Windows 10 / 11 installation from USB fails on a new prebuilt PC. Urgent assistance needed.
Windows 10 / 11 installation from USB fails on a new prebuilt PC. Urgent assistance needed.
Computer specifications:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
Processor: ASUS Prime AMD Radeon RX 9070 OC
Motherboard: MSI B650 Gaming Plus WIFI
BIOS version: E7E26AKB.1MH
RAM: Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 5600MHz 16GB
SSD: Kingston NV3 SSD 1TB
Power: be quiet! PURE POWER 12 M | 650W
Cooling: be quiet! Pure Rock 3 LX
Phanteks XT Pro Ultra Mid Tower
I'm using a USB 3.1 flash drive with 32GB from PNY (purchased brand new for this project).
Hello, I received this new prebuilt system on Monday and have been struggling to install Windows since then. Some friends suggested it was straightforward—just follow simple instructions to download it. I tried my best to be thorough and share my experiences and concerns below.
The installation went smoothly the first time. I created a bootable USB with Windows 10 and followed the steps carefully. However, I encountered issues such as needing to restart multiple times because my mouse and keyboard would sometimes stop working unexpectedly. During the setup, a warning appeared saying "A media driver your computer needs is missing." After switching the USB port, the installation proceeded without further problems. I entered the activation key, and everything seemed to work properly.
But after about five hours of preparation, it became apparent that the process had stalled repeatedly. The system would usually load into an MSI loading screen, but nothing happened. Occasionally it displayed a black screen with a white underscore in the top left corner, or it would freeze entirely. Rarely, it would crash into a completely blue screen.
Eventually, I discovered that the installation screen reached Windows itself, and again the "missing media driver" error appeared. This time, I suspected the issue might be related to malware—possibly Black Lotus.
I also noticed that the "Windows OS configuration" option was missing in the BIOS, which could mean my computer wasn't recognizing the USB boot. It's possible that the initial setup had corrupted the installation media or damaged the SSD, preventing it from booting from the USB. When I tried to boot from the drive in the startup menu (by pressing F11), both the mouse and keyboard would shut off, turning off the RGB lights.
After several attempts, I gave up on Windows 10 and decided to try Windows 11 instead. I reformatted the USB drive and reinstalled Windows 10 from another laptop. While checking the BIOS settings, I confirmed it was set to GPT and UEFI mode, not CSM. Using Rufus to prepare the USB, I encountered a warning: "Revoked UEFI bootloader detected." Further research suggested that some Windows 10 media might be compromised due to security updates from Microsoft around mid-2023, which could explain the persistent issues.
Additionally, I found that the "Windows OS configuration" setting was absent in the BIOS, which might indicate a problem with the boot process on the USB stick itself. I also observed that my mouse and keyboard would stop working during the boot sequence, raising concerns about potential hardware or port issues.
Ultimately, after five days of frustration, I decided to return the computer. I appreciate any advice you can offer, and thank you for taking the time to read this. If needed, feel free to share any missing information or images.
Update: I reset the BIOS settings using F6 to try and fix the problem, prioritizing the USB drive in the boot order. Now, when I attempt to boot, the MSI logo appears first, followed by a blue screen, and both my mouse and keyboard turn off (the RGB lights dim).
Welcome to the forums, newcomer! After five hours of struggling to set up, I realized it might have gotten stuck and I decided to turn it off to try again. I recommend installing the OS in offline mode; see the video here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_GuFH9KdHC0. The steps are similar for both Windows 10 and 11, but if you encounter an error, refer to this guide: Regarding your USB port, which one is connected to your motherboard? For the USB drive, do you have access to a previous model with 16GB capacity?
The black screen with the blinking underscore indicates the system is starting from a location, showing that the BIOS can locate the boot block but fails to provide the correct information about which disk to use (Windows disk). Configuring the USB as the initial boot device in BIOS is not recommended for installation since it may cause the installer to assume the USB should always be first. Instead, designate your primary drive as the main boot device and apply a boot override or boot menu setting, allowing the installer to recognize future preference for the main disk. If hardware detection remains missing, visit the MSDS website and download the "On-Board PIDE/SATA Drivers" from the appropriate page, then unzip it before proceeding with installation on the same USB. The issue with the keyboard and mouse is unclear.
This indicates an incorrect boot setting.
You're attempting to start in legacy mode using UEFI boot media.
You notice a blinking underscore symbol.
When using a USB drive, select the UEFI option.
That is the sole UEFI boot capable choice.
Refer to this image:
USB Disk - operates in legacy mode
UEFI: USB Disk - operates in UEFI mode
(Both entries originate from the same physical USB drive)
For installation purposes, consider:
disabling secure boot and
disabling fast boot.
I'm using the blue ports on the motherboard. After getting it working the first time, I switched to the front port on the tower near the power button. I added the tower I used to the post because I realized I hadn't done that before.
I wonder if a new 16 GB USB drive would work better, but I don't have an old one around.
So far, I haven't made much progress with the installation steps, but I'll remember this for when I reach them.
Hey, and thank you so much. There is finally progress! So I've done everything that you said.
Now I get to this screen: Install driver to show hardware.
I shut down and installed the driver you suggested to the USB drive. After a couple attempts I got back to the same screen. But it still seems it can't find any drivers. I'll attach some pictures.
Updated! I successfully completed the installation after setting up the AMD wifi driver at the "install driver to show hardware screen. Where it starts to download windows and states it will shut off a couple times. After the first restart it however goes to the black screen with the dashed white line in the top left corner again."