Windows 10: Windows Recovery Media and Fresh Install Media Error Loops

Yesterday I had an app crash, couldn’t reopen the app, I then restart my PC and get an error screen.I attempted to repair in UEFI menu, failed on loop. I attempted to fresh install Windows 10. Failed. Error was “SYSTEM_CONFIG_BAD,” or something along those lines. Cleared all partitions prior to install. I updated BIOS and tried again, same thing. At this point I couldn’t even load into UEFI. Secure boot settings had not changed. Attempted to fresh install windows 11 I have valid system components, but it always gave an error saying it couldn’t find the terms of service. I went into BIOS and

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Windows Recovery Media and Fresh Install Media Error Loops

Yesterday I had an app crash, couldn’t reopen the app, I then restart my PC and get an error screen.

I attempted to repair in UEFI menu, failed on loop.

I attempted to fresh install Windows 10. Failed. Error was “SYSTEM_CONFIG_BAD,” or something along those lines. Cleared all partitions prior to install.

I updated BIOS and tried again, same thing. At this point I couldn’t even load into UEFI. Secure boot settings had not changed.

Attempted to fresh install windows 11 (I have valid system components), but it always gave an error saying it couldn’t find the terms of service.

I went into BIOS and enabled CSM. I even installed windows and made an account, but my Ethernet driver was disabled. Restarted and errors proceeded.

Disabled CSM as I assume it’s not a valid means of windows installation.

Figured it could be a flash drive issue, went and bought 2 new ones.

Windows 10 had same problem, couldn’t even get to UEFI mode to access troubleshooting options.

Windows 11 had the same problem as well, terms of service couldn’t be found, but UEFI menu was at least accessible.

I then used my laptop to create a recovery point from media (my PC had no recovery point to reset from). This allowed UEFI to load, and gave me the option to “recover from drive.” Both methods of installation both resulted in a restart and a load screen, after which it states “There was a problem resetting your PC. No changes were made.”

I tried running startup repair from the recovery media boot drive and it still gives a “failed to repair startup” error pretty much immediately.

During all this I erased my m.2 drive within bios settings twice. The proper boot device was selected for each attempt.

At this point I’m assuming the windows recovery from media installation is running into a format issue on an m.2 partition, but I am unsure of how to delete the partitions without even being able to begin a windows installation.

Putting that step aside, I’m trying to repair my MBR within the recovery media boot UEFI menu. Ran into trouble with Bootrec /FixBoot > Access Denied. Troubleshooting that, to which I run into more errors that had solutions which either didn’t work or also had errors.

I am completely lost. Fresh boot/Media Recovery seems to be smooth for most people, but I can’t get it to function at all. I’m assuming it has to be a MBR issue, but no fix is working. I’m definitely not experienced with these sorts of issues. Any help is appreciated.

 

Windows Recovery Media and Fresh Install Media Error Loops

I turned off quick formatting, deleted files, and reformatted my 32gb flash drive. I assume the reformat was low level, but I could be wrong. Not sure if I need 3rd party software for that.

Went through the Windows 10 media installation process as normal on that flash drive. Still couldn’t even make it to UEFI before getting BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO error reboot loop.

My Windows 10 recovery media managed to get Windows Boot Manager on my SSD, but it still repair loops before being able to access UEFI menu.

I have selected my boot options manually every time I’ve started, so there’s no BIOS conflict with boot priority that’s leading to a misunderstanding.

One thing that is rather odd is that both my flash drives are shown as “partition 1” within the boot option menu. That’s not something that was happening early on.

Upon reenabling CSM and selecting “EUFI or Legacy,” Windows 10 installation can be started. From the boot menu, there are now 4 options instead of just the flash drive “UEFI partition 1” and “windows boot manager: Samsung m.2.” It now shows the flash disk, with no partitioning, and the plain Samasung m.2.

From the windows 10 media installation with CSM enabled, presumably in legacy mode, I can use Windows 10 installation media and format/delete partitions. I get an error stating “windows can’t be installed on drive 0 partition one,” which is labeled “Windows RE tools,” 677mb size, 85.0 mb free space, type:recovery. Details of the error message state: “The selected disk is of the GPT partition style. Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space.” I encountered the same message when I installed windows yesterday with CSM enabled, presumably in legacy mode, only the error was on my “:Windows” primary 945gb m.2 partition the last time.

I also selected the BIOS settings you referred to yesterday, which were initially selected prior to restoring defaults in BIOS, reselected afterwards, and unchanged upon the BIOS firmware update after that.

So, I guess the only way to get Windows 10 installation media to work is to enable CSM, and if that’s the case on multiple flash drives then I don’t believe it’s an issue with said flash drives.

From Legacy Mode I can manage partitions within the Windows 10 media installation. I suppose I will clear partitions and try to install to the M.2, reboot with CSM disabled and boot into the M.2.

Sorry for the long, jumbled response. I’m just explaining what I see in detail every step of the way.

 

New Windows Media Player Plugin for Firefox

Anyone who uses Windows Vista and Mozilla Firefox may be pleased to hear that the Windows Media Player team has now released a plugin for Firefox that should allow the browser to play WMP content on websites. Here are the steps to get it working:

• Installation of the Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin may require administrative access to your PC. It is recommended that you close all other open browser windows before continuing with the installation.
• Click the Install button to automatically download and install the Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin.
• Depending on your security settings, you may see a Security Warning dialog box. Click Install to install the plugin.

There is a known issue if you are using Firefox version 2.0.0.3 on Windows Vista with the installer failing with error code -203. To work around this simply restart Firefox (you will get a notification that Windows Vista will be changing the Firefox compatibility settings) and then install again - the second time should succeed.

The download is available here, and the new plugin works on all versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista (although it is mostly intended for Vista, as that currently has no WMP support in Firefox).

Source: Windows Vista Blog