Solved UEFI Boot Options for Reinstall of WIN 8 using USB

Hey everyone, me again.

Can someone explain to me the different options that are available in UEFI?
I am attempting to do a complete reinstall on Win 8.1, and I want to make sure ALL old files are gone, everything wiped clean and get a good, fresh, start. I don't want to mess anything up after installation by installing the wrong drivers, malware programs, etc., and leave my laptop vulverable as I did the last time.

I'm running a Dell Inspiron3521 (late 2012), pre-installed with Win 8, upgraded to 8.1. I have a bunch of corrupt files, damaged files/partitions, (and not able to run DISM without error codes), among some registry issues. At this moment, I DO have internet access on the laptop. BUT, it will not let me download anything, cmd prompt is not working properly, or will not let me run sfc /scannow or DISM /online.....etc. ..

I have a LOT of files that have dates prior to 2012 (age of computer), which I don't understand. (I think these files were also reaping havok when I would do a restore because they were dated prior to restore, they would automatically get restored whether I wanted them to or not.

Here are my main issues with the laptop:
1. Windows Explorer - I can not seem to delete any files, change ownership/permissions, or move them.
2. Cmd Prompt (W/admin)- I can't run DISM or sfc /scannow. I get error messages on both. (Error says that there is missing information for help to type DISM /?.
3. Upon running DISM.exe, I get the error, and when I look at the DISM.log file, I'm seeing a lot of strange entries, different dates, for example:
One 2015-06-12 18:21:33, Info DISM PID=5676 TID=960 Temporarily setting the scratch directory. This may be overridden by the user later. - CDISMManager::FinalConstruct

Seems I have a WIMManager, and I see one entry in which reads:
2015-06-14 12:25:32, Info DISM DISM Manager: PID=1224TOD=2420 Successfully loaded the ImageSession at "C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\C9EA5137-B69C-4F38-87B5-D56B70BB7D69" - CDISMManager::LoadRemoteImageSession

Looking ^^^^^ up at this ^^^ ...so someone IS remotely operating my system files? Does this mean if I do the clean install that whoever is doing this can continue to do so?

Everything I know, I have learned by searching online. I do NOT know the ins/outs of command prompt or powershell. At one point, I was able to load powershell and it seemed to have a lot of options/abilities. But, when my intruder saw I had it pulled up, it disappeared as fast as it came. I no longer was able to have all of the 'get' cmdlets, nor all the abilities I did before. (Not that I really understood them anyway, but i COULD have if given the chance and need to do so).

With this being said, can someone PLEASE help me, step by step, (like a 'How to do clean install w/USB, using UEFI for dummies type of thing")???

I have these options in UEFI Boot:
UEFI Onboard LAN IPv6
UEFI Onboard LAN IPv4
Other Options:
Diagnostics
Enter Setup
Peripheral Device Setting (OPROM Setting)
Change Boot Mode Setting >>>> (when i click this one the screen options are: Change Boot Mode To:
Legacy Boot Mode, Secure Boot Off or UEFI Boot Mode, Secure Boot On.
*Before, I had another boot option, which was CD/DVD Rom, as well as my actual hard drive (STL5...) listed, in which those are no longer an option now.

Please help!!!

How to download and clean install Windows 8.1 if you have an OEM computer with UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8/8.1 product key. -> link

Normally, you do not need to change the UEFI firmware (BIOS) settings, for example, the boot order of drives, enable Legacy BIOS boot mode, enable Compatibility Support Module (CSM), or disable Secure Boot. So, do not change the UEFI firmware (BIOS) settings.

- Connect your Windows 8.1 USB flash drive or insert your Windows 8.1 DVD.
- Restart the computer.
- Press the correct key to enter the boot menu (see this link for help). Or, if you have a Lenovo computer, you can also press the NOVO button when the computer is turned off and then select "Boot Menu".
- Select your USB/DVD from the boot menu.

Click to expand...

Here is info about UEFI Boot Mode (installing using the GPT partition style) and Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (installing using the MBR partition style): link

Note: The UEFI firmware settings determines what type of boot devices are available in the boot menu: UEFI, Legacy BIOS (aka CSM), or both types of boot devices.

