AK1:impossible to reinstall WIN10 directly to SSD

[mktwo]

Hi, I have a n AK1 where was mounted an SSD. When I try to reinstall the WIN10 1909 image with the USB pen tool, is impossible to select the correct partition and the tool install Win10 always on the EMMC. Tried before to change letter of the partition but always same problem. How to select the correct partition before? It's insane to reinstall WIN10 on the emmc, cloning and pass all on the SSD (considering that after the old partition on the emmc can't be formatted and is useless.
Thanks

Mktwo

[Gabe]

mktwo,

Though I can't say for sure, the ACEPC version of W10 1909 may be incompatible with installing directly to an SSD and might need to be installed on the eMMC, then that installation cloned to the SSD.

The Admin, who can likely give you more thorough information, should be back on tomorrow.

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With this said, for reference, I was able to install Windows 10 directly to the SSD in both my GK1 and AK3 by using USB installation media I created with the Microsoft Media Creation Tool, then changed the boot order in the BIOS to boot to the new SSD install first. When booted to the SSD I could still see the "C Drive" from the eMMC storage in "This PC" and File Explorer, so I removed its drive letter to hide it.

I first saved the driver File Repository from the installed Windows on the eMMC, which is located in C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore, so that I would have any needed drivers for the new SSD installation, even with the versions being different. The unit had W10 1909 installed, and I was installing W10 2004 on the SSD, and then later 20H2, though for the latter I saved the driver File Repository from the 2004 install before wiping the SSD with the 20H2 install. I saved the aforementioned driver file repository on a flash drive. Then, when I needed a driver in the Device Manager in the new, clean install, I selected that saved file repository as the location to search for the driver, and I was able to install every single driver needed. With it being W10 2004 and the drivers being from W10 1909, a few of them did update when I ran Windows Update, of course.

Granted, the only version available directly by using the Media Creation Tool is now 20H2, not 2004 or even 1909. However, 20H2 works perfectly on both my GK1 and AK3, and I have no doubt it does with the AK1 as well. There are reputable sites out there in which you can still download 2004 or even 1909, however, and use Rufus to create USB installation media from the downloaded ISO.

If you try any of this, and you have the storage room and know how to do so, it would probably be a good idea to save a system image of the current eMMC install of Windows, just to be extra safe. You never know.

Lastly, I'm not necessarily recommending that you do any of this, but only telling you what I did in case you're feeling a little adventurous.