Windows 10 Not Booting After Successful Install

[beet1eman]

I recently decided to switch over to an SSD (Samsung 850 EVO 120GB) in my custom rig from my old HDD, installing Windows 10 from an ISO file put onto a USB via Rufus onto said SSD. Upon completing installation, as my computer reboots, it simply re-initiates the Windows installation process from the USB.

My specs: Intel Xeon E3 1231 V3, MSi Gaming 5 Z97 MB, PNY XLR8 16 GB RAM, 120 GB Samsung 850 Series EVO SSD, Asus GeForce GTX 970

Spending the bulk of yesterday afternoon and tonight, here are some different techniques I've tried but to no avail:
- Before even starting, the SSD was selected as Boot Option #1, I chose #2 to be the USB install.
- I've moved around from MBR to GPT in the cmd prompt and vice versa with my SSD to achieve utilizing UEFI and/or Legacy in my BIOS, successfully installing Windows 10 either way without ever attaining a successful OS boot.
- I tried pulling the USB after installation upon reboot and I'm left with the same error along the lines of "Insert bootable media device and press any key to continue."
- I've tried moving SATA cables around in different plug-ins on my motherboard, all the while it is worth noting that my SSD is the only storage device plugged into SATA and power.
- I successfully flashed my BIOS to the latest version and reattempted my procedure above.
- I also enabled/disabled a "Windows 8/8.1/10 Configuration" feature in my advanced settings both enabling and disabling the fast boot feature. When Windows feature is enabled and only UEFI is available, I cannot seem to boot from my SSD even though it is GPT in that case, in fact it does not even appear in boot order, and I simply enter the UEFI shell.

If anyone happens to have a better idea or understanding of some troubleshooting process/solution, I'm open to trying anything before purchasing other products. Thanks!

 

[Colif]

when you get to the stage of the installer where it has installed Windows Files and wants to do a restart, take the Win 10 installer USB out of the PC and restart, it should continue the install Process

Page should look like

Its a bug of the installer, I am not sure why some PC do this and others don't

 

[beet1eman]

when you get to the stage of the installer where it has installed Windows Files and wants to do a restart, take the Win 10 installer USB out of the PC and restart, it should continue the install Process

Page should look like

Its a bug of the installer, I am not sure why some PC do this and others don't

Thank you for the advice, but I did finally resort to pulling the USB device out upon restart process in the installation. Unfortunately, I am still left with the same issue of the installed SSD not being recognized/bootable media not being located. I assume installation succeeds up to this point, as I am not given any errors and the SSD is partitioned properly in GPT with the 4 partitions for the OS... It just fails to continue to the OS after the USB is pulled in rebooting or restarts the whole process if left in.

 

[Colif]

See if booting into safe mode and then exciting without USB in drive makes any difference

boot from installer, on 2nd screen after languages, choose repair this pc, not install
choose troubleshoot
choose advanced
choose start up options
hit the restart button
choose a safe mode (it doesn't matter which) by using number associated with it.
PC will restart and load safe mode

remove USB, and restart PC and see if it continues install

I would offer a reset but that needs a login which you aren't up to. Same applies to startup repair
Have you tried another USB or ISO? it might be that, you shouldn't need to use rufus anymore as win 10 creation tool should be able to make USB (unless it ignores USB)

This might help though you shouldn't need to do this: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-rebuild-the-bcd-in-windows-2624508

 

[beet1eman]

See if booting into safe mode and then exciting without USB in drive makes any difference

boot from installer, on 2nd screen after languages, choose repair this pc, not install
choose troubleshoot
choose advanced
choose start up options
hit the restart button
choose a safe mode (it doesn't matter which) by using number associated with it.
PC will restart and load safe mode

remove USB, and restart PC and see if it continues install

I would offer a reset but that needs a login which you aren't up to. Same applies to startup repair
Have you tried another USB or ISO? it might be that, you shouldn't need to use rufus anymore as win 10 creation tool should be able to make USB (unless it ignores USB)

This might help though you shouldn't need to do this: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-rebuild-the-bcd-in-windows-2624508

I tried the safe mode technique, but the "Startup Options" selection does not appear upon choosing advanced settings which is odd. Instead I see a selection titled "UEFI Firmware Settings."

I also tried two different USB flash drives and my original Windows 8.1 Pro disc installation but ended up having the same problem. I cleaned and reconverted my SSD to GPT and reinstalled Windows 10 successfully again, trying your recommendation on lifewire about rebuilding the bcd, but to no avail as no Windows installations were detected. Thanks for your recommendations though, do you have any further suggestions?

EDIT: Twenty minutes after submitting this, I turned off Windows 10 WHQL support and restarted my system obtaining this screen (the USB I have used for installation is currently plugged in but set to second boot priority):

Recovery
Your PC/device needs to be repaired.
The Boot Configuration Data for your PC is missing or contains errors.

