Boot Options

[tonyalt]

I was trying to upgrade to Windows 10 using the MS Media Creation Tool. I could not do an in-place upgrade, it failed 5 times in a row. MS told me to create a USB boot disk, which I did. That seemed to be working, until it didn't - created new partitions but gave a message about not being able to install on a GPT partition. Tried formatting the partition - it wouldn't let me. Then erase the partition and tried to reboot not using UEFI. But now when I restart I no longer even get the option to boot from the USB, neither BIOS nor UEFI - the only boot options are hard drive (obviously not possible) or EFI file. It won't look at the USB at all. How do I restore the option to boot from the USB drive? WIthout that I seem to have a dead laptop.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You should be able to boot from a USB flash drive by going into the BIOS disabling secure boot and enabling Legacy mode.

Then boot from the EFI USB flash drive, not the legacy one.

If you are getting the message about not being able to install on a GPT partition, watch this video for how to solve.

Windows 10 Install 2022 | DISKPART COMMANDS | HOW TO FORMAT HARD DISK FROM CMD - YouTube

[tonyalt]

Hey Paul, thank you very much for this. When I started up again and went to the Boot options submenu, Secure boot was already disabled, and all the USB boot options were showing: Boot Options screenshot

So I just saved and let it boot and now it booted from the USB drive. Don't know what happened before.

Now about the video, thank you again! But I have some questions about those partitions -

(1) What is he doing that allows the installation program to format the partition as MBR instead of GPT? Is it the "clean" command? If so, would it be safer to just run the command and then go back to the installation program and let it create the partitions? There must be a reason he doesn't do that but presumably the "diskpart" command is the same thing the installation program is doing.

(2) Are you sure the partition sizes he uses are exactly the right ones? (I'm trying to install Windows 10 Home.) Or maybe the exact size is not important? Except for the primary? Also the video ends before he shows a size for the 4th partition, so if I have to create them I wouldn't know what to use.

Really appreciate your response.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

I forgot to tell you that in the video, once the guy got to the point where he got back into Windows and you saw the screen of one partition of unallocated space, you can click Next, and W10 will create its own required partitions.

There is no need for you to create any additional partitions if you don't want to.

When all is said and done, you will have one C:\ partition with the maximum amount of drive space available.

[tonyalt]

Hey Paul,

That worked like a charm! Many thanks. My last support call with MS ended with the tech telling me I'd need to format my hard drive "which takes a really long time" and escalating it to a senior tech who is supposed to call me... tomorrow. 

FYI, there seems to be a bug in the BIOS on my laptop - again when I did a restart it only showed two boot options, file and disk.  I had to go to the BOOT Options menu again, save (F10), and then it worked properly when I restarted.

Tony 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Tony.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Cheers,

Paul