Windows can’t be installed because this PC uses a compressed operating system.

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I know, it’s frustrating.If you’re trying to install the latest Windows 10 build on a Windows 8.1 machine, you may be greeted by that notice. I got it
[See the full post at: Windows can’t be installed because this PC uses a compressed operating system.]

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If it’s brand new, can’t you just reformat the harddrive and then install it?

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REGARDING THE TRANSFORMER TABLETS:

There is a very telling discussion thread on WIMBoot on the ASUS T100 series two-in-one tablets and the problems with trying to update Windows on these compressed-OS tablets. This occurs in a dedicated Transformer Forum site.

I picked up the thread at this point:

http://www.transformerforums.com/forum/asus-transformer-book-t100-faqs-guides-tips/42845-reinstall-using-wim-method-anyone-tried-22.html

After reading all the way through to the end of the thread, I have concluded a few things. These are only my opinions.

WIMBoot is a disaster if you ever think you may need to upgrade the OS. Even the update from Windows 8.1 to its Update seems to have caused issues when the device had WIMBoot.

WIMBoot seems designed by Microsoft with no upgrades foresight at all. It’s as if each time the Windows OS is to be upgraded, owners are supposed to turn in their existing hardware and either get new hardware, or else pay the folks at the Microsoft Store (if you have one locally) to perform the upgrade for you. (I imagine Frys and Best Buy will have a field day.)

If this is true, this is a money-making “gotcha” which neither Microsoft nor ASUS advertises. It looks like a hidden cost not declared in the original sale. And these tactics look very much like Apple’s tactics for keeping users forever indebted to the Geniuses. Very bad move if true.

Personally, I find the WIMBoot installation to be a deal-breaker. Fortunately, so far, it’s only being used on devices with 32GB or less of onboard storage. I was only looking at the ASUS Transformer T100A with 64GB eMMC storage.

I will look very hard at the specs, but I believe this (64GB) model does not use WIMBoot or a compressed Recovery Image. See this thread at the Transformer Forums for details on which models have or don’t have WIMBoot compressed Recovery Images:

http://www.transformerforums.com/forum/asus-transformer-book-t100-general-discussions/45943-asus-t100tam-new-version-discussion-thread-changes-improvements-2.html

I think it’s worth noting that some folks in that thread are complaining about not having enough storage in the 64GB onboard edition (which does not use WIMBoot). The final post in the thread sums up that mentality pretty well:

“WimBoot is unnecessary, when you have 40-50GB free & a micro-SDXC slot for 64GB or larger. If you can’t be happy with 128GB, a tablet is not for you.”

So my original gut feeling that I’d be happiest with the 64GB ASUS Transformer T100AM was apparently more on-target than I had anticipated. Without WIMBoot issues, the Win 10 upgrade should be perfectly normal, I’d think. With WIMBoot issues, good luck doing any upgrade. Even some MS Updates won’t be offered for WIMBoot tablets.

BTW, if you really want to exercise your gear-head side, try the WIMBoot rebuilding exercises recommended in the first thread. These methods may work, but who wants to go through all those hoops every time there’s an OS update (which is getting more frequent, and will be even more frequent with Win 10)?

Also, there is a strong implication that WIMBoot does not compress MS Updates as they accumulate. This means reconstructing the WIMBoot partition contents every few months, or else risk running out of onboard storage. If true, this looks like yet another money-trap from the Microsoft Store.

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Interesting, it would seem this issue doesn’t affect Surface Pro 3 users, but I appreciate the warning, and link to your post in my article:
http://TinkerTry.com/how-to-create-bootable-windows-10-flash-drives-for-clean-installs-on-legacy-and-uefi-pcs-including-surface-pro-3

Thank you, Woody!

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On

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/preview-faq-system-requirements-pc

it states: “Some PC processors and hardware configurations aren’t supported by Technical Preview, including a small number of older, 64-bit CPUs, and some 32 GB and all 16 GB devices running a compressed operating system.”

Bummer…

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No answer for an upgrade install but if you’re willing to do a fresh one there’s a way to build out the WIMBOOT for Windows 10 on devices that are short on space. It’s not something for the masses (not end-user friendly) at all.

There’s a video on YouTube with the steps involved at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEME0nAP1RU – note this was referenced from https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/45e36611-1a93-4a7b-aca3-ae6b1f43d28e/what-is-windows-10s-effect-on-devices-that-use-wimboot?forum=WinPreview2014Setup

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@Haralambos –

Thanks!

Man, what a mess….

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@Rib –

That’s where the UEFI comes in. I found it devilishly difficult to get the Transformer to boot from USB, specifically because of UEFI. I finally gave up!

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Hence my decision not to bother with Windows tablets with 32GB or less onboard storage. The cost difference to move up to 64GB is usually not very steep, and the benefits of having an uncompressed OS image are many, well beyond the updates and upgrades issues we’re discussing here.

At least ASUS is making Transformer Books with the larger storage, and Microsoft features this model (64GB) as their Signature model in their Stores.

I just wish ASUS would issue their own warning about the issue, so that consumers could make an intelligent buying decision, aware of the risks and the costs of going cheaper.

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And posts like this one at TechNet:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/4f8be016-4920-478e-a388-b11ee8f7ba45/windows-10-tp-build-9879-wimboot-incompatibilty-windows-cant-be-installed-because-this-pc?forum=WinPreview2014Setup
are really not helpful.

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@RC –

Here, here. Or Microsoft should make it more clear that many popular cheap machines — including my ASUS Transformer T100TA — won’t load Windows 10 Technical Preview.

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