Just got new laptop with W10 S mode - support assistant does seem to give option to update drivers

[NivekH]

Just got new HP Laptop 15s-fq0000. It comes with Windows 10 S mode. I installed HP Support Assistant from Microsoft Store but it doesn't seem to give option to install drivers/BIOS updates etc. HP Diagnostic failed to install. If I try to update drivers from HP web site it will not allow unless I disable S mode. 

Should I disable S mode or are there options to get the laptop updating to latest drivers while remaining in S mode etc.

Thanks,

Kev

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You can only obtain any available drivers and software from the Windows Store or Windows update in S-mode.

No exe files from any source will install.

If you want that capability, you will need to go from S-Mode to regular W10.

Bear in mind that transition will use a lot more disk space.

[NivekH]

Thanks for the quick response. I'll have to do a bit of digging on the S-Mode as it also seems to block me from installing Norton AV etc. Maybe secure enough that AV products not needed but makes me a little uncomfortable that I can not add this level of protection. Norton installs from the MS Store but doesn't seem to have any antivirus scan protection - just VPN, browser protection etc.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I think that apps run in very minimalized mode using S.

It was designed for school systems to prevent kids from downloading virus laden stuff and whatnot.

If you decide to change to the regular W10, this link should be of help...

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4020089/windows-10-in-s-mode-faq

Once you change, you can't go back unless you factory reset the PC.

I have a HP Stream 11 G4 that came with W10 Pro in S-mode and I converted it to W10 Pro.

Thanks heavens my PC has a 64 GB drive because I have no idea how you can run W10 on a 32 GB drive.

[NivekH]

Sounds good. The new laptop has 128GB so should be good. I have one with 32GB and nightmare trying to get the latest W10 updates on it. Pretty much unusable now.

Thanks. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

What I would do with the 32 GB one is to clean install W10 by using the media creation tool at the link below to create a bootable W10 USB installer.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

When you get to the screen where it asks 'Where do you want to install Windows,' delete every partition on the hard drive, leaving just one partition of unallocated space.  Then click Next, and W10 should install.

After W10 has completed installing, you can install the drivers and available software from the notebook's support page.

Using this method, you will have the maximum amount of drive space available for a couple of programs and future Windows updates.

On my PC, I store the files on a 64 GB micro SD card.

Periodically, I run the disk cleanup utility and when it gets to the disk cleanup window, I click on the cleanup system files box, the program runs again, and I check all of the boxes to delete files.

Old windows update files can take up a few GB of drive space.

[NivekH]

I'll give that a try .

Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.