Windows 10 installation halts on your PC due to system issues
Windows 10 installation halts on your PC due to system issues
Preparing this message for a friend means simplifying the tone and structure while keeping it clear. Here’s a revised version:
I’m writing to share what I’ve been experiencing with my PC setup. It usually freezes during Windows 10 installation from USB, though it sometimes restarts. There are no error messages when starting the OS, which is unusual. The system seemed fine before the format, so it might not be a hardware issue. We checked the RAM and found it to be okay.
I removed the CMOS battery, took all devices and extra monitors out before beginning the installation. I tried installing Windows on both an SSD and a different HDD one by one. I attempted to disable Secure Boot, but it didn’t work—my only option was to back up and remove keys from Key Management (I’ll handle that later since there’s no other USB available).
I reinstalled the Windows ISO on the USB drive to make sure the files were intact. Another idea I considered is using a different USB drive, but unfortunately, none are available at the moment.
My questions:
1. Why do we have two boot drives from the same USB? Should I try using a different one?
2. Are there any other steps I can take to fix this problem?
Thanks a lot! God bless you!
Ensure only essential USB devices are connected. Remove any external or secondary hard drives. Your motherboard might be mixing boot orders and trying to access one of the drives. When choosing the installation drive, clear all partitions on the intended operating system drive. Possibly your board uses a third-party SATA controller instead of the chipset, which may need a driver during setup. Also note that USB drives often offer two boot options—this happens because the drive is too large for the Windows partition. You can try turning off the non-UEFI option in BIOS. I use an 8GB USB drive and have never encountered dual boot settings, though this can depend on your motherboard.
Have you considered switching to a different USB flash drive? It might seem simple, but using a USB 2.0 model could improve compatibility. You can easily find 8GB or 16GB drives at reasonable prices these days.
They’re using an external drive plugged into the USB ports on the back of the motherboard. I suggested they switch to another USB and try again, noting they don’t have a PC nearby to install Windows on the USB. Our next actions should include disabling Secure Boot and updating the BIOS via a different USB. Do you think it’s possible to add BIOS updates using a USB drive?
I don't advise using external hard drives for Windows installation. Certain models such as the LaCie external have concealed partitions that can store branding, software, and data. These might disrupt or mislead the Windows setup process and the BIOS, possibly causing the motherboard to display conflicting partitions. I recommend starting with a USB flash drive first. Mediamarket.se lists a 16GB Sandisk USB 3.1 flash drive for just 39 kr. A more reliable choice would be a USB 2.0 drive; while I haven't tested other formats, USB 3.0 or higher should generally work. USB 2.0 drives are becoming less common, so consider trying a USB 3.0 model first. In fact, I haven't found any USB 2.0 drives available on Webhallen—Elgiganten might be worth checking. The reason avoiding USB 3.0/3.1 is sometimes suggested relates to early BIOS compatibility issues during USB3.0 adoption. Since your motherboard is an older Z170 model, such incompatibilities could affect BIOS updates or Windows installation. If that fails, updating the BIOS might be next. Make sure you don't disable Secure Boot if you plan to install Windows 11—it's required for TPM 2.0 and shouldn't interfere. As a side point, I suspect your system isn't officially supported with Windows 11; you could try it only if TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are enabled. Regarding storing files on the installation drive, yes—you can keep additional data there. In fact, I maintain the Windows installation drive as an emergency repair or recovery tool. It contains essential drivers, software, and diagnostic utilities. Note that due to the ancient FAT 32 file system, the maximum file size is limited to 4GB. I updated my BIOS using the same drive before installing Windows 11, and Windows 10 should function similarly. (The "SX670EF.CAP" file in the root directory corresponds to the BIOS for an Asus ROG X670e motherboard; you may want to consult your manual for the correct location and name.)
The error is .... it's in Swedish. Personally, I wouldn't attempt this in Norwegian. 1. It displays UEFI boot and Legacy boot for the same boot partition on your USB drive. 2. How to resolve it... try installing to the SSD? (3rd boot drive) Installing Windows 11 or Windows 10 onto a USB drive doesn't make sense... since they are locked to SSID after the first boot. It will only slow down your system.
It’s unlikely a PC will work normally but won’t install Windows. Try a few steps: adjust BIOS settings and turn off CSM support (only for UEFI). In the BIOS, change the boot priority so the USB stick comes in second or third place. Wait a bit—perhaps it’s just not stuck yet.
*Also noted to verify the target SSD has no partitions and uses GPT instead of MBR*
*Use command line during installation to clear disk partitions*
*Diskpart opens the partition manager*
*Shows all detected disks, including the SSD*
*Selects the correct disk number matching the target SSD*
*Clears all partitions on that drive*
*Proceed with installation as usual*
*In BIOS/UEFI adjust Boot Option #1 to point at the SSD*
*Consider moving the USB stick to the second slot for future use*
*Disable other boot options and leave them blank*
*Save changes and run Boot Override to access Windows media*