[SOLVED] Windows 10 not installing from USB drive

Hi Matthew. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, and Volunteer Moderator, here to help you.

See this tutorial for how to best install WIndows 10 in a Dual Boot with Pop OS:

https://support.system76.com/articles/dual-boot...

If this doesn't work then you'll need to wipe the drive to install Windows 10 first, then add the Linux install second as shown here:

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/dual-boot-wind...

You may need to troubleshoot the Windows 10 install. I will give you all possible steps to troubleshoot Windows installation failure which work in about 90% of cases. If not we'll go from there:

Follow the illustrated Clean Install steps in this tutorial which compiles the best possible install that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Make sure all other drives and peripherals are unplugged. Update the BIOS or UEFI firmware to latest, or reset to Defaults, making sure (if you have it) UEFI is enabled, CSM or Legacy BIOS disabled, Windows Boot Manager set first to boot, if necessary disable Secure and Fast Boot until after install, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit. Access BIOS/UEFI Setup as shown here: https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...

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

Create the latest Windows 10 Installation Media by installing Media Creation Tool and following the directions here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... If you're using another PC to do this uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first. If you can start Windows enter UEFI firmware here: http://www.isunshare.com/windows-password/four-...

The media may also be bad, so confirm it boots and queues up per these steps in another PC, or else recreate it. You can also try a DVD, or the alternate download site from MS TechBench here: https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php. Burn to DVD using WIndows Image Burner or create bootable flash using one of the options here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create...

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on first screen press Shift + F10 to open a Command Prompt, type the following commands, each followed by Enter key:

DISKPART

LIST DISK

SEL DIS # (replace # with the disk # of the Windows disk from list in previous command)

CLEAN

EXIT

Close Command Box, on second screen choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen choose Unallocated Space, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof.

Make sure to follow the setup steps in the first link tutorial to complete your install. Drivers are important enough that those steps are printed in red.

You will get and keep the best possible install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods in the first linked tutorial. It's a better install than any amount of money could buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC.

If all else fails you can move the hard drive to another PC to do the install with it plugged in alone. Windows 10 is remarkably adaptive to new hardware without needing adaptive restore. If it will start it will swap out all drivers requiring several restarts. You can also try applying a same-version System Image to the intact SSD/hard drive.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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Hello Matthew_Stead, my name is Farah and I'm an Independent Adviser. I can help you regarding this problem

how did you copy the ISO to the USB drive?

simple copy won|t be enough, you need to burn it to the usb and turn the USb stick to a bootable stick.

this can be done in one of two methods

* go to this link and download windows media creation tool, with this tol you can burn the ISO image to the usb and make it bootable during the process.

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/win...

* or download the ISO file and use a 3rd party software to make the usb bootable like the following:

https://rufus.ie/

Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes.

Cheers!

Farah

Turns out secure boot was already disabled by default. I downloaded a new ISO image from https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO and burnt it onto my USB drive but nothing changes when I boot from the USB. Same thing as before

let me get this strait.

did you install windows 10 already and have problems booting from it or you haven't reach the windows install process yet?

I burned the ISO image onto my USB drive using the Popsicle tool provided by Pop!_OS. I have used Popsicle to burn ISO images onto my USB drives in the past and it works without fault.

Edit: I just reinstalled Pop!_OS using the same USB with a different ISO image burned onto it and it worked without a problem