Question How --- do you install windows?

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Dev0n_44

Dev0n_44

Feb 1, 2021
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I am trying to boot windows from a usb. The usb has the windows media creation tool installed using the rufus software. The usb is formated as nfts. The bios is the old blue gigabyte bios. Im <Mod Edit> tired of this pls use simple instructions.
 
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Dev0n_44 said:
I get an error message on a black screen that says "DISK BOOT FAILURE"
Click to expand...
This one?
Then either your windows installation USB flash disk is not prepared properly or
you're booting from some other device than USB flash disk.

disk-boot-failure.png



Can you show photo from BIOS - Boot priority settings?
Can you show screenshot with folder view of your USB flash drive (to see drive contents)?
(upload photos to imgur.com and post link)
 
Last edited:
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Google search Windows installation media. It will say upgrade or update then below that install. Download it open the file and run it. Then pick for this computer or pick for another computer plug in a USB and make the bootable media its easy just follow the instructions. Google search your computer for example how do I boot HP to bios? In bios pick boot options boot to USB or whatever name comes up for the USB. The computer will restart and Windows install will open up. Pick install then pick custom and I do not have a product key if you dont have one, if you do put it in. Follow the on screen instructions. Dont worry it's easy just follow what I said. If you get into bios and you cant figure it out but you should see the option pretty easy then Google search how do I boot from bios to USB from whatever your model is. If you built is ask how do I boot to USB with whatever your motherboard is. Dont be intimidated it's all very easy just answer the questions that pop up for the Windows installation media and your done. Boot to bios as per the instructions pick boot menu then the USB your done. Once it starts up follow the instructions your done. simple.
 
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At first prepare install drive properly. Get 8GB or larger USB flash drive. Copy anything that matter from it elsewhere because drive will be wiped clean.

If computer where you want to install Windows 10 have no OS installed, now go to another computer with Windows 7 or newer on it and continue preparation here.

Download Windows 10 installation media tool, run it and select "USB flash drive" as installation media. Complete drive preparing.

If you did flash drive preparation elsewhere, now go back to computer where Windows must be installed. With prepared USB drive obviously.

Stick prepared USB drive into computer USB port. Turn computer on. Now:
  • If computer allow boot drive selection by function key (usual ones are F12, F9, F8), try to keep one of these buttons pressed. If menu with drive list appear, select "USB Hard Drive" or drive with your USB flash drive name on it. Press Enter.
  • Or - If you can't get into boot menu after computer turning on, go into BIOS setup instead. Usual keys are DEL or F2, some BIOS-es use F1 or F10. Write down correct one on success. In short you must have a text menu with alien speech and scary writings below (for your IQ level), but don't be afraid. Somewhere at right side is "Boot" menu where you can select boot drive priority. Put your USB drive as first. Save and reboot.
Continue the rest of installation by instruction below.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...
forums.tomshardware.com forums.tomshardware.com

Some screens may be different because current Windows 10 version is already 20H2. But it is quite straightforward.

Remember... If you selected USB drive as first in drive boot order (that alien speech screen), after FIRST REBOOT go into BIOS setup again (I hope you already wrote correct key from above on paper or on your hand). In Boot menu drive priority list select Hard drive as first one. Save and reboot.
 
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I don't understand what is so difficult about this.
You've downloaded the Media Creation Tool to a working PC.
Plug in a blank 8GB (or larger) USB drive into the working PC.
Run the Media Creation Tool application to create the install USB media.
When that is complete, take the USB to the new system and insert it into a USB port.
Power up the system and change the boot priority to USB first.
Reboot the system and it should boot from the USB and begin the installation process.

-Wolf sends
 
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Wolfshadw said:
I don't understand what is so difficult about this.
You've downloaded the Media Creation Tool to a working PC.
Plug in a blank 8GB (or larger) USB drive into the working PC.
Run the Media Creation Tool application to create the install USB media.
When that is complete, take the USB to the new system and insert it into a USB port.
Power up the system and change the boot priority to USB first.
Reboot the system and it should boot from the USB and begin the installation process.

-Wolf sends
Click to expand...
My pc isnt detecting the usb
 
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Krotow said:
At first prepare install drive properly. Get 8GB or larger USB flash drive. Copy anything that matter from it elsewhere because drive will be wiped clean.

If computer where you want to install Windows 10 have no OS installed, now go to another computer with Windows 7 or newer on it and continue preparation here.

Download Windows 10 installation media tool, run it and select "USB flash drive" as installation media. Complete drive preparing.

If you did flash drive preparation elsewhere, now go back to computer where Windows must be installed. With prepared USB drive obviously.

