Windows reinstallation

Hello, I am trying to reinstall windows 10 on my little brothers laptop (Acer N15Q1) which wouldnt boot windows.

I downloaded windows iso on a desktop, used Rufus which converted file to a flashdrive using FAT32 format.

Installation started. I deleted all partitions as i dont need the files. I pressed next on the only unallocated partition.

It got stuck on copying files for half an hour. So I cancelled install. It said it was cancelled but had the hourglass cursor on for a while. So what i did was turn the comp off, take out flashdrive.

I, maybe foolishly, converted the file on Rufus again to NTFS. The file i thought was originally 5gb, but it showed 3.99gb. I did it anyways, booted laptop again, install wont boot.

Changed it back to FAT32 and reused rufus, it didnt work.

Did I brick my comp? Settings are the same. It is a UEFI and secure boot is off, as well as USB FDD and HDD at the top of the list.

Someone please help! Much appreciated

Welcome to the forum. WE have a lot of people who have this problem if they try using rufus when you download the iso file windows gives you an option to create a usb and that seems to solve the problem and works. Make sure you only have one hard drive installed when installing

Rufus is completely unnecessary. Letting the Media Creation Tool create the USB flash - or save the ISO file from the Media Creation and use a few simple diskpart commands to create the flash is best. The flash drive created that way will be universally bootable in both UEFI and legacy BIOS (CSM) modes, you obviously want UEFI.

Second, avoid the super high speed USB flash drives. Just a basic, well proven flash drive like a Sandisk (my choice) or other known good brand name basic flash drive is best. Also, despite it's slower speed, I prefer to plug it into the black USB 2.0 ports on the computer if it has them. Just seems to be more reliable.

If it is stuck on copy files, then either the flash drive or the computer's HDD or SSD is likely bad - or a combination of a finicky super fast flash drive plugged into a USB 3 port.

Yeah I have a 5$ flashdrive lol. 16gb ONN brand I think, 2.0. Rufus seems to be easier, as Im not sure how to create the file. Does it make it better to manually create it myself?

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Thanks lol.

From what I can see, creating the USB is only possible on a windows 10 computer, and im using windows 7 to create the file. Or does it mean it can only create the USB with a windows 10 file?

LoonTink said:

From what I can see, creating the USB is only possible on a windows 10 computer, and im using windows 7 to create the file. Or does it mean it can only create the USB with a windows 10 file?

Microsoft's media creation tool works just fine from Windows 7:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/soft...load/windows10

The Windows 10 iso can be created on most computers.

Find a flash drive that you can format (> or = 8 GB)

See these links with text and images:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10
Download Windows 10 ISO File
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

Clean Install Windows 10

I might have to do that. I tried manually creating the bootable usb with command prompt using this guide (scrolled down): Create a bootable USB | Here's how to make a USB bootable - IONOS

Now its saying the USB (or drive G:) is not accessable. Should I just undo the changes and use the media tool? I should be able to navigate the tool, I should have done that first -_-

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I might have to do that. I tried manually creating the bootable usb with command prompt using this guide (scrolled down): Create a bootable USB | Here's how to make a USB bootable - IONOS

Now its saying the USB (or drive G:) is not accessable. Should I just undo the changes and use the media tool? I should be able to navigate the tool, I should have done that first -_-

NavyLCDR said:

Then mount the ISO file from the Media Creation Tool. Windows 8 and 10 can mount it just by right clicking on the ISO file and selecting "mount". Windows 7 needs a program such as WinCDEmu to mount the ISO file.

You just need to copy the files and folders from the ISO to a USB prepared as NavyLCDR described. An alternative to mounting the ISO is to open it in 7-Zip and extract them to the USB, that will work in W7.

Hi LoonTink,

Creating your own bootable USB drive is actually a very good idea. This way you're not reliant on third-party tools, especially when using someone else's system to create it.

Although Microsoft has a guide here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...sb-flash-drive

I would also look at what NavyLCDR posted just below yours. However, there is one important step that was missed, and that is making the partition ACTIVE which is what makes it bootable. See Step 10 in Microsoft's article I linked above.

I have a dedicated 32GB UFD (USB Flash Drive) that I use to deploy Windows from time to time; however, I use my Deployment Server a vast majority of the time. The UFD is for emergencies or to loan out if needed.

When I need an updated image, I tend to just download the ISO from Microsoft, mount the ISO and replace the install.wim in the Sources folder. I replace everything when there's a new Version released, such as version 1909 out now. I haven't checked if there's a newer one for a while now.

Either way, by just needing to replace the files on your bootable UFD, you don't need to reformat it every time you create one.

If you are using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10 then you will need to extract the WIM file for the version of Windows you want from the install.esd file. TenForums has an article on it here: Convert ESD file to WIM using DISM in Windows 10