Windows 10 Reimage Fail

[cobaltdawg]

Im trying to reimage my PC with a fresh copy of Windows 10 I purchased from Best Buy back in August of 2017. I've used this USB once before with no problems. However, when I attempt to boot from the Windows 10 USB device, I get an error that says "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause"

File: \Windows\System32\Boot\Winload.exe

Code: 0xc0000098

I can boot into the HDD with no problems, but it looks like I cant boot using the USB device.

I've tried error-checking the USB on another machine, but the USB is write-protected, so I cant. Is this USB corrupted? And if so, is there a way to save it that wont require me to purchase another copy of Windows?

 

[Barty1884]

Where did you create your boot media? I'd recreate the USB with the latest ISO from here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10

 

[cobaltdawg]

I didnt create the boot media. It was purchased from Best Buy.

 

[Barty1884]

Then I'd definitely start with a "new" image, with the latest ISO.

The image on the drive is >6 months old (likely much longer, as the image wasn't 'new' by the time you bought it).

Typically, these boot problems are down to the media image itself, opposed to the physical drive... and creation of new media will usually fix it.
That's not to say the USB drive isn't 'bad'..... it's a possibility, but I wouldn't bet on it.

You can use any USB drive >4GB (i think... might be 8GB) to create your own.


If nothing else, creating new media will remove the need to install X number of updates once you've installed. You already have the latest build etc, as a result.

 

[cobaltdawg]

Just tried installing it on a spare USB HDD I had lying around. It failed verifying about halfway thru and totally bricked the drive...

 

[Barty1884]

Creating the media failed? Certainly shouldn't brick the drive. You may have to disable any anti-virus during media creation.