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Windows 10 infinite installation loop

Anonymous
2019-01-05T03:51:53+00:00

I recently had to re-install windows on my home-built gaming PC.  I created a windows 10 media USB on a separate laptop and plugged it into my gaming PC and turned it on.

I had to set the BIOS to read the USB first.

I loaded Windows and got all the way to the part where Windows says it needs to reboot in order to finish the installation.

The computer restarts, and then it tries to re-install Windows from scratch from the media USB again!  It goes into an endless loop.

Step taken so far:

I re-started, and interrupted the re-start, went to the BIOS and had it read from the hard-drive.

Now the PC says that Windows installation was interrupted and tells me to reinstall Windows!

Does anyone know how to fix this?

Thanks!

JB

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-01-05T04:37:49+00:00

    Hello,

    This installation loop issue is common on some systems. When the system is about to restart, you need to quickly remove USB installation media before the system reaches manufacturer's logo screen. Then it will complete Windows installation, as expected.

    Regards.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-01-08T01:42:30+00:00

    Switch your BIOS from whatever it currently set on to the other and try the install again.

    If it's UEFI - change to legacy.

    If it's legacy - change to uefi.

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2019-01-05T04:17:50+00:00

    Hi JBuchner

    Try resetting your BIOS defaults:

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/reset-pc-bios-...

    If that does not work and you have a desktop computer...

    Power down

    Unplug it

    Open the system unit

    Remove the CMOS CR-2032 chip

    Plug it in, start the machine, wait 10 seconds

    Power down, unplug it, reinstall the CMOS CR-2032 chip

    Plug it in again, power up

    Restart setup again...

    Review the following guide for instructions and details about configuring your BIOS or UEFI boot settings for DVD, CD, USB or SD Card.

    BIOS/UEFI Setup Guide: Boot from a CD, DVD, USB Drive or SD Card

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/bios-uefi-setu...

    Once your computer is set to boot from the DVD, you should see this option. If you are installing from a retail Windows 10 USB thumb drive, you will be asked to select either 32 or 64 bit Windows 10. Learn more here https://www.groovypost.com/howto/choose-windows...

    The Windows logo will appear on screen, this might be here for a while, as long as you see the animating dots, everything should be ok.

    Select your Language, Time and Keyboard method then click Next.

    Click Install now

    Windows 10 setup will prompt you for a product key during installation a couple times. If you originally upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 click the option 'I don't have a key' and 'Do this later' . If you have a Windows 10 product key, you can proceed to enter it.

    Setup will also prompt you to select the edition you have a license for - Home or Pro. Please make sure you choose the right edition. If you choose the wrong edition, your only option will be to perform a clean install again.

    The copy of Windows 10 you download and upgrade from will correspond with the edition of Windows you have installed, if it does not, this is why you might be experiencing problems activating:

    Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8.0 Core, Windows 8.1 Core should install Windows 10 Home 
    
    
    
    Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.0 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro should install Windows 10 Pro
    

    IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHICH EDITION YOUR SYSTEM CAME WITH, CHOOSE WINDOWS 10 HOME.

    Wait while setup prepares to copy files

    Accept the license terms then click Next

    Click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)

    NOTE: Sometimes Windows 10 setup can become confused if it see's a thumb drive. You might get a driver missing error or something to that effect. If you do, restart setup, but this time, when you arrive at the following screen, disconnect your thumb drive then go through Custom options. When setup is ready copy files, it will prompt you to reconnect the installation source (your USB).

    Select the drive then click New

    NOTE: If you have multiple partitions listed, select each one (starting at the bottom), then click delete until there is only a single (one) unallocated drive displayed in the window.

    Select the unallocated drive listed, click New, click Apply then OK

    This will split the drive into multiple partitions, select the Primary partition then click Next.

    NOTE: The System Reserved partition is where recovery files are kept for diagnostics and repairing damaged Windows 10 files; or even reinstall Windows 10.

    Wait while Windows installs

    When this phase of setup is complete, Windows will automatically restart then reboot into setup again.

    Windows is detecting and installing your hardware. After this is complete, Windows will restart one last time.

    Out of Box Experience

    The Out of Box Experience page is where you get to configure detailed settings in Windows, which includes creating a user account, configure privacy, sync PC settings and install modern applications.

    Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-01-08T01:32:58+00:00

    Thanks Kapil,

    We tried it.  It made progress.  It reached a point where it was just about to finish, and then we got the dreaded message: " windows restarted unexpectedly and cannot install.  please reload windows again"  or something like that.

    So, still stuck.  Thanks anyway!

    John

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  5. Anonymous
    2019-01-08T01:35:00+00:00

    Hey Andre,

    Thanks so much for such a detailed response.  You are a true gent.  

    I tried everything except the CMOS chip removal.  I got a message that said:  windows restarted unexpectedly, please restart and reload windows.  Or something equally frustrating.

    So, still stuck.  Thanks anyway!

    John

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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