Clean Install Windows 10

Joanne · 12 Jul 2015

Hello

All of the sudden, and without ever having faced this before, I am having big trouble in installing the latest official build : 10162. In short : it is stuck on step 17 of this tutorial, where it searches for an Internet connection. I have tried four times to clean-install this build and one time I have waited on this "Just a moment" screen for more than thirty minutes!...
I downloaded the official ISO from MS and I used Rufus but also Windows 7 USB / DVD Tool to burn this ISO to my USB3.0 stick. I've also checked the SHA-1 value of the ISO and it matches my download.

The weird thing is that until yesterday I have installed and used various previous builds, including 10162 and its upgrade, and also a few leaked ones, without EVER having faced such an issue!

- Can you please tell me what is going on, and HOW can I fix this? I always use and have used a wired internet connection.

I can provide more details about the procedure I follow during installation but I will first wait for your replies, because this might be something simple.

Thank you.

Brink · 12 Jul 2015

Hello Joanne,

When setup hangs like that at that point, you could force a restart of the computer with the power button. When the computer restarts, setup will usually pick up where it left off and continue.

If it doesn't detect an internet connection, and only gives you the option to setup a local account, you can go ahead and do that, then setup a Microsoft account later once Windows has finished installing and you sorted the network issue.

Hope this helps for now, :)
Shawn

Joanne · 12 Jul 2015

Thank you very much, Brink, for the immediate reply! :)
I sincerely hope we will be able to resolve this sudden issue.

- I have shut down and restarted my computer from my chassis power button, indeed, while waiting on that screen. The result was that I got a Critical Error : Cortana and Start Menu are corrupted (?) or not functioning or something like that. We will try to fix this the next time you will sing in.

It was a big pop-up window prompting me to sign out. After signing out the same was repeated, like a loop. The same message, me signing out and "Just a moment" and then the same.

I'd like to refer to the installation procedure I always (always) have used and use :
- On an unallocated SSD, it being the only drive connected to my system, and after having loaded Optimized Defaults in my BIOS -by clearing CMOS as the manual describes- I install the official Windows 10 TP, which I have downloaded from Microsoft and [have] validated its SHA-1.

Finally, this time only and due to this inexplicable trouble, I have also disconnected some USB devices, like my printer and my webcam, but also I have tried one time with my router turned off and disconnected from my computer. No solution! The same result : stuck on that screen..

Note:
- Right after clearing CMOS and loading Optimized Defaults, I enter my BIOS and set my XMP Ram profile, disable Intel Virtualization, the ASMedia SATA controller, Smart Connect and reassure the Secure boot is disabled - it is by default. I always do this, never had an issue before.

- The ISO was downloaded today from the official MS site, and as I already said, I have verified it.

Question:
- Where, in the installation procedure, is given to me the opportunity to continue my set-up with a local account? This was happening automatically in my system, so far. I use always the Express Settings.

Tigerman82 · 12 Jul 2015

What happens in installing Windows 10 with UEFI if you delete all the partitions from previous Windows 10 installation, get the Disk 0 Unallocated space option and then just click next instead of clicking New and then selecting the Primary partition before clicking Next? The reason I ask this is because I had to re-install Windows 10 in my new NUC PC (the M.2 SSD drive is reserved for Windows only) and I did this by deleting all the partitions and then just clicking Next. Right now it looks like I did install Windows 10 with UEFI and have the four partitions created by the installer. So why do you have to click New, then?

Joanne · 12 Jul 2015

Tigerman82 said:

What happens in installing Windows 10 with UEFI if you delete all the partitions from previous Windows 10 installation, get the Disk 0 Unallocated space option and then just click next instead of clicking New and then selecting the Primary partition before clicking Next? The reason I ask this is because I had to re-install Windows 10 in my new NUC PC (the M.2 SSD drive is reserved for Windows only) and I did this by deleting all the partitions and then just clicking Next. Right now it looks like I did install Windows 10 with UEFI and have the four partitions created by the installer. So why do you have to click New, then?

I'm sorry but I do not fully understand your question...

9 out of 10 times I use the "Windows 7 USB / DVD Tool" to burn the ISO on my USB3.0 stick. I unallocate my SSD either by deleting its volumes through the Disk Management in Windows 7 or during the installation by selecting Custom and deleting the partitions again.

