Windows 10: Could not complete Win10 installation from USB

I just bought and built a new computer, and a friend gave me a SSD to put the OS on. I got a free product key for Windows 10 Educational from my college, and I ran the 'MediaCreationToolRetail.exe', which the college had me download, on my laptop. Upon running it, I was able to choose from an ISO or a USB. I choose USB, which then downloads (what seems to be) the Windows 10 setup onto my USB drive. Plug this in to the new computer, run the Windows 10 Setup, create a partition on the SSD, and off it went. When it got to the point where it needed to restart, it just restarts into 'Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation'. I tried with multiple partition sizes, which didn't work. I suspected the SSD may just not be working (very tech savvy analysis, if I say so myself), so I tried to install it to the Hard Drive, which didn't work. I then assumed that maybe something happened when the files were put onto the USB Drive, so I re-ran the MediaCreationTool, and tried all of the above, again, and it didn't work. I'm at a loss.

I've spent the last few hours talking to a very nice user over at TomsHardware, and he asked me to post here. Here's the link (he had me try some things):
Could not complete Win10 installation from USB - Systems

:)

 

Windows could not complete installation + Could not reset PC

Hello,

On a working computer, create an Installation media of Windows 10 that allows you to repair existing Windows Installation.

Create a USB Flash Drive

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create...

Boot from the USB Flash drive-Make sure you have disabled Secure boot/Fast boot:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/21756-boot-...

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/21284-enabl...

Then open Advanced Startup options after the computer boots from USB:

Click Repair your computer at the first screen that says Install now.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-boot-a...

Select Startup repair, let it finish the job and see if the computer can boot afterward.

 

Windows could not complete installation + Could not reset PC

I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

HP has a factory recovery that will restore Windows to the condition it came from the factory. Try powering up the PC while pressing the F11 key to see if it will run:
HP PCs - Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 10) | HP® Customer Support

If not you'll get a much better install anyway - without the factory bloatware that corrupts and throttles WIndows - if you follow the illustrated Clean Install steps in this tutorial which compiles the best possible install that will stay that way as long
as you stick with the tools and methods given:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

To create Windows 10 Installation Media on another PC install Media Creation Tool and follow the directions here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key:
https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, then on second screen choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, click Next to let it create needed partitions
and start install - this makes it foolproof.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

 

Welcome to the TenForums @SirClopsALot

Here is the the TenForums tutorial on doing a clean install. Note "Warning" about Secure Boot and Fast Start. You didn't mention in your post.

Also watch how your partition disk, MBR or GPT and what setting you have in BIOS, UEFI or Legacy.

Windows 10 - Clean Install

 

Fast & Secure Boot are off. I just reinstalled it again onto the SSD to make sure, and I'm still getting the error. The BIOS Setting is UEFI, and I'm not sure whether it is MBR or GPT, I don't get to choose from what I can tell - it's just whatever the default one for the Windows Installer is.

 

UEFI gets a GPT partitioned drive. After booting from the USB flash drive, at the first screen press shift+F10 to get a command prompt. Then:

diskpart
select disk 0
clean
convert gpt
exit
exit

Then proceed with a custom install and select just the unallocated space and click next to let Windows do it's thing. If you get errors after Windows reboots during the setup, remove the USB flash drive and try booting the computer from the SSD/HDD.

Also plain, generic but name brand (like Sandisk) USB 2.0 flash drives tend to work best for the installation as well as plugging them into a USB 2.0 (Black) port if available instead of a USB 3.0 (Blue) port. And have nothing else connected to the computer during install other than the mouse, keyboard, monitor, and installation USB flash drive.

 

Nothing changed. I feel it may be worth mentioning that it looks like it starts to boot Windows, then the screen goes black, returns to loading for another second, then throws the error. Not sure if that's too important or not.

 

Having exactly the same problem as original post trying to clean install Windows 10 Education. Everything fine until reboot after "Finishing Up" check. Reboots OK but error message ("Windows could not complete...") comes up immediately. Restarting comes right back to the error message.

