Why is Windows 10 failing to install from USB on a new build?

r3g · December 2021

I put together a new build, and am trying to install Windows 10. I bought the Windows USB installer and am booting from that.

AFAICT, everything looks happy and good in the BIOS, and I see all expected hardware reported there.

In the BIOS, I have ensured that the USB key is the boot device, it is in EUFI mode, I have disabled FastBoot, and I've looked for and experimented with anything else that seems like it could be relevant. (I have also reset all settings to factory defaults, and tried each of these things individually.) I also have tried with the key in each and every USB port.

It does start to boot from the USB key, and I get a "Loading files..." progress bar, but towards the end it fails every time with the same message:

Windows Failed to Start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause...

Status: 0xc0000098

Info: An unexpected error has occured.

I'm really running out of idea here.

For reference, the build components are as follows:

B550 MPG Gaming Plus AMD AM4 ATX Motherboard

Ryzen 5 5600G Cezanne 3.9GHz 6-Core AM4 Boxed Processor - Wraith Stealth Cooler Included

Ripjaws V 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 PC4-25600 CL16 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit F4-3200C16D-16GVKB - Black

512GB SSD 3D TLC NAND SATA 3.0 6 GBps 2.5 Inch 7mm Internal Solid State Drive

H510 Flow Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - White

450 BR 450 Watt 80 Plus Bronze ATX Non-Modular Power Supply

Windows 10 Home 32/64-Bit - USB

PowerSpec_MikeW · December 2021

@r3g

Sounds like you're booting in legacy mode and this may be causing a problem for you. You wouldn't see the "loading files" indicator if you weren't. Lets take care of that first.

BIOS > SETTINGS > Advanced > Windows OS Configuration > BIOS UEFI/ CSM Mode - UEFI.

Save, exit and try again.

r3g · December 2021

I am quite sure I tried this setting, but I'm not with the computer at the moment. I will double check this setting when I am. Thank you for your suggestion.

r3g · December 2021

I verified that I do in fact have BIOS > SETTINGS > Advanced > Windows OS Configuration > BIOS UEFI/ CSM Mode set to UEFI

I wonder if this could be a clue:

There is also BIOS > SETTINGS > Advanced > USB Configuration > XHCI Handoff

And BIOS > SETTINGS > Advanced > USB Configuration > Legacy USB Support

If I disable either/both of these, it will not boot from the USB stick at all. Legacy USB Support must be enabled for me to boot into the menu where I choose a 64-bit or 32-bit install of Windows. So for some reason, is only working in legacy mode? Could this be a problem with the USB stick itself?

PowerSpec_MikeW · December 2021

@r3g

It's a clue, but I believe what it's telling us is the media itself is corrupt. Download the media creation tool here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Lets recreate the media with the latest Windows 10 image, which should be the latest 21H2 update. See if that's the issue.

r3g · December 2021

Thanks, I will try that.

Bodasactra · December 2021

Sounds like the right path to me but I would also check Window 11 TBM is not on by default in board BIOS. It can cause drive and USB issues. I would also try a different single SSD to test and no other drives of any kind just to be sure its not a bad SSD.

Good luck.

r3g · December 2021

I bought a new USB key, borrowed a Windows laptop, used the Microsoft tool to create a new Windows 10 installer and it worked first try. Bummer I spent 3 days fiddling with the official install media straight from Microsoft, but I'm happy it worked now. The problem was with the media, not any details in the BIOS. Thank you for your help.