Installing Windows 10 from a USB Flash Drive

[FrankJB45]

I have an ancient HP Pavillion Elite HPE and am belatedly trying to upgrade it to Windows 10.  After much struggle I have created (I think!) an installable Windows 10 image on a USB Flash Drive .

My problem is that in the BIOS, the "Floppy Group Boot Priority" is marked as "not installed".  Is there any way that I can install it?

Please help or I'll be forced to buy a new PC with (for me) the hated Windows 11 !!!

[TheOldMan]

It depends on how old the "ancient HP Pavillion Elite HPE " really is.  What is the complete model number?

Really old PC's were not naturally setup to boot from USB, but if it is that old, you can make the DVD and most older PC's can boot from DVD.

When it suggests floppy drive - it might be to old for Windows 10.

[FrankJB45]

Many thanks for the response.

The model number of my PC is:  HPE-495UK.

As regards creating a disc from which to load Windows 10, I've tried running the MediaCreationTool_22H2 but after a few seconds it stops with an error code:  0x80070002 - which I have so far failed to fix !!

Do you of any way that I can move the contents of my USB flash drive to a CD to produce a viable installation disc?

[TheOldMan]

Now that I have the model  number, it is clear that PC is not too old to boot from USB.

As far as making a bootable DVD from the USB - first let us see what is going on with the PC.

If you have some other PC available to try the present USB flash drive to see if it really is functional.

Or/and use that other PC and the Media Creation tool to make a new USB or DVD or both.

Here is a discussion concerning that same model PC as yours

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktops-Archive-Read-Only/Pavilion-Elite-HPE-495uk-BIOS/td-p/5989975

Here is also a way to access the BIOS to get what you are trying to do.

Start tapping the Esc key BEFORE starting the PC and then press the start button.
Keep tapping the Esc key until a popup menu shows. Then pick F9 or F10 from that popup menu, to get into the boot options.  Then pick the USB as first option, then enter.  It should then try to boot from the USB.

This will only work if the USB is made properly.

[FrankJB45]

Many apologies for not responding earlier - it's been frustrating and nearly a disaster (all of my own making!!!).

I have a Windows 10 laptop, so tried putting the USB flash drive in it's USB slot and reloaded it.  Just loaded as normal.  Then I looked at the BIOS order and found only the hard drive  - so I tried to get the USB slot as an option.  The result of my efforts was to get the laptop into a state in which the only way out was a factory reset  - which thankfully worked.  If it hadn't , apart from everything else, I'd have had to rely on my iPhone for electronic external communication which was not a situation I relished.  So I've decided to replace my PC with a new one and force myself to get to grips with Windows 10 - not a thing I relish at the age of 79, but the safest thing to!!!!

I really can't thank you enough for taking the trouble to try help me - I really do appreciate your efforts.  I'll end this conversation now.

Best regards.

[TheOldMan]

From the description of the latest posting, it sounds that perhaps the USB flash drive you made from the Windows Creation tool was not bootable.  If it was made incorrectly, it will not show as a boot choice when looking in the boot order choices in the BIOS.  So, if you would like to continue with the HPE-495UK, we can explore other options.

FYI:  If you are to purchase a new PC, it will most probably have Windows 11 installed.  That version of Windows is very similar to Windows 10 but there are some differences.  Assuming the HPE-495UK still has Windows 7 installed, I can understand the reluctance to move on to Windows 10 or Windows 11.  If I was not involved in helping users with problems in this HP forum, I would not be eager to change, either.  We (you and me), being of the same age, tend to like things to stay the same.