Can't install Windows 10 from USB

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stuartjmz

228 posts

Master Geek

#177671 11-Aug-2015 10:23

After the failures reported in this thread I borrowed an installation USB from a friend. I tried running setup.exe as both normal user and administrator, in each of the 2 user profiles on the 8.1 laptop. The result was the same: Nothing happened. To be more precise, when I tried running it as admin, the initial Windows 10 splash screen came up, THEN it silently failed. No error messagers, no new processes or apps listed in Task Manger, no nothing.

I am still able to install other apps from USB, so it's not a broad issue, it's specific to Windows 10. any suggestions, please?

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5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1362650 11-Aug-2015 10:28

reinstall your machine, don't modify anything or join a domain or install anything or apply any policies

run setup.exe from the ISO image

stuartjmz

228 posts

Master Geek

#1362655 11-Aug-2015 10:36

Thanks for the prompt reply. I was afraid that might be the answer - bang goes my hope of a hassle-free upgrade for my wife's laptop.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1362671 11-Aug-2015 10:47

I'm still pretty sure it is something about what is installed/configured on that laptop

Microsoft Answer Desk provides free online support, you could reach out to them and see if they can take a look at your machine and help

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1362673 11-Aug-2015 10:50

sorry I'm not more helpful, hard to troubleshoot via text

you could also try hooking up process monitor from systinternals and see what is getting touched on the system when you execute setup.exe

stuartjmz

228 posts

Master Geek

#1362674 11-Aug-2015 10:51

nathan: I'm still pretty sure it is something about what is installed/configured on that laptop

Microsoft Answer Desk provides free online support, you could reach out to them and see if they can take a look at your machine and help

Thanks, I might do that. I don't mind doing a reinstall of 7 on my PC before installing 10, but for my wife's laptop, I'm pretty sure she'd prefer an upgrade over a clean install.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1362688 11-Aug-2015 10:55

will find out if there are some logs written at that stage of Setup so we can figure out is happening, reply back soon

gzt

17122 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1362783 11-Aug-2015 12:38

Random suggestion try enabling the 'administrator' user and using that for the install.

but also you cannot know the USB is valid until it works on another machine.

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gzt

17122 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1362789 11-Aug-2015 12:50

&the obvious one make sure machine has latest updates some are prerequisite for upgrade.

looked at your previous thread maybe try enable 'administrator' for that one also.

stuartjmz

228 posts

Master Geek

#1362832 11-Aug-2015 13:35

gzt: Random suggestion try enabling the 'administrator' user and using that for the install.

but also you cannot know the USB is valid until it works on another machine.

I got the USB from a trusted friend who works as a sysadmin for a big company here, and who's used the same stick to update several machines. He's intrigued by its failure, and wants to come have a look.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1362843 11-Aug-2015 13:45

zip up and send me the logs under C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\Panther

stuartjmz

228 posts

Master Geek

#1362854 11-Aug-2015 14:06

nathan: zip up and send me the logs under C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\Panther

Done. Thank you.

gzt

17122 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1362859 11-Aug-2015 14:10

that location can be opened in event viewer also

markl

348 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1363497 12-Aug-2015 10:31

stuartjmz:
gzt: Random suggestion try enabling the 'administrator' user and using that for the install.

but also you cannot know the USB is valid until it works on another machine.

I got the USB from a trusted friend who works as a sysadmin for a big company here, and who's used the same stick to update several machines. He's intrigued by its failure, and wants to come have a look.

I'd point out also that not all USB install sources are created equal - language, "bitness" (32/64bit), and home vs pro are the three variables that you have to supply when building an install ISO using the media creation tool. If the image on the USB was configured to install an EN-NZ, 64 bit, Pro copy of Win 10, then you're not going to be able to use it to upgrade an EN-NZ 32 bit Windows 8 Home machine for example.

ALL three have to match exactly.

Having said that however, when I had created a 32 bit install key mistakenly, and tried to upgrade my 64 bit windows 8.1 laptop with it, I got an actual error message, rather than a silent crash...

I'd suggest building your own install usb, after double checking the bitness, the OS type (pro/home) and the system language for the laptop you're trying to upgrade.

stuartjmz

228 posts

Master Geek

#1363505 12-Aug-2015 10:48

markl:
stuartjmz:
gzt: Random suggestion try enabling the 'administrator' user and using that for the install.

but also you cannot know the USB is valid until it works on another machine.

I got the USB from a trusted friend who works as a sysadmin for a big company here, and who's used the same stick to update several machines. He's intrigued by its failure, and wants to come have a look.

I'd point out also that not all USB install sources are created equal - language, "bitness" (32/64bit), and home vs pro are the three variables that you have to supply when building an install ISO using the media creation tool. If the image on the USB was configured to install an EN-NZ, 64 bit, Pro copy of Win 10, then you're not going to be able to use it to upgrade an EN-NZ 32 bit Windows 8 Home machine for example.

ALL three have to match exactly.

Having said that however, when I had created a 32 bit install key mistakenly, and tried to upgrade my 64 bit windows 8.1 laptop with it, I got an actual error message, rather than a silent crash...

I'd suggest building your own install usb, after double checking the bitness, the OS type (pro/home) and the system language for the laptop you're trying to upgrade.

Thanks for your detailed response. I am aware of the issues you raise and in the other threads I reference in the initial post made it clear that I have been unable to create my own install media, which is why I have followed the suggestion made by several commenters and borrowed one.

idle

175 posts

Master Geek

#1363518 12-Aug-2015 10:59

Just another suggestion based on practical experience. When trying to install Windows 10 on an older laptop (Windows 7), I could not get the 32 bit media tool to launch the installation on four attempts. Each time I was interrupted by that annoying permission box which gives one the option of Allow or Disallow. Pressing Allow, on each occasion, made no difference. Went into Control Panel/ Security and Maintenance/ User Account Control and changed settings to Never Notify. The Windows 10 installation started at next attempt. Now, whether this is relevant or was just coincidence, I cannot tell, but it might be worth trying.

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