Need help, formating with windows 10 USB flash drive is not working!

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ssmana

ssmana

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Hi everyone, i replaced my processor and motherboard. then i boot up the system and went into windows. I was using the SSD that was on my old system. Now i got into windows but i decided that i should format the ssd because maybe something might be wrong because of my old processor and mobo. When i tried to run the setup it stops me and gives me this message,Configuration sets are only supported when Windows installation is started from Windows PE. I do not know what to do, can someone help please , so i can get my ssd formatted and start fresh and install the new drivers for my mobo.
 
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Treehuggin

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I think it's worth mentioning here that if it is a Windows 10 November update, it [strike]will[/strike] might adapt to the new hardware without the need to format anything.

Edit: speaking from personal experience. The switch from Phenom XII and Gigabyte GA-870A to i5-6600 and ASRock Z170 went flawlessly and took couple minutes. Your mileage may vary.
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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It may 'adapt', but can be buggy as..
A clean install/format is definitely recommended after switching the motherboard.

You shouldn't have to make note of the license key (although it certainly wouldn't hurt!) if you have your W10 install tied to your MS account - this needs to be done before you make changes though.

Then you reinstall and if it doesn't auto-activate, use the troubleshooter.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

As for the message, I think you're trying to install Windows from inside Windows (running the upgrade tool to reinstall, or trying to run the application from a USB).

It needs to be bootable, and you need to boot to the USB, not from your SSD.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Not necessarily. Win 10 is better than Win 8 is better than Win 7.
Later releases of Win 10 are better than earlier.

But no guarantees either way.
Saying "it will adapt" is not quite correct.
 
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ssmana

ssmana

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I have the windows 10 USB flash drive. Yes i also tried to boot with it and run the installation that way. Again however it gives me a message , i forget what it says, but it cannot continue. I do not know why this is happening.
Initially when i booted up the computer after the MOBO and processor change, i realized that i got into windows and everything was fine, so i thought that i would delete the old mobo drivers and install the drivers that came with the mobo cd. My guess is that the drivers are different and now it will not let me run the installation.
 
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ssmana

ssmana

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ok i will boot it from the usb and tell you the message it gives me.
 
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ssmana

ssmana

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When i boot the comp from the flash drive i start the installation, and before i can do anything a message appears and says "window set up could not install one or more boot-critical drivers. to install windows, make sure that the drivers are valid, and restart the installation."
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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Can you post your full spec?

You don't get as far as selecting where to install to? If you don't, then there's an issue with your installation media.
There have been reports of needing to download the ISO (rather than going straight to USB) and using a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB

If this only appears once you select the install location (HDD or Partition), then there's something else wrong.
If you're on older hardware, there's the slight potential for install problems - but W10 should include appropriate drivers in it's install tool for newer hardware.
 
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ssmana

ssmana

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i7-6700k, asus maximus viii, gtx 1080 ftw EVGA, samsung 850 pro 500gb. after i select the 64 bit install setting in the black screen, it goes to a blue screen before i can do anything at all that message appears. i could not get to any stage where i can do anything.

 
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ssmana

ssmana

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what do you suggest i do, are you saying that it is the USB flash drive. What do you suggest i do buy a new windows 10, or ssd?
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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No, none of the above.

I would suggest running the download Windows 10 tool again, but downloading the ISO (not burning straight to a USB drive).
Once that's downloaded, use any bootable USB creator program (such as Rufus: https://rufus.akeo.ie/ being a commonly used one) and attempting to boot from it again.

Doesn;t sound like anything is wrong with your hardware, but perhaps the installed.

Before you run off & download again, try disabling CSM/Secure Boot in your BIOS (if it existis) and/or enabling "Legacy Boot" if the option exists. And try to boot from the USB again. There are some common settings that can impact the ability to boot from a USB. It's worth trying quickly before downloading the ISO again.
 
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ssmana

ssmana

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Is it possible to download windows 10 64 bit and use the cd key that came with it? then with the software i can do a format?
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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You'd delete/format while you were installing, no software will allow you to format a drive you're running Windows from.

You shouldn't need to re-enter the key, as your hardware (assuming your OS is active) is registered with MS's servers and it'll reactivate automatically, but it's nice to have the key.

Honestly, I'm not very sure what you're asking there
 
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ssmana

ssmana

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i created a windows 10 flash drive with a old usb flash drive i have. i will try to boot from it when it is done and see if i can install it from that. therefore the USB flash drive that i bought with windows on it is broken if this works. If it does not work, then i am clueless as to what the problem is. I hope it is not my motherboard, if it is my ssd i can always buy a new one they are not too expensive.

i just want to know what part of hardware the problem is on. the USB flash drive, my ssd, my mobo.... TT if i knew then i could at least replace it.

what i think is i have to buy a new ssd. because i should of formatted it before i replaced the mobo and processor. now it will not let me format it because there is a connection with the old mobo and processor and it will just give a driver error.
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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Oh, this was a USB W10 you purchased? I would hope those would work just fine, but I guess there's always potential for them to be defective too I guess.

Did you try my suggestion from earlier: "try disabling CSM/Secure Boot in your BIOS (if it existis) and/or enabling "Legacy Boot" if the option exists."

There doesn't sound like there's any need to replace an SSD at this point. If worst comes to worst , you can connect it to another setup (either via SATA or USB) and format it there.

*Can you just confirm for sure, that you're booting to the USB - you're either setting the USB as boot priorty #1 in the BIOS, or your using the boot override feature (usually F8 when you first turn your system on), and that you're not trying to install the OS while already in the Windows environment? *
 
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ssmana

ssmana

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I have solved the problem, if anyone is wondering why that message appears it could be for this reason. The mistake was on my behalf, the flash drive only works when inserted into a USB 2.0 not the BLUE USB 3.0. That is why this problem could happen, at least one of the reasons. Just make sure you put it into the right USB.
 
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