[SOLVED] Cannot install Windows 10?

[jfletcher94]

I am trying to install Windows10 on a newly built computer, but it keeps failing. I get as far as selecting the disk, the installer loads the next page (showing progress of 0%), and then I immediately get the error:

"Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation. To install Windows, restart the installation."

It seems that the error occurs right when the actual installation is about to start.

I have updated the motherboard to the latest (non-beta) BIOS, removed all extra hardware, recreated the installation USB and attempted to use both GPT and MBR. Does anyone have anything that might help?

Hardware

• MSI MEG x570 Unify
• Ryzen 9 3950X
• Sabrent Rocket 4.0 1 TB

Edit: Using Windows 10 version 2004

 

[Colif]

Tried a different USB driver? Different slots? removed any overclocks?

Try running memtest86 on each of your ram sticks, one stick at a time, up to 4 passes. Only error count you want is 0, any higher could be cause of the error. Remove/replace ram sticks with errors. Memtest is created as a bootable USB so that you don’t need windows to run it

first stages of install run in ram, so I check there. Especially if error occurs right away.

bios at defaults? If its a new Motherboard you don't need to change anything, should just work.

I see where you got the advice from. Most of the sites say the same things.

 

[Calvin7]

Set BIOS to UEFI Only (page 66 BIOS Setup - manual)

NVMe drive is ONLY storage drive connected.

Install Windows 10 from USB with UEFI support:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-create-windows-10-usb-bootable-media-uefi-support

 

[jfletcher94]

I will try running memtest86 tonight. All BIOS settings are default, and I've tried several different USB slots, though only one USB drive so far.

Unfortunately, when I disable CSM in BIOS settings and make the motherboard UEFI only, the GPU stops working (trying to fix that too). I do not have any other drives installed.

The only machine I have right now for creating the Windows install USB is my work laptop, which is a mac. I've been looking, but I haven't yet found any instructions for creating a Windows install USB on a mac that is explicit about UEFI support. This is the instruction set I used most recently: https://alexlubbock.com/bootable-windows-usb-on-mac

 

[jfletcher94]

Update: Ran memtest86, got 0 errors.

 

[Colif]

Unfortunately, when I disable CSM in BIOS settings and make the motherboard UEFI only, the GPU stops working (trying to fix that too). I do not have any other drives installed.

That doesn't make sense. I think you should contact MSI as something strange with that motherboard

 

[Bassplate]

This is going to sound Odd But Try this...It helped for so many.
You are going to Redownload the Media Creation Tool 1909(Windows USB Installer)And Recreate a Bootable USB Device.
Download the new Media Creation Tool here=https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
After Downloading the media creation tool...Insert your USB Device and run the Media Creation Tool as Administrator.

After the Windows Installation to the USB and setup has finished....Restart your PC and go into your Bios.Then set your USB Device as 1st boot order in your bios and your Hardrive as your second boot order.
Then boot directly from the USB...Enter the setup and see if you can install windows Now.

 

[Colif]

His bios has boot override

When he installs,
he puts USB drive into a USB slot and goes into BIOS at startup
he puts SSD/NVME drive as 1st in the boot order.
He goes to Save & exit screen and uses Boot Override menu to choose the USB drive

This will have Win 10 boot off USB one time,. and when win 10 asks for a restart, it will use the NVME.

Restart your PC and go into your Bios.Then set your USB Device as 1st boot order in your bios and your Hardrive as your second boot order.
Then boot directly from the USB...Enter the setup and see if you can install windows Now.

If he does it this way, Win 10 will restart mid install, after it has copied itself onto the NVME, and since the USB is 1st in boot order, it may decide to restart the install process. It is dumb, it follows boot order... you told it too boot off USB.
I have seen it before.

No, better to use boot override on motherboards it exists on... I wish it was on all of them.
Page 68 of bios manual - https://download.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/mb/E7C35v2.0.pdf

 

[jfletcher94]

This is going to sound Odd But Try this...It helped for so many.
You are going to Redownload the Media Creation Tool 1909(Windows USB Installer)And Recreate a Bootable USB Device.
Download the new Media Creation Tool here=https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
After Downloading the media creation tool...Insert your USB Device and run the Media Creation Tool as Administrator.

After the Windows Installation to the USB and setup has finished....Restart your PC and go into your Bios.Then set your USB Device as 1st boot order in your bios and your Hardrive as your second boot order.
Then boot directly from the USB...Enter the setup and see if you can install windows Now.

I do not have access to a Windows computer, only my work Macbook. I have also tried recreating the install USB twice.

 

[jfletcher94]

I managed to install Windows. The problem must have been something in the installation media. After carefully recreating it one more time, the installation was successful. I am not sure exactly what went wrong the first few times, but I suspect it's something to do with how the install.wim is split across multiple swm files.

TLDR: if you are creating a Windows install USB on a mac, be super careful about following the instructions exactly: https://alexlubbock.com/bootable-windows-usb-on-mac