(SOLVED) laptop goes back to old windows because ssd doesn't work.

[JOHNNY]

i was playing a game then the laptop crashed. when i turn it on again the start up is slow. immediately i knew the ssd didn't work. its the 2nd time it happened since last year.

so back in 2021 i always play without ssd. the technician i frequntly visit suggest to put ssd on my laptop to make it better.

but he said since its a new ssd i had to basically install a new window and so when he put the ssd he used a device that look like powerbank to upload the new window. basically windows with things like videoplayer ,photoshop, programs that i never use but it got faster.

i wonder if this is actually a normal thing for a ssd to have a lifetime since my laptop does heat when playing a video game. i just wish i can use my laptop normally without ever coming to a technician multiple times.

[Midnight Aurais]

dude first off what kind of shady ass technician was that?

windows goes back to old windows soo your old harddrive is still in there and it is dual booting both operating systems again what legit technician would do that?

you get a unclean windows installation with pirated software i doubt it is legit and did not question what the catch was there is a high chance there are keyloggers or some remote system or any type of rootkit is installed on that installation

you likely have gotten a refurbished ssd which likely means there were already a lot of write cycles done on it so it is possible it just died

that said it is possible that dual boot screwed up or more nefarious you been kicked out of the ssd operating system by that technician

yes i am assuming the worst because it is not normal practice unless it is a friend you really trust you should never accept someone's caked together version of windows never

my suggestion is wipe everything this is a decent video of how to do it the best way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTDbHgs9dHk

if you have files you want to keep i suggest at least running this over any programs or archives you wish to keep

https://www.virustotal.com

if there are files you know coming from legit sites all the sudden infected you may want to create that windows bootable usb from a other pc if possible sure this is a bit of paranoia but i won't put it past malware developers to be able to inject crap into programs you downloaded

just make sure at the windows install to just delete all the partitions and just select the ssd to install on you can later use disk management to make a simple drive out of the unallocated space for the harddrive

also if you have a legit windows key you can use this program and then note it down so you can use it during windows install
https://www.nirsoft.net/~nirsoft/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

note the program might be picked up as a virus but this is a false positive you can see the post on microsoft themself about it

maybe i am blowing this up and that technician did not do anything malicious but since there is no way of telling that he did not put anything on there you don't know about it is basically better safe then sorry

this in a nutshell is my own response if i get my system back with software that is not part of windows itself

also no legit computer store will install pirated software or customized operating systems that said there are parts in the world that just do not care and most of them just put tape on your eyes

[Supafly]

Sounds like your technician is a moron. No sane technician would pre-load all that bloatware junk.

I'd suggest you use windows media creation tool, direct from microsoft, to reinstall the operating system without all that bloatware. Even with an SSD things can seem slow after crashing because the system is doing lots of stuff in the background that you can't see, especially if you're running low on space

[N3tRunn3r]

Yes, it highly depends how you do use your SSD. SSDs and HDDs have a "lifetime" . . .
Working ones should stay alive for about 8~12 years . . . depends on brand . . .
Some SSD brands even need current firmwares installed to work flawlessly . . .

And other SSD brands are built and manufactured cheaply and crash within a year already. So there are indeed various brands you should avoid at all costs . . .

However, do a complete full, fresh & clean Windows install .. so you wont have any of these corrupted, failing drivers installed, bloatware or other unwanted and "hidden" stuff which kills performance and efficiency .. already begins with Norton or McAfee and such blocking and root-kitting crap .. most pre-fab machines are delivered out with that for example, and not to mention this "technician" .. he could have installed software to steal your account informations or whatever . . . I would report him to local authorities !!

Dont do use any recoveries, backups or whatever to restore . . . Do a complete fresh install :

Reformat/reinstall a fresh and clean W10/W11:
Win11: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

Win10: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10

W10/11 Clean Install

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsinsider/cleaninstall

1. Plugin your USB with Windows 10/11 install media
   
2. Keep your correct IRST drivers ready inside an extra folder, to be save ..
   
3. Open Windows Start menu
   
4. Restart your PC while holding the Shift key to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Once in the Windows Recovery Environment, choose to boot from the USB drive.

Once your drives and partitions are ALL deleted & formatted in setup, continue..

During later stage of fresh install, @ Language Selection

1. cut LAN/WLAN
   
2. "Shift + F10" to open console
   
3. type:

   oobe\bypassnro

4. auto-reboots
   
5. select:

   "I don't have internet"
   "Continue with limited setup"

6. Install your "LOCAL ACCOUNT" and disable all telemetry stuff during setup
   >> Profit

Later you can even setup a PIN in Windows Options without being online/Microsoft account, and if you like - and I suggest it - uninstall Windows OneDrive straight after you enter your freshly installed Windows and disable UAC (User Account Control)!! Afterwards let your machine connect to the internet and use Windows Update and Microsoft Store Apps update.

