Windows 10 Pro installation from flash failed

[JackBN]

Brand new build:
ASUS Z370-E Gaming
32GB Corsair DDR4-2600
i7-8700K, temp below 30C in BIOS
Samsung 960 Pro NVME, temp VERY cool
Windows 10 Flash Drive, using 64 bit

I have built a couple dozen systems in the past, but none with Windows 10,
none with from a flash drive, and none to an NVME drive.

After about 30 minutes ( ! ! ) of loading Windows10 to the NVME,
the system gave the message:
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware change might be the cause . . ."

Nothing I've tried gets beyond that, INCLUDING removing the NVME and replacing
with a 2.5" Samsung 850 Pro SSD. Also tried BIOS defaults.

Did something write to the flash drive which preserves the problem?

To determine whether my hardware is OK, I installed Ubuntu 16.04.03 from a DVD to a clean Samsung SATA SSD. Ubuntu installed without problems and works fine on this platform.

What to do to fix Windows 10?
If all else fails, can I download W10 64bit, burn a DVD, install from DVD, and use the key from the flash drive?

 

[UsandThem]

Maybe the flash drive is somehow corrupt? Is it a retail Windows 10 USB drive, or is it one you created from Microsoft's website?

I know when I installed Windows 10 on my 960 EVO, the install was crazy fast, so 30 minutes seems way too long to be normal.

Have you updated your BIOS to latest version (0605), and loaded the defaults? Also turn fast boot off if you haven't tried that (page 3-20 in your manual). I know it gave me issues with my son's Z97 Asus board when I installed Windows 10.

 

[XavierMace]

Yeah, 30 minutes is FAR too long. Should be around 5 minutes on that build. My guess would be bad flash drive. Download the latest build from MS onto a different flash drive. Make sure Secure Boot is disabled in your BIOS as well.

 

[JackBN]

Thanks for the replies. I updated the BIOS. It looks normal and the system still runs the Ubuntu build without problem (different SSD).
HOWEVER, every effort to install Windows 10 on my Samsung M.2 OR a freshly (again) formatted Samsung 850 Pro,
from the Windows flash drive, fails with the same message as before.
Only one drive is connected for any of these tests.
By the way, the Windows flash drive works only on a USB2.0 input.

The full message, every time, is:
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change change might be the cause.
To fix the problem:
1. Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language . . .
3. Click "Repair your computer"
If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.
File: \windows\system32\config\system
Status: 0xc0000098
Info: The operating system couldn't be loaded because the system registry file is missing or contains errors."

I have no disc and no other available Windows 10 system.

SUBSEQUENTLY, I tried to disable Secure Boot. Under the Boot tab Secure boot shows as enabled,
and it cannot be changed. Also turned off Fast Boot.

Still no joy.

 

[XavierMace]

Have you tried a new flash drive yet as suggested?

 

[JackBN]

SUCCESS !

I downloaded the Windows ISO and installed on the NVME with no problem, from a DVD.
It stinks to pay extra for a flash drive and then go around in circles because it does not work.

Now I must learn to live with Windows 10.
I still need a 1991 DOS genealogy database program that has no acceptable update path; I've tried several.
I have thousands of hours invested in this database.
Evidently there is a way to run XP Mode with Windows 10, so it's time to investigate the details.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[lxskllr]

I still need a 1991 DOS genealogy database program that has no acceptable update path; I've tried several.
I have thousands of hours invested in this database.
Evidently there is a way to run XP Mode with Windows 10, so it's time to investigate the details.

Thanks again for the help.

That's a good example for not using proprietary software for important projects, or really anything when you get down to it.

If XP mode doesn't work out for some reason, you could look into dosbox

http://www.dosbox.com/

or a virtual machine running msdos, or perhaps even freedos

https://www.virtualbox.org/

 

[Puffnstuff]

It sucks that your flash drive didn't work right but once you've installed windows from one you won't want to do it any other way. You can guy a new drive and then use the windows media creation tool to create another one.