File: \Boot\BCD
Error code: 0xc000000f

You'll need to use recovery tools. If you don't have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your PC administrator or PC/Device manufacturer.



I'll go ahead and try to redownload windows 10 on a fourth USB device and proceed with that bcd recovery you mentioned/I tried eariler.

 

[Colif]

Try resetting the bios and start PC with no drives attached. Turn it off and then reattach the SSD and see if it finds it this time. It sounds to me like BIOS is mixed up.

Alas, startup options is often not a choice if you boot off USB at boot, but it was worth a try.

is BIOS currently set to UEFI boot or Legacy?
How is the drive formatted? GPT or MBR?
i see bios has secure boot and fast boot, but since it boots USB they shouldn't be in way.

turning off Windows 10 WHQL support appears to turn off UEFI boot and also MSI fast boot - see page 3-13 of your motherboard manual

Windows 8/ 8.1 Configuration
Sets Windows 8/ 8.1 detailed configuration and behaviors. Press <Enter> to enter the sub-menu.
Windows 8/ 8.1 Feature [Disabled]
Enables the supports for Windows 8/ 8.1 or disables for other operating systems. Before enabling this item, make sure all installed devices & utilities (hardware & software) should meet the Windows 8/ 8.1 requirements. [
Enabled] The system will switch to UEFI mode to meet the Windows 8/ 8.1 requirement.
[Disabled] Disables this function.

MSI Fast Boot [Disabled]
MSI Fast Boot is the fastest way to boot the system. It will disable more devices to speed up system boot time which is faster than the boot time of “Fast Boot”.
[Enabled] Enables the MSI Fast Boot function to speed up booting time. And the following "Fast Boot" will be disabled and fixed. [
Disabled] Disables MSI Fast Boot.

So if its off and you try to boot a GPT disk, that could be the error you get.

 

[beet1eman]

Try resetting the bios and start PC with no drives attached. Turn it off and then reattach the SSD and see if it finds it this time. It sounds to me like BIOS is mixed up.

Alas, startup options is often not a choice if you boot off USB at boot, but it was worth a try.

is BIOS currently set to UEFI boot or Legacy?
How is the drive formatted? GPT or MBR?
i see bios has secure boot and fast boot, but since it boots USB they shouldn't be in way.

turning off Windows 10 WHQL support appears to turn off UEFI boot and also MSI fast boot - see page 3-13 of your motherboard manual

Windows 8/ 8.1 Configuration
Sets Windows 8/ 8.1 detailed configuration and behaviors. Press <Enter> to enter the sub-menu.
Windows 8/ 8.1 Feature [Disabled]
Enables the supports for Windows 8/ 8.1 or disables for other operating systems. Before enabling this item, make sure all installed devices & utilities (hardware & software) should meet the Windows 8/ 8.1 requirements. [
Enabled] The system will switch to UEFI mode to meet the Windows 8/ 8.1 requirement.
[Disabled] Disables this function.

MSI Fast Boot [Disabled]
MSI Fast Boot is the fastest way to boot the system. It will disable more devices to speed up system boot time which is faster than the boot time of “Fast Boot”.
[Enabled] Enables the MSI Fast Boot function to speed up booting time. And the following "Fast Boot" will be disabled and fixed. [
Disabled] Disables MSI Fast Boot.

So if its off and you try to boot a GPT disk, that could be the error you get.

Thanks for all your assistance Colif, but it turned out to be a compatibility issue/solid state drive problem with the solid state I was installing. After working through things with MSi Tech Support, we came to this conclusion and I ended up just firing up my old HDD while I find a different SSD to use. Thanks again though!

 

[misterpunch]

I've experienced this many times upgrading my hardware and reinstalling Windows. You will need to remove the USB stick but it's when the setup dialog says "Your computer needs to restart now" and you have the option to press the button "Restart now"

THIS is when you remove the USB drive and if your BIOS is set to boot the hard drive you installed to then setup will continue!

 

[trevorsaddress]

I've experienced this many times upgrading my hardware and reinstalling Windows. You will need to remove the USB stick but it's when the setup dialog says "Your computer needs to restart now" and you have the option to press the button "Restart now"

THIS is when you remove the USB drive and if your BIOS is set to boot the hard drive you installed to then setup will continue!

Thank you so much! I've been at this for hours now. Half of it was swapping out the 256 GB SSD that came with our MSI laptop. I bought a larger 512 GB SSD, backed up the 256 GB to the 1 TB HDD that was included inside the laptop. I imaged the 256 GB to the 1 TB HDD, then swapped out the SSD's. I tried reinstalling from an image on the 1 TB HDD, the D drive. It would reboot and come back to the Windows 10 install screen, or it would load an error stating it couldn't find the bootable media.

Apparently you have 10 seconds after it installs Windows 10, from an image or when you reinstall it from scratch, to remove the drive you booted the Windows 10 install media from. Finally got it to work, thanks to your answer on here!