If updates are done, install AntiVir as "ESET Premium" and "Mozilla Firefox + uBlock Origin" (by Raymond Hill). Then search for more and specific drivers manually, as latest NVIDIA drivers, more special Chipset drivers, latest BIOS firmware, etc ..

https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/new/

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/

https://www.eset.com/int/home/free-trial/

Less is always more .. especially in IT

https://www.av-comparatives.org/comparison/

https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/summary-report-2023/


Good Luck !!

[Quint]

Get that ♥♥♥♥ out of computer and find another technician.

[_I_]

wow, he was bad tech

backup what you have on both os
(boot to bios, select boot drive to change, which one is used)

then use creation tool and reinstall windows, formatting both drives
install windows on the ssd, then enjoy the new system without any junk on it
and restore whatever you backed up

[JOHNNY]

ok lets just say that i am willing to delete everything and simply wanna use ssd that is legit and a legit windows. i mean i myself aren't really a tech guy. what should i buy or it this can be done totally free ?

i am thinking to just delete everything and look at official store to get ssd and even ask for my friends help. i hope i don't bother him much.

i really don't wanna think of the guy that i frequent as a bad guy. i just paid him a bit to clean dust off my laptop. i mean i didn't go to official store. its a grey market which my relatives recommended to me.

is there a way to check if ssd is currrently working and i didn't understand all the advices since i heard new words like dual boot. sorry i am not knowledgeable with techs. when there is a problem i am just like the old lady that calls the grandkids who is good with the computer and ask for help.

[JOHNNY]

Originally posted by _I_:

wow, he was bad tech

backup what you have on both os
(boot to bios, select boot drive to change, which one is used)

then use creation tool and reinstall windows, formatting both drives
install windows on the ssd, then enjoy the new system without any junk on it
and restore whatever you backed up

i have to os ? like i have 2 windows ? it does seems that everytime the ssd is off i go back to the old windows. i wished to start from new scaratch . does factory reset delete both os ? i look at internet and it says factory rest only delete the current os or windows.

what is a creation tool ? i have no plans to back things up since my work doesn't require pc.

looking at the microsodt official video it says i need a valid microsoft key ? should i buy one ?

i really cannot remember how i install my laptop windows. do i need to buy a new window ?

is the ssd still on ? how do i check it ? i really am scared to open my laptop with screwdrivers etc.

[JOHNNY]

sorry if all the questions is many. this is my 1st time doing things myself. usually i would go to the same technician but decided to wait for you guys input and majority said to just reinstall a new one and delete the old ones.

i just know that a device can hold 2 windows. i always thought i had 1 window.

[_I_]

your 'tech' installed a ssd, and windows on it
thats it
he didnt do what he should have

he should have just done a ssd upgrade,
which is just clone hdd to the ssd, and replace it

[JOHNNY]

Originally posted by _I_:

your 'tech' installed a ssd, and windows on it
thats it
he didnt do what he should have

he should have just done a ssd upgrade,
which is just clone hdd to the ssd, and replace it

oooh ok. should i go to a new technician ? i will ask my friend for a recommendation since he use laptop daily for work.

[_I_]

does the laptop have 2 ssd/hdd bays

boot to bios, and change the boot order to the new drive first

if the other drive is not assigned a letter, it will not appear in explorer
the hdd could have just been hidden like that, also it only shows partitions that are assigned letters

check disk manager, or use speccy to see what drives are physically installed

[JOHNNY]

Originally posted by smallcat:

Can you see the drive by Explorer . Might also check in Device Manager if the drive is working properly . Windows key can be found for as low as 10 bucks . On a PC you can have multiple operation systems and select which one to use in the current session . For instance Windows 10 alongside Linux .

You can download and install Windows without key and even use it and later on get a key and activate it . Some people omit the latter . I prefer to be grateful to the developer .

oh so it is legal to use a creation tool. i will buy the official one once i know which one is. there are more fray markets than official ones i know.

[JOHNNY]

Originally posted by _I_:

does the laptop have 2 ssd/hdd bays

boot to bios, and change the boot order to the new drive first

if the other drive is not assigned a letter, it will not appear in explorer
the hdd could have just been hidden like that, also it only shows partitions that are assigned letters

check disk manager, or use speccy to see what drives are physically installed

you know i think i should factory reset my laptop first. it was too slow and when i install speccy it just keep freezing during install.

[AmaiAmai]

Originally posted by JOHNNY:

oh so it is legal to use a creation tool. i will buy the official one once i know which one is. there are more fray markets than official ones i know.

Windows is still usable without a key, you just won't have customization.

You can get a free legitimate copy of Windows by using a school ID or university e-mail.

Even if you didn't do that, you can just sign up to test preview and insider builds and you will be given a free key.

Even if you didn't do that, it will still work because Microsoft's product to sell isn't Windows anymore; it's your data and they are selling data to advertisers. When you use Windows paying or not, it still makes them money. And in these economic times, the bottom line does matter to a business.

[JOHNNY]

defrag ?