Installer issues due to missing files on Windows
Installer issues due to missing files on Windows
Completed PC build finished, moved to install Windows using the same USB drive as before. System reports repair needed, noting Windows wasn’t previously installed on the drive. Need advice!
I’m experiencing an issue with a missing USB drive containing files.
Is the system starting from USB? Has the storage device been used in a previous machine? Sometimes Windows may place the bootloader on the incorrect drive if multiple drives are active and legacy boot settings are enabled, leading to issues when transferring to another PC.
The system is starting from the USB drive, and all the computers' drives are new. It seems they haven't been used on another machine before when I installed Windows on it. The only existing drives were an SSD and the USB installer. I tried again but received this message (the attached image suggests wiping the USB and reinstalling the media).
It seems the system is focusing on using internal storage for booting initially. Just pick the USB drive as the first boot option during setup, and it will automatically switch back to the internal drive once installation finishes without any manual adjustments. If problems persist, I recommend recreating the USB install or trying a different USB device.
The splash screen displays boot choices. If you can't see it, press F8 during the POST. It's also suggested to exclude all other devices except the internal drive and the USB you're using from the boot list. Since you're planning to use UEFI, format the installation drive and delete any partitions to resolve bootmgr problems.