One time only, today, when I have used Rufus I remember I selected the non-UEFI selection, as a tutorial on this site describes.

What... shocks me is that I have installed this same build successfully and without any issue, just a couple of days ago! And it upgraded itself to the latest one, too. Today though I have re-downloaded the ISO. I don't know IF they've replaced it?! Changed something in it?! Dunno.............

Tigerman82 · 12 Jul 2015

Joanne said:

I'm sorry but I do not fully understand your question...

In the tutorial it says that after deleting the partitions of the previous Windows installations, you have to click New and then select the Primary partition before clicking Next and installing Windows. My question was that if you just have the Drive 0 Unallocated Space and click Next to start the installation process, does something different happen concerning installing Windows 10 with UEFI. Basically I'm asking how necessary it is to click New (does the installer automatically format the Unallocated space and create the partitions making clicking New unnecessary).

And yes, I'm using a USB flash drive to which I've created the installer with Rufus. I'm installing Windows 10 to my Intel NUC mini PC with M.2 SSD drive which will be used just for Windows.

Joanne · 12 Jul 2015

Tigerman82 said:

In the tutorial it says that after deleting the partitions of the previous Windows installations, you have to click New and then select the Primary partition before clicking Next and installing Windows. My question was that if you just have the Drive 0 Unallocated Space and click Next to start the installation process, does something different happen concerning installing Windows 10 with UEFI. Basically I'm asking how necessary it is to click New (does the installer automatically format the Unallocated space and create the partitions making clicking New unnecessary).

And yes, I'm using a USB flash drive to which I've created the installer with Rufus. I'm installing Windows 10 to my Intel NUC mini PC with M.2 SSD drive which will be used just for Windows.

Okay, I will try to answer your question by telling you what is happening in my system, but please understand that right now I am disappointed and a bit irritated from all this effort today, and also that I am not a native English speaker...

The way I was and I am installing Windows 10 TP is simple. I let one unallocated SSD on my system and I just press next. The set-up does the rest. When I open the Disk Management in Win 10, after the installation, I see one partition of 500MB and then my C:\ drive.

BUT I wish to have a dual boot with Win 7, my main OS.
So, after I complete Win 10 installation I shut-down, cut the power, install my other SSD with Win 7 on slot (position) 0 on my motherboard, I plug in Win 10 SSD to the next slot or port, I clear CMOS, and set a few things in the BIOS again.

When I power on the PC, if I wish to use Win 7 I just let it boot. If I wish to use Win 10 I press F11 and select to boot from my Win 10 SSD, a Samsung.

After all this, when I open the Disk Management in Win 7, for example, I observe that a new partition of around 70MB if I recall correctly, has been created and it appears in the File Explorer.

- Does this make any sense?

I hope I remembered these details correctly. Even if it does not make any sense though, I can REASSURE you for one thing: until today and until this odd issue, I never-ever had any problem with any of my Windows installations. Ever.

If anyone can provide a solution I'd appreciate it!

Thank you.

Edwin · 12 Jul 2015

Tigerman82 said:

In the tutorial it says that after deleting the partitions of the previous Windows installations, you have to click New and then select the Primary partition before clicking Next and installing Windows. My question was that if you just have the Drive 0 Unallocated Space and click Next to start the installation process, does something different happen concerning installing Windows 10 with UEFI. Basically I'm asking how necessary it is to click New (does the installer automatically format the Unallocated space and create the partitions making clicking New unnecessary).

And yes, I'm using a USB flash drive to which I've created the installer with Rufus. I'm installing Windows 10 to my Intel NUC mini PC with M.2 SSD drive which will be used just for Windows.

I believe clicking 'New' brings up the 'New Simple Volume Wizard' which allows you to assign partition volumes, name the volume, assign a drive letter, etc.; if not, Windows will install on the whole partition and create the 'System Reserved' partition on it's own.

Joanne · 12 Jul 2015

By the way :

So, what should I do?
Should I download the ISO again?

Why is it doing this?

Brink · 12 Jul 2015

Joanne,

I would start from scratch making sure to delete all partitions on the drive until it's unallocated at step 11B.

Be sure that your network is active and connected to the PC during the installation. If you see the hard drive activity light blinking while it's at step 17, then it would be best to wait up to an hour to see if it may continue within that time frame. It should normally only take a minute or so at most though.