Click to expand...

okay, I was able to get that far, it started to install Windows, I entered product key, and then I came to the custom or advanced set up. I want EVERY thing uninstalled off my laptop. Nothing left behind so chose custom. Then I get to the part of formatting drives, and there are NINE total. I don't know which one to install the new Windows on, and I'd really like to delete or format and erase the others. However, I am not able to do so on the computer because of some corruptions, disk part, listdisk and all will not work. Any ideas? Here are the drives that were listed in the Windows page:
Drive 0: System
Drive 1: DIAGS
Drive 2: ESP
Drive 3: Recovery Parition
Drive 4: OS
Drive 5: Recovery Partition
Drive 6: Recovery Partition
Drive 7: Recovery Partition
Drive 8: Either Recovery partition or MBR, I can't recall
Drive 9: GPT, and I think this is the actual USB drive I'm using to install.

Any suggestions???

btowngurl1974 said:

okay, I was able to get that far, it started to install Windows, I entered product key, and then I came to the custom or advanced set up. I want EVERY thing uninstalled off my laptop. Nothing left behind so chose custom. Then I get to the part of formatting drives, and there are NINE total. I don't know which one to install the new Windows on, and I'd really like to delete or format and erase the others. However, I am not able to do so on the computer because of some corruptions, disk part, listdisk and all will not work. Any ideas? Here are the drives that were listed in the Windows page:
Drive 0: System
Drive 1: DIAGS
Drive 2: ESP
Drive 3: Recovery Parition
Drive 4: OS
Drive 5: Recovery Partition
Drive 6: Recovery Partition
Drive 7: Recovery Partition
Drive 8: Either Recovery partition or MBR, I can't recall
Drive 9: GPT, and I think this is the actual USB drive I'm using to install.

Any suggestions???

Click to expand...

If you hit f10 right after you put in you language should bring up a CMD window run Disk part from there. That should be from the Windows PE from your install device not your OS?

Awesome, let me try that and post what I see.....

And while I'm waiting....
Does anyone know if there is such a program out there that exists that can be used to not just remotely control my laptop, but my iPhone too? Something is going on, and it's getting deep. To the point where I feel like I can't even connect to network without being watched, and now I think they can still control it without me being connected. I also noticed that my tray in which covers my hard drive, etc is loose, and the screws have pretty much come out. Can someone install something in there without me knowing?

Okay,
Well F10 didn't do ANY thing at all. It now says set up is starting and I'm really hesitant to go through with this with intruder here. But I'm sick and tired of it all.....So I'll post my drive details...

Drive 0, Partition 1: ESP 500 MB (total), 446 MB (free), Type=System
Drive 0, Partition 2, DIAGS 40MB, 35MB free, OEM (reserved)
Drive 0, Partition 3, 128MB, 128MB free, MSR (reserved)
Drive 0, Partition 4, WINRETOOLS, 500MB, 216 free (recovery)
Drive 0, Partition 5, OS, 451.6GB, 335.6GB free, (Primary)
Drive 0, Partition 6, 450MB, 188MB free, (recovery)
Drive 0, Partition 7, 450MB, 163 MB free, (Recovery)
Drive 0, parition 8, 450MB, 431MB free (Recovery)
Drive 0, Partition 9: PBR Image: 11.7GB, 215MB free (recovery)

I will not proceed until I hear back....thanks.

Quote from this post:

On the Where do you want to install Windows? screen, you'll need to delete all of the partitions (see screenshot below). Select a partition and click on the "Delete" option for each partition.



Once you have deleted all of the partitions, you only see Drive 0 Unallocated Space (see screenshot below).

Click on the "Next" button. The installation of Windows 8.1 will begin. All the required partitions are created automatically during the install.

Or, if you know what you're doing, you can click on the "New" button and create a separate data partition.

Click to expand...

Quote from this post:

Normally, you should be able to delete all the partitions on the Where do you want to install Windows? screen.

Note: But if you cannot delete all the partitions on the Where do you want to install Windows? screen.

- Boot the computer using the Windows 7/8/10 installation media.
- On the first screen, press SHIFT+F10 to bring up the command prompt.
- Run the following commands at the command prompt.

diskpart
list disk (this will give you a listing of the disks on your system)
select disk # (select the disk you want to clean, for example select disk 0)
clean (running the clean command will delete all partitions on the disk)
exit

Even if you are going to use the GPT (GUID Partition Table), you do not need to run the convert gpt command, since you are not creating the partitions at a command prompt.

- Close the command prompt window and continue your Windows installation as usual.

Click to expand...

Fantastic. Thanks so much for your help. I deleted all but the unallocated partition and the installation process is beginning. See, the last time I did this I didn't have this option. It was a completely different looking install. I don't recall any of what I'm seeing now. Not sure if it's because I didn't install it properly, but I hope this will do it and I am able to get a good solid security wrap around my system. Thanks again for all your helpl. ..Solved! (Keep fingers crossed that installation proceeds right!!)