Installing windows - Boot configuration missing

So we're trying to get Windows installed and not repair the underlying Windows which we want to wipe off the drive as quickly and thoroughly as possible.  So please discard steps to repair Windows which waste time.  

Keep in mind as well that using Linux to create bootable Windows media doesn't work well if at all.  So you may need to borrow a Windows PC to follow the steps in the middle of the download page for Media Creation Tool.  If not then make sure to use these steps How to Create a Bootable Windows 10 USB in Linux.

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 Windows 10 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.

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-list-of-how-key-to-press-to-access-bios-for-various-oem-and-computer-systems/

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

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/media-creation-tool-install.  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-tutorials/23010-bios-boot-menu-f-keys-hotkeys-system-manufacturer-oem.html

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-methods-to-access-uefi-bios-setup.html

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-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html

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.

So, I think I was just an idiot and somehow broke my ISO, but I am facing an error when it launches setup.

It says "A media driver your computer needs is missing. This could be a DVD, USB, or Hard Disk driver. If you have a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive with the driver on it, please insert it now."

I am trying to search for my USB Drive and drivers but I don't know what this means exactly.

Good day! I am Independent Advisor Paul R. and also a Microsoft/Windows user like you and I am glad to be able to provide assistance to you today. I understand that you are having an issue with regards to reinstalling Windows.

Kindly try the steps below and hopefully it helps out to sort out the issue.

Method 1:

• Press any key to boot from the installation media.
• Select language, time, currency, and keyboard/input method and press Next.
• Click Repair your computer and select the type of OS you want to repair.
• Click Troubleshoot.
• Select Advanced and click Automatic Repair.
• When the system detects the OS, select the version that is currently running on the device.
• Unplug the USB or remove DVD bootable media and try to boot the system up.

Method 2:

• Boot up your PC.
• Press the F8 key repeatedly at boot and select Repair your computer.
• Select Command Prompt and type in the commands below one each and let the process finish before proceeding with the next one.

bootrec /FixMbr

bootrec /FixBoot

bootrec /ScanOS

bootrec /RebuildBcd

• After the process reboot the PC and check if this fixes the issue.

Regards,

Paul R.

If Windows Boot Manager doesn't appear in Boot Order on a UEFI BIOS, it will most likely invoke itself during install. Just make sure you enable UEFI, disable CSM, boot the media as a UEFI device, then delete all partitions to reset the formatting, select the Unallocated Space and click Next to let the installer create and format the needed partitions - which makes it foolproof.

These are just reminders as the actual steps are detailed earlier. 

The error you just reported normally means the media is bad.  This is because the SATA controller driver it is prompting for is always in the installation media except in about 5% of cases.  So 95% of the time that means bad media.  Make sure you only create the media using Media Creation Tool following the steps in the middle of the download.

This would be even more likely if you're using media created by Linux; regrettably, it rarely works.  Can you borrow a Windows PC?

Hi!

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. So, unfortunately I don't seem to even have the windows boot manager as an option, but I am going to proceed without it. I am about to check is CSM is enabled or not, as well as legacy BIOS, though I don't think Legacy BIOS is enabled.

I will report back if the issue was solved then.