After DoD Wipe Cannot Install OS

FSchleyhahn said:

I did exactly as instructed. Now, when I run the Media Creation Tool, I get an error: There was a problem running this tool. We're not sure what happened, but we're unable to run this tool on your PC. If you continue experiencing problems, reference the error code when contacting customer support. Error code: 0x9031004A - 0xA001B.

Do you think this is because it is formatted as FAT32? I've tried this using 2 different thumb drives and am getting the same results.

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Interesting. I ran into the same error when I tried it, but I tried it again and it worked fine. The only difference is that when I got the error I had unchecked the box that says to use options best for my PC (wording may be slightly different). I tried it again with that selected and it worked fine. I was using FAT32 and it was fine.

garlin said:

My take is to perform a "clean; convert" or "clean; convert gpt" and resume Setup so it creates all the partitions like a blank disk.
If that works, I'll provide the explanation why.

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Garlin, I would be interested in knowing why you elect to use GPT. I typically prefer MBR for removable media, in fact, that is what is most often suggested, but I am curious to know if you have a specific reason for electing to use GPT. Only reason I can think of off the top of my head is if you want to use media over 2TB in size, such as a large external HDD, but then you need to use NTFS or a hybrid FAT32 / NTFS configuration. You also loose compatibility with legacy BIOS based systems in that case.

Sorry for the confusion. I'm very used to replying "convert or convert gpt" since I provide answers to both W10 & 11 users on several forums. Good catch.

I still believe my answer should work "clean; convert gpt" -> Setup -> New -> Accept

garlin said:

Sorry for the confusion. I'm very used to replying "convert or convert gpt" since I provide answers to both W10 & 11 users on several forums. Good catch.

I still believe my answer should work "clean; convert gpt" -> Setup -> New -> Accept

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No worries, but yes, GPT works. I've tested this extensivly. It only won't work on Legacy BIOS based systems whereas the MBR media works on both.

OK, I tried a THIRD thumb drive (smh) and this time, I was able to get the Media Creation Tool to finish, again following the same instructions hsehestedt provided in preparing it. I then put it into the computer, booted, and it made it to 100% of the "Copying Windows files" and then it just stopped. After about 5m, it says "Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available and restart the installation. Error code: 0x800701B1.

Again, I'll ask you do the "diskpart / clean / convert gpt" and allow Setup to think it's a blank disk. The problem isn't your Primary partition.

Garlin, I have done that several times. I boot from the USB drive then go to a command prompt to do the diskpart /clean /convert gpt. I then exit back into the setup. It sees the drive. I select it, Windows copies the files, then after it gets to 100%, it just hangs there until this message appears: "Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available and restart the installation. Error code: 0x800701B1".

One more idea:

I know that you are installing Windows to the SSD, but I believe that you mentioned that you have other disks in the system. I realize that what I am asking may be a little bit of a pain, but could you try one of the following:

1) If the BIOS of your system always you to disable the other drives, temporarily disable them
2) As an alternative, temporarily disconnect the other drives. If they are SATA drives, just disconnect the SATA cable.

I apologize for the hassle, but there is logic behind this madness

Yes, the other drives are already disconnected from both the power and the SATA cables.

Hmm, starting to reach a little bit more here, but I am not yet 100% exhausted on ideas...

Your SSD, is it a SATA SSD or an NVMe SSD? Please note that M.2 SSDs can be either.

If your SSD is a SATA based SSD (either M.2 form factor or a 2.5" drive), is it specifically configured as "AHCI" in the BIOS and not some sort of RAID?

To add, last week I obtained a 1TB NVMe drive and put it in a Sabrent USB 3 case, formatted it to NTFS to be used for portable storage [less bulky than My Passport]. I chose the GPT versus MBR and so far the only downside is that does not, as expected, work with Win7. Works fine on Win10 and Win11, don't have access to a Win8/8.1 to try it on. It also works fine on Linux Mint 21.

According to the manual, it is a 256 GB SATA Solid State Drive. I also set the BIOS to the default (did that yesterday). I really appreciate your help with this. I am wondering if the DoD program did something to the drive rendering it useless.

can try to see if works

Do you mean a warranty with the purchase of the software? The computer is 8 years old and its warranty has long expired. I contacted the maker of the DoD software but they have yet to write me back

my guess, his saying, DOD wipe out means data permanent destruction by media disk damage.

I tried to edit my reply and somehow got it deleted.

Oops, his post already gone.

That was why I was trying to edit, mistakenly thought it was a newer device.

I have a feeling we have to be getting close. When you get to 100% of copying files, Windows should now be setting the BCD and preparing to boot from the SSD. It sounds like something about that is going wonky.

As noted before, since this is a SATA drive, make sure that the BIOS has it configured as an AHCI drive:



Also, I don't think that this is likely to be an issue, but double-check to make sure that the boot device is configured to use Windows Boot Manager:

One more thing: Do you have the make and model of the PC? If home built, do you have the make and model of the motherboard?