Failed to install from flash drive

Hello. Long story short, my father unexpectedly passed several months ago. I have his desktop, and am trying to reinstall windows on it after making a backup of personal files i want to keep.

I created a installation file on a flash drive, as doing the reset from the system settings would not let me do it. Stupidly, i formated all disc while in the installation program as i thought this would be a cakewalk, as I have previously installed windows from a flash drive before.

Here is where the problems arise: the setup progresses to 75% (once 76%) then gives me the error that windows 11 installation failed. No error code.

As the only other thing i have is a Macbook air for creating a new installation media, I am having problems even though i have tried different solutions (Reformating to exfat with GUID/master, tried splitting the 7,8gb install file in the ISO file so there are 2 files under 4GB, trying to install on different HDD/SSD with all methods), all different solutions leads to the same point of failure: Installation stops at 75/76% with the error that the windows11 installation failed. Both TPM and secure boot is enabled in BIOS. I am reluctant to reset the bios settings as my father OC´d his desktop and i would like to keep it that way, as I myself am not as competent concerning OC as he was.

I will admit that i have not researched good enough in my preparations for this (and yes, I will admit that formating the original windows install before installing the new OS is not a smart move) and as i understand it: FAT32 does not support files over 4GB, which appears to be the main root of the problem here. I have read that RUFUS is common as it defaults it to NTFS instead of FAT32. Would that be the solution to my problem, creating the media installation file using RUFUS? In that case my problem is that the only computer i have access to is a MAC which does not support RUFUS.

EDIT: The flash drive is a PNY 32GB USB 3.1

Help would be appriciated!

GPU: 5060 Ti 16GB

CPU: i5 13600KF

RAM: 32GB DDR4

Motherboard: MSI Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4.

The biggest challenge when creating Windows 11 installation media on macOS or Linux is that the sources/install.wim file now exceeds 4 GB. UEFI booting requires the FAT32 file system on the USB flash drive, which does not support individual files larger than 4 GB.

1. If using Linux: The best and easiest option is Ventoy. Install Ventoy onto the USB drive, which allows you to simply copy the Windows 11 ISO file directly as-is into the USB drive's file partition. Ventoy can boot it directly.
   For instance, balenaEtcher is unable to flash a Windows 11 ISO into a UEFI-compatible USB drive. It merely performs a raw clone of the ISO image to the USB.
2. If using Mac: Since Ventoy or Rufus are not available for macOS, you can use the wimlib tool in the Terminal (installable via Homebrew) to split the install.wim file into smaller parts to fit the USB drive.
3. If using a Windows machine: Create the USB drive using either the Media Creation Tool (which downloads pre-split .swm files) or Rufus (which creates a small FAT partition in addition to the NTFS partition for the UEFI:NTFS bootloader).

ChatGPT:

Use Homebrew + wimlib

1. Install Homebrew (if it isn't already installed):

Code:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

2. Install wimlib:

Code:

brew install wimlib

3. Mount the Windows 11 ISO by double-clicking it in Finder.

For example, if it is mounted as:

Code:

/Volumes/CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9

4. Split

Code:

install.wim

into

Code:

.swm

files:

Code:

mkdir ~/Win11USB

wimlib-imagex split \
"/Volumes/CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9/sources/install.wim" \
~/Win11USB/install.swm \
3800

This creates:

Code:

install.swm
install2.swm
install3.swm
...

Windows Setup automatically recognizes split

Code:

.swm

files.

Create the USB

Find the USB device:

Code:

diskutil list

Assume the USB is

Code:

/dev/disk4

.

Erase it as GPT/FAT32:

Code:

diskutil eraseDisk MS-DOS WIN11 GPT /dev/disk4

Copy everything from the ISO except

Code:

install.wim

:

Code:

rsync -av \
--exclude=sources/install.wim \
/Volumes/CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9/ \
/Volumes/WIN11/

Copy the split WIM files:

Code:

cp ~/Win11USB/install*.swm \
/Volumes/WIN11/sources/

Eject the USB:

Code:

diskutil eject /dev/disk4

The USB is now a standard UEFI-bootable Windows 11 installation drive that works on systems requiring a FAT32 EFI partition.

Click to expand...

Celery said