This problem has been reported going back to Windows 7, and suggested fixes include going into oobe or MMC via cmd prompt. I haven't been able to try those because shift-F10 to get into cmd no longer works...

I'm trying to do a clean reinstall after successfully running Windows 10 on the same build for more than a year. I had no trouble with my original Windows install using the same media, USB, etc. The problem seems to be related to security settings--has MS changed installation security measure in the last year?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

One correction to previous post--I downloaded updated media from the MS site for USB UEFI install. Everything else the same.

Thanks again.

 

Well lets go back a step or two

When you first built machine was it originally a Windows 10 machine?

Do you still have that installation disk? Was it also Educational?

Did you perform any customizations to BIOS. If not remove CMOS battery for 30 secs, Re-install, boot to BIOS, load defaults. Save and exit. Renter and disable secure boot, fast start.

Attempt install. As NavyLCDR requested disconnect all devices, internal and externally if not required for load including and secondary HDD's or DVD's. If partitions are on disk delete them all and allow windows to allocate / establish? If asked for Windows 10 key do not enter, click next. Windows will activate on its own and if you need to change key you can do that later.

 

Thanks for the reply, but I was able to solve the problem... Has to do with MS Secure Boot feature. To resolve, in bios (Asus bios in this case), make sure CSM is off, set OS type to "Other OS" (not Windows UEFI mode", the restart and return to bios. When back in bios, check under Boot\Secure Boot heading to make sure Platform Key (PK) state is "Unloaded". Assuming you're running a comparable UEFI bios, you should restart normally.

This applies specifically to the "Windows could not complete installation..." message.

Hope this helps!

For a more detailed explanation (for Win 7, but the principle is the same), go here: Access Denied

 

The product key + install is from the college, and provided in the form of a software download, which makes you download the Media Creation Tool. There is no disk. I will try loading BIOS defaults to see if I messed something up along the way.

Edit: Reverting to default BIOS changed nothing.

 

Was able to fix this using the MediaCreationTool from Microsoft (thanks for including that bit of information, @pmf001), I'll inform my college they have a bad resource. Thanks for the help everybody, really appreciate it!

 

Sorry to highjack this thread but my probelm similar to that of the OP.
Ive replaced a faulty MB with an identical one under warranty, but Im have been unable to do a clean install of win10 onto either the SSD or the HDD . (All my own data is backedup to an external USB drive). I can get into BIOS and see SMART data from SDD and HDD.
I have tried all of the above suggestions but Ive have got nowhere. Ive also done a secure erase on the SDD and updated the BIOS.
System:
Asus Z170-A MB with 16GB RAM
i5 660K
OCZ 120GB SSD
Samsung 500GB HDD

The MB is indicating no faults (unlike the previous one). Upon booting via F8 from USB UEFI I get the twirly dots for a few secs then a flash of a blue screen with a sad face, then it reboots and the process just repeats. Occassionally there are some numbers adjacent to the blue sad face but too fleeting to read.

FWIW I previously installed Win10 without any probelm to an identical board before it stopped working 2 weeks later. During boot up I got a blue screen saying automatic repair required followed by several reboots and then it lost all video output to the monitor, with a confirmatory VGA LED warning on the MB. At the time I wasnt sure if the problem was originally a SSD or MB issue.

Any suggestions about how to get the new system going?

 

Hi Jules59

First off as this is a new MB and freshly installed I would start with opening it up and confirming everything is plug in and in the right position. Also check the switches are set they way you expect. No way challenging you but a switch turned on or off accidentally can cause a lot of lost sleep. So with connectors confirmed, DIMM seating confirmed and all the switches Asus provides for you confirmed I would test memory.

Please confirm all overclocks are disabled.

Memtest86

MemTest86+ - Test RAM

Then I would get fresh copy of Windows and clean install.

Windows 10 - Clean Install

I read you've tried the solution but please confirm secure boot is off and Fast boot is disabled. Do not enter any MS keys unless you absolutely have to. There was also some other setting mention on an Asus board within this thread.

Not sure if you have smart phone but when you boot I found making a video can help you see what can't be seen.

Post back, lots of really experienced people here.


Ken