Stick prepared USB drive into computer USB port. Turn computer on. Now:
  • If computer allow boot drive selection by function key (usual ones are F12, F9, F8), try to keep one of these buttons pressed. If menu with drive list appear, select "USB Hard Drive" or drive with your USB flash drive name on it. Press Enter.
  • Or - If you can't get into boot menu after computer turning on, go into BIOS setup instead. Usual keys are DEL or F2, some BIOS-es use F1 or F10. Write down correct one on success. In short you must have a text menu with alien speech and scary writings below (for your IQ level), but don't be afraid. Somewhere at right side is "Boot" menu where you can select boot drive priority. Put your USB drive as first. Save and reboot.
Continue the rest of installation by instruction below.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...
forums.tomshardware.com forums.tomshardware.com

Some screens may be different because current Windows 10 version is already 20H2. But it is quite straightforward.

Remember... If you selected USB drive as first in drive boot order (that alien speech screen), after FIRST REBOOT go into BIOS setup again (I hope you already wrote correct key from above on paper or on your hand). In Boot menu drive priority list select Hard drive as first one. Save and reboot.
Click to expand...
My pc isnt detecting the usb
 
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Try different USB port, preferably a port at the rear of your PC. Make sure it is a USB 2.0 port (often a black plug), not a USB 3.0 port (often a blue plug).

I had issues getting a similar era Asus AM3+ board to boot to windows 10 install disk, and it turns out it won't boot to a USB 3.0 port.

I was a bit annoyed that a board with USB3.0 in the model name cannot boot to usb3, nor does it have an internal usb 3.0 port. This could be the case with your board.

Additionally, you could try both UEFI mode and CSM mode in bios.
 
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NightHawkRMX said:
Try different USB port, preferably a port at the rear of your PC. Make sure it is a USB 2.0 port (often a black plug), not a USB 3.0 port (often a blue plug).

I had issues getting a similar era Asus AM3+ board to boot to windows 10 install disk, and it turns out it won't boot to a USB 3.0 port.

I was a bit annoyed that a board with USB3.0 in the model name cannot boot to usb3, nor does it have an internal usb 3.0 port. This could be the case with your board.

Additionally, you could try both UEFI mode and CSM mode in bios.
Click to expand...

Correct. In older motherboards BIOS does not recognize USB 3.0 at all. It happen after boot in OS drivers.

Windows 10 usually boot in both UEFI and CSM modes. Secure Mode setting under UEFI may cause issues with generic Windows 10 installation which does not contain OEM security keys - that is why is better to switch Secure Mode off completely (but keep UEFI enabled).
 
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NightHawkRMX said:
Try different USB port, preferably a port at the rear of your PC. Make sure it is a USB 2.0 port (often a black plug), not a USB 3.0 port (often a blue plug).

I had issues getting a similar era Asus AM3+ board to boot to windows 10 install disk, and it turns out it won't boot to a USB 3.0 port.

I was a bit annoyed that a board with USB3.0 in the model name cannot boot to usb3, nor does it have an internal usb 3.0 port. This could be the case with your board.

Additionally, you could try both UEFI mode and CSM mode in bios.
Click to expand...
Idk how to enable those modes in my bios if you know how and could tell me thatd be appreciated.
 
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Krotow said:
Correct. In older motherboards BIOS does not recognize USB 3.0 at all. It happen after boot in OS drivers.

Windows 10 usually boot in both UEFI and CSM modes. Secure Mode setting under UEFI may cause issues with generic Windows 10 installation which does not contain OEM security keys - that is why is better to switch Secure Mode off completely (but keep UEFI enabled).
Click to expand...
Weirdly enough I am pretty sure my Z68 board from same era boots to USB 3.0 just fine despite Z68 having no native support for USB 3.0, though I will have to verify this.

I think I had to disable secure boot on the FX machine too, but there were so many things I tried I don't recall. It was quite the process to get it to work, so I don't fault the OP for struggling a bit.

Dev0n_44 said:
Idk how to enable those modes in my bios if you know how and could tell me thatd be appreciated.
Click to expand...
CSM mode is most likely under > advanced > CSM support.

Secure boot is probably located somewhere close in the bios.
 
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NightHawkRMX said:
Weirdly enough I am pretty sure my Z68 board from same era boots to USB 3.0 just fine despite Z68 having no native support for USB 3.0, though I will have to verify this.

I think I had to disable secure boot on the FX machine too, but there were so many things I tried I don't recall. It was quite the process to get it to work, so I don't fault the OP for struggling a bit.


CSM mode is most likely under > advanced > CSM support.

Secure boot is probably located somewhere close in the bios.
Click to expand...
This is what i see in my "advanced" section Pll
https://imgur.com/a/qEgXxIH
View: https://imgur.com/gallery/qEgXxIH
 
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Krotow said:
Correct. In older motherboards BIOS does not recognize USB 3.0 at all. It happen after boot in OS drivers.

Windows 10 usually boot in both UEFI and CSM modes. Secure Mode setting under UEFI may cause issues with generic Windows 10 installation which does not contain OEM security keys - that is why is better to switch Secure Mode off completely (but keep UEFI enabled).
Click to expand...
Idk what mode im in or how to get to the bios section where I can find out.
 
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