USB Flash Drive - Create to Install Windows 10?

2harts4ever · 04 Oct 2016

Good morning,

Prior to beginning I am making this post to ask a few questions concerning Brinks' tutorial https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html

I am using an All-In-One HP Pavilion 23-g017c (x64) AMD A6-5200 APU w/Radeon HD Graphics, running Windows 10, Version 1607, Build 14393.105, using the Edge Browser while utilizing Windows Firewall and Windows Defender as my major security programs.

My computer came with Win 8.1 and then I updated to Win 10 when it became available free of charge. In early August I then updated to the Win 10 Anniversary Edition.

This is where my problems began. I have not been able to install the last three Cumulative Updates (KB3189866, KB3193494 and KB3194496 using Windows Update or manual updates. All displayed Error code: (0x80073712).

I have run the Windows Update tool several times and it says it found and fixed some files. I have run CHKDSK and it says all files are in order. I have run 'sfc /scannow' and it reported it did find some files that couldn't be repaired. However, the report is way over my computer understanding knowledge.

Now this background brings me to my questions after reading Brinks' tutorial.

(1) If I did download and use the tool would it take me back to the condition of my computer AFTER I had installed the Anniversary Edition of Win 10?

(2) Would that get rid or replace the corrupted files that seem to be stopping my Cumulative Updates?

(3) Once I download the Tool to my USB Flash Drive, what is my next step to get the tool to do its job? In other words, do I simply restart my computer with the Flash Drive still connected or do I take it out, restart and then insert it in my computer?

Any additional information or help would be appreciated. I figure that since I haven't been able to install the last three Cumulative Updates for my computer I am really missing some very Critical updates that my computer needs.

I figure I have to try something so I figured I will give this a try.

Thanks and regards,
2harts4ever

NavyLCDR · 04 Oct 2016

(1) If I did download and use the tool would it take me back to the condition of my computer AFTER I had installed the Anniversary Edition of Win 10?

That depends upon what you do with the ISO file / USB flash once you download it. I would recommend you either mount the ISO file itself - or if you create a Windows 10 USB flash drive that you insert the flash drive with Windows running, then run setup.exe from inside Windows from either the mounted ISO file or inserted USB flash drive. That will cause Windows 10 to "upgrade" itself, should overwrite the files causing the problems and fix Windows update.

If you boot the computer from a Windows 10 USB flash drive, you will be doing a clean install which will erase your current Windows 10 and all the programs/apps you have installed, as well as your data.

(2) Would that get rid or replace the corrupted files that seem to be stopping my Cumulative Updates?

See above. Answer is probably. A clean install definitely will, but that will erase all your currently installed programs and data.

(3) Once I download the Tool to my USB Flash Drive, what is my next step to get the tool to do its job? In other words, do I simply restart my computer with the Flash Drive still connected or do I take it out, restart and then insert it in my computer?

You don't want to download the Media Creation Tool to a USB flash drive. You want to download the Media Creation Tool to your computer. Then run the Media Creation Tool and select the option to make installation media for another PC. That option will then create a Windows 10 installation USB flash drive for you. (or save an ISO file that you can mount and either run setup.exe from or manually create a Windows 10 Installation USB flash drive from).

2harts4ever · 04 Oct 2016

Hi Navy LCDR,

I appreciate your fast and informative answer. Your name alone makes me think I am in good hands. Retired Marine on this end.

Now back to your response. You said:

You don't want to download the Media Creation Tool to a USB flash drive. You want to download the Media Creation Tool to your computer. Then run the Media Creation Tool and select the option to make installation media for another PC. That option will then create a Windows 10 installation USB flash drive for you. (or save an ISO file that you can mount and either run setup.exe from or manually create a Windows 10 Installation USB flash drive from).

(1) You say I should download the Media Creation Tool to my computer and not to a USB Flash Drive. When I am downloading it to my computer and I select the option "to make installation media for another PC" when and how do I get the tool to my Flash drive to run 'setup.exe'?

(2) When you say I could save an ISO file that I can mount and either run setup.exe from or manually create a Windows 10 installation USB Flash Drive is also confusing me (which unfortunately isn't hard to do to me ...lol)

As you can see I really don't know much about using the Tool and I know even less when you start using the terms 'mount' and 'ISO'

Hate to sound so stupid but I don't want to mess this up ...lol

Thanks and regards,
2harts4ever

NavyLCDR · 04 Oct 2016

The Media Creation Tool does exactly what it's name says it does - it will download the actual 3+ GB file containing the Windows 10 installation image and either 1) create the USB flash drive for you or 2) save the ISO file to your hard drive. After you select the option to create media for another PC, it will give you the option of making a USB flash drive or saving the ISO file. At that time you can insert a USB flash drive (at least 4 GB in size, 8 GB is better) and if you select the option to make a USB flash drive, the Media Creation Tool will erase the flash drive and save the files and folders onto it to make it a bootable Windows 10 Installation flash drive.

The Media Creation Tool will not install Windows by itself. The Media Creation Tool will create the media required to install Windows.

2harts4ever · 04 Oct 2016

Hi LCDR,

Thanks for the fast response again.

So, do I understand you to say that once I download the Media Creation Tool on to my Flash Drive I would let the Flash Drive in the computer, restart and when the computer starts up the Windows Download would begin?

Thanks and regards,
2harts4ever

sn00ker · 04 Oct 2016

Hi ... First thing to do plug in your usb flash drive and close it when it loads up ... Now you don't download the Media Creation Tool onto the flash drive, you download Media Creation Tool on to the PC you are using to download from. Once it's downloaded you load or start the program >> ( Media Creation Tool ) from the location you downloaded to . It will give you 2 options like what NavyLCDR already mention . It will ask you what do you want to do, either >>> Upgrade this PC now or Create installation media for another PC . And you would choose >>> Create installation media for another PC , then you will see >>> Select language, architecture, and edition . Now this part is where you make your selection and usually the Language and Edition you wouldn't touch you would leave what's already selected. The Architecture is where you might want to change . It's either you want a 64 bit Operating system or 32 bit, that depends on the system you want to install windows on. Is your computer a 32bit system or 64 bit, just choose the correct one . Now to make changes to your selection you need to remove the check mark on >>> Use the recommended options for this PC, once you remove this check mark you can change the language, architecture, and edition if need be or if the selections is what you want, then leave it as is and click Next. Now make sure it selected on USB flash drive, if it is just click next and it will start doing it thing installing windows files onto it. Afterwards once it's finish you now have a windows 10 operating system on a flash drive that you can use to install windows from. Just make sure to change your bios screen to boot off usb

Just keep in mind the flash drive just has the Windows files you need to install windows on

sn00ker · 04 Oct 2016

One last thing if you're going to install windows clean it will remove everything from your computer like NavyLCDR already mention, so before doing anything BACK UP your data / stuff or what ever you need to keep . It wouldn't save your install programs, you will have to re install them once windows gets installed

sn00ker · 04 Oct 2016

2harts4ever said:

(2) Would that get rid or replace the corrupted files that seem to be stopping my Cumulative Updates?

(3) Once I download the Tool to my USB Flash Drive, what is my next step to get the tool to do its job? In other words, do I simply restart my computer with the Flash Drive still connected or do I take it out, restart and then insert it in my computer?
2harts4ever

If you do a clean install of Windows it should not give you those updates problem errors and it will install Windows 10 prior to the Anniversary Edition . You will need to have your drivers for what ever hardware you install, like for instance the Printer driver and what ever else you install . Now how to use your usb flash drive once the Windows files are there. You need to go into the Bios screen and change the order in the Boot Selection . The boot order need to be USB first so the bios can load the Windows files and once you have selected the correct order you need to save and exit the bios screen . Now once that is done and the usb flash drive is still connected just restart the computer and it should start the windows installation process, if it doesn't then the bios boot order is incorrect and you need to correct it for it to work .

2harts4ever · 04 Oct 2016

Good evening LCDR and snooker,

I am in the process of downloading the Media Creation Tool right now to my Desktop. I selected the option to make installation media for another PC.

Once downloaded to my Desktop I plan to follow LCDRs' suggestion of
(1) starting up Windows
(2) inserting the Flash Drive after Windows starts which leads me to my first question: will the run 'setup.exe' appear on my screen once I insert the Flash Drive into my computer after starting Windows?) If not, how do I find it?
(3) I am under the understanding that once this runs it causes Windows 10 to 'upgrade' itself and hopefully overwriting the files causing my update problems.

I will hold off starting the actual 'upgrade' until I find out that the steps I typed above are complete and correct.

I have a digital license and I also understand Microsoft knows this since I activated Windows 10 when I originally updated to it. Hopefully this is true because I don't have a Product Key if I am asked.

If this upgrade fails can I use the same Media Creation Tool for a Bootable install for a clean install?

I'll wait for an answer before taking the plunge ....lol

Thanks and regards,
2harts4ever

NavyLCDR · 04 Oct 2016

When you insert the USB flash drive with Windows running, it should be assigned a drive letter. Open File Explorer and click on the drive letter assigned to the USB flash drive, then double click on Setup to run it. You probably won't see setup.exe unless you have view file extensions turned on in file explorer. It might just say setup.

If you downloaded the same edition of Windows 10 that you have installed, it will not ask you for a product key when running setup from within Windows.

If the upgrade fails to correct your problem, then you can use the same USB flash drive to boot the computer from and do a clean install. That will probably ask you for a product key and you can just click the link at the bottom of the screen that says "I don't have a product key."