Windows Update - Now Computer won't boot up ("can't install Windows")

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
N

nicus9

Commendable
Oct 31, 2016
5
0
1,510
TL;DR: Had Windows 10 for years, Windows update installed, now when it boots up it has the error "Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation."

Longer explanation:
Last fall/winter Windows released that major update (I've been busy). I let it install, and turned off my computer. I remembered something and turned it back on a minute later only to find it wouldn't boot up. I see my motherboard's splash screen and then the blue Windows logo. After a minute of staring at the Windows logo, a pop up with the install error I mentioned above pops up.

This computer used to be Windows 7 but I got the free upgrade they did years ago. As a result, I don't have any install disc.

I tried downloading their "Media Creation Tool" to create an installer but no luck. Tried putting it on multiple hard drives and flash drives (in case one of them was incompatible or something) but no luck. Either nothing changed or it would boot to a black screen and sit there. Its possible I'm doing some step wrong when booting it up with it as I've never attempted that process before but...

I even spent a couple of weeks over Christmas on the phone with Microsoft Support (I'm a glutton for punishment I guess) in the hopes they'd just send me a freaking install disc or something. After a dozen phone calls (and multiple instances where they forgot about me and never called me back) they finally just told me I needed to get a new motherboard (probably just to get rid of me).

Computer info:
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H motherboard
i5-4670 CPU, 3.40 GHz
16 GB of ram
Two NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770
1 solid state drive which contains basically just my Windows install
1 hard drive which contains everything else

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone
 
Solution
doolittle
A linux live USB is a great idea for a sanity check, I always boot one up when Windows decides to barf after a failed forced update (and don't get me started on the number of issues forcing the 1709 update... Maybe 1803 will be better idk) and running linux just to do a quick HW check is a very good idea.

Anyway you were on the right track, there's a good custom win10 install walkthrough here, sounds like you were at the point of it telling you that partition contains an existing windows install and will be moved to "windows.old" so you can still access your files.

Probably a good idea to remove your HDD and only have your SSD running for the install and if you want to backup files from the SSD, the bootable linux USB can...
Sort by date Sort by votes
N

nicus9

Commendable
Oct 31, 2016
5
0
1,510




Thanks but any other ideas that won't require me changing operating systems? lol

Luckily someone else on another site recommended I remove my graphics cards and try again. That allowed the creation tool installer to boot up, but I'm having issues using it.

In the creation tool setup, I tried poking around but none of the repair options worked. It failed when I tried to restore to a previous backup, it failed when I tried to rollback the upgrade, it failed when I tried to do a repair, etc.

After all of those failed I just tried telling it to install Windows 10, but unfortunately I'm not sure of all the settings I need to specify.

Screen #1) I said I don't have a key (which I don't since I upgraded from 7).
Screen #2) I chose Windows 10 Home (pretty sure I had home and not pro).
Screen #3) The Upgrade option doesn't work so I did an Custom/Advanced install.
Screen #4) Then it starts asking me about my various drives and partitions and I'm afraid of screwing it up so I stopped.

Can anyone link me to a guide on using it? I can't find one. Or any advice you can give.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
CountMike

CountMike

Titan
Oct 31, 2015
33,758
3,142
147,990
With Live Linux distro you don't change OS. You can run it off a USB or CD/DVD only even without any storage in the computer. That's why it's called "Live". This program can help you download a Linux distro of your choice and make a bootable USB.
Sorry, forgot link to program
https://www.pendrivelinux.com/linux-live-usb-creator/
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
doolittle

doolittle

Splendid
Jul 19, 2004
2,086
73
21,490
A linux live USB is a great idea for a sanity check, I always boot one up when Windows decides to barf after a failed forced update (and don't get me started on the number of issues forcing the 1709 update... Maybe 1803 will be better idk) and running linux just to do a quick HW check is a very good idea.

Anyway you were on the right track, there's a good custom win10 install walkthrough here, sounds like you were at the point of it telling you that partition contains an existing windows install and will be moved to "windows.old" so you can still access your files.

Probably a good idea to remove your HDD and only have your SSD running for the install and if you want to backup files from the SSD, the bootable linux USB can rescue files nicely as well.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Solution
N

nicus9

Commendable
Oct 31, 2016
5
0
1,510
Unfortunately I didn't see your reply sooner. I eventually found a guide on it and realized that the extra drive that was listed was the boot drive I was installing off of (now I'm curious what would happen if I tried to wipe and install to that one lol).

Yeah I'd never even heard of that so I just saw Linux and assumed you were some troll making a post essentially saying "Windows sucks, use Linux." Sorry about that :)

I must have done it improperly then because it didn't back up any of my stuff. I did have some stuff on it but I gave up getting it back since I couldn't even boot it. Last time I apparently didn't set up my separate storage hard drive as well as I thought I had so it amounted to essentially a full wipe/reformat but so far everything seems to be working. Its starting up and I'm reinstalling all my programs. Hooray for Windows updates?

Thanks for all of your help
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
G

Guest

Guest
Hello
If you want to backup your data install Acronis live USB and backup your data.

Get another flash drive and burn Windows in it.

Restart the PC
In BIOS screen boot with USB
Install a fresh Windows

That's it
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom