I just bought this pc and it won’t let me open brave, chrome or fire Fox but it will with edge. I accidentally deleted something but don’t know what. I need help please.
#my pc isn’t working properly
fleet axle
solemn notch
the simplest thing you can do is reinstalling windows
slim copper
Agreed. If you just bought it and it came within the the OS pre-installed, start fresh and reinstall it is what I would do. Just make sure you have the key or the install is tied to your MS account so you can reactivate.
fleet axle
if i have the key do i need to put it on a usb drive?
fossil turtle
Agreed. If you just bought it and it came within the the OS pre-installed, start...
the key would be fine since its just a reinstall
they aren't changing hardware 😄
slim copper
if i have the key do i need to put it on a usb drive?
No. You're going to be fine if you're logged into your MS account on that computer. The reinstall will just ask you to log in and should automatically activate. If you're not logged in and only using a local account (less common) you might need to type the key in to activate.
@fossil turtle has a good point too. If you're just reinstalling you probably won't need to worry about activation. If you completely wipe the drive and do a fresh install, you'll need to activate somehow. Logging into your MS account is the most common way and you shouldn't have an issue.
fleet axle
So if I have the key and signed in on Microsoft I won’t need a usb stick to put the windows on?
slim copper
I just didn't want to make any assumptions about how you have things set up or where you got the PC. If you picked it up used, completely wiping the drive and doing a clean install is a good idea. If it was a prebuilt and you were the first user to log in, simply reinstalling is probably fine.
fleet axle
It was used of Facebook
slim copper
Yeah I'd wipe that drive. You don't know what's on there. You may be buying someone's malware lol
fleet axle
How do I do that?
slim copper
The windows installer will give you the option to wipe/format the drive
So you bought it used with windows already installed... double check your MS account to make sure that copy of windows is registered to you before you wipe
fossil turtle
step one make the usb
fleet axle
I thought I didn’t need a usb
fossil turtle
This method only works on Windows 10/11 PCs. Please ask for other methods if using a Mac, Linux, or earlier versions of Windows.
https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10
- Insert an 8GB or higher USB stick into your PC. Format the USB to FAT32 or exFAT before installation. Formatting will ERASE ALL DATA on the USB. (Right click the USB > Format > File System: FAT32 > Quick Format > Start.)
- Download the Windows MCT (Media Creation Tool) from the link above.
- Run the MCT. Select "Create installation media for another PC." Follow the prompts to select your USB flash drive as your media and create the installer.
- Once complete, your USB is now ready to install Windows on another PC. Power down that PC. Insert the USB installer. Boot the PC.
WARNING: When installing Windows on a new PC, ensure only one drive (the drive you want the OS on) is plugged in. Unplug all other drives prior to installing Windows.
You shouldn't use the reset
fossil turtle
avoids potential issues
fleet axle
Since it’s used tho shouldn’t I clear it?
slim copper
You need a USB stick to do the windows install. Thors instructions are correct
fleet axle
Ok
fossil turtle
Since it’s used tho shouldn’t I clear it?
That's how you clear it
fleet axle
Oh sorry
fleet axle
This method only works on Windows 10/11 PCs. Please ask for other methods if usi...
Are those all the steps to do it?
slim copper
Before you wipe, here's how you check to make sure windows is registered to your MS account: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1345387/how-do-i-confirm-windows-11-digital-license-is-lin
fossil turtle
pretty much once you get to the partitions screen post a picture and we can help you
fossil turtle
why isn't it working?
jagged sparrow
Since no one else pointed it out:
Both a brand new PC and a fresh re-install will not have brave, chrome or firefox. Only Edge comes with a vanilla install of Windows 11 (non-EU version) and then you can use Edge to get the installers for other web browsers.
If you had brave, chrome or firefox working on the new PC for a while and then they stopped. Try reinstalling the browsers first before reinstalling the OS.
fossil turtle
Since no one else pointed it out:
Both a brand new PC and a fresh re-install wil...
I think that's obvious though 😄
and we can walk them through that if they need help with that when the time comes.
jagged sparrow
I think that's obvious though 😄
Yes, a lot of things since obvious (to most) until they don't. I can tell stories.
fossil turtle
Yes, a lot of things since obvious (to most) until they don't. I can tell stori...
trust me I know I have been doing a lot of tech support for years.
jagged sparrow
and we can walk them through that if they need help with that when the time come...
You really want to put a novice that just expected other browsers pre-installed needlessly through the Windows 11 OS? Have we even establish which edition came with the machine (Home, Pro, etc)?
fossil turtle
You really want to put a novice that just expected other browsers pre-installed ...
We aren't at that step yet since that will be addressed in the install process
and pretty sure mike gave a link for the license check
so we can find out which version it is
jagged sparrow
Windows will allow you to downgrade the version
fossil turtle
that too
jagged sparrow
I rather not do that to someone
If they have a licence to Pro, we shouldn't be having them downgrade to Home
jagged sparrow
Long before getting to the partitioning screen, we should establish which version should be instlaled
fossil turtle
jagged sparrow
until just now
Because it is easy to accidently downgrade during an install
Well, again, my advise would be first run (or re-run) the installers for Brave, Chrome and Firefox
fossil turtle
Well, again, my advise would be first run (or re-run) the installers for Brave, ...
This is also a used computer who knows what ended up on it too 😄
fleet axle
You really want to put a novice that just expected other browsers pre-installed ...
Pro
I bought it used and it had edge and fire Fox and I downloaded brave and chrome because I don’t like edge
fleet axle
So if I reinstall windows will everything on the ssd be wiped?
stray vapor
So if I reinstall windows will everything on the ssd be wiped?
on the windows drive yes
i just did a reinstall yesterday lol, had corrupt files, just watch a vid on youtube on how to do a windows reinstall, its really simple, and most videos explain it well
unless you choose to whipe other drives, the only one affect is your windows drive 😄
slim copper
But it will only wipe the windows drive if you tell it to during install. You want to do that.
slim copper
@fleet axle Any success?
jagged sparrow
So if I reinstall windows will everything on the ssd be wiped?
If you aren't looking to start fresh then "sfc /scannow" should fix several situations in which OS files have become corrupt. But if you got the computer used then a clean OS install might be a good idea.
Maybe now is a good time to ask if you ever considered running LInux. :)
fleet axle
I reinstalled windows but it still won’t let me open brave
fossil turtle
I reinstalled windows but it still won’t let me open brave
How did you reinstall it?
fleet axle
On a usb
fossil turtle
Hmm you deleted all the partitions?
fossil turtle
Did you select custom or upgrade?
fossil turtle
What's the error you get when you try to install brave?
fleet axle
I can install it I just can’t open it
fossil turtle
That's very strange windows 11 or 10?
fleet axle
11 pro
fossil turtle
While I wouldn't say disabling the firewall is ideal I don't think for a quick check to see if brave or chrome opens would be so detrimental
slim copper
@fleet axle Reinstalling windows and wiping that used machine was an important step regardless, so congrats on getting that done. Very strange that your browsers still won't load though
After reinstalling you will likely have multiple windows updates to do. Make sure those are all finished. I wonder if there is a BIOS setting causing some trouble. It's very odd that a fresh install with a wiped drive will be having this issue
You could try resetting the BIOS/UEFI to factory default settings. It's possible the previous owner messed with voltages or tried overclocking or something. Getting into BIOS will usually be DEL or F8 key when computer first turns on. I don't want to send you down that route without any guidance, but it's the next thing I would be trying.
slim copper
Side note: it's another thing you should be doing with any used system once you get it: Visual hardware inspection, check all BIOS settings, wipe drive and reinstall OS