mode, you should be able to go into settings and just turn it off. Google it and it should give you the instructions where to look. What are you considering "normal desktop software?"
     
    kojack, Aug 4, 2021
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  3. summersun

    summersun Notebook Geek

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    By normal desktop software, I mean software not installed through the microsoft store but directly from the software provider.

    P.S. Thanks. Ordered. The microsoft site seems to say you can simply change from S mode to normal (non s-mode) without any charge. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.
     
    summersun, Aug 5, 2021
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  4. summersun

    summersun Notebook Geek

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    Well, I ended up in a loop. I thought I'd start with a clean install, so I installed windows 10 which installs in S mode. The microsoft instructions say to go to settings, updates & security, activation. Then in the switch to windows 10 home or pro, click go to store, and click switch out of s mode. The problem - installing fresh didn't install the wifi drivers and so the laptop isn't online. And it won't load store without being online, so I can't get to the screen to switch out of s mode.

    I downloaded the dell wifi drivers to a usb drive with another computer, but can't install the dell wifi drivers because windows s mode prevents the dell driver exe from running.

    Ordering a usb ethernet adapter now that will hopefully run without any drivers and thus allow me to get online so I can switch out of s mode to install the wifi drivers.

    Or is there a way to install the dell drivers from windows s mode without installing "software" that s mode blocks?
     
    summersun, Aug 13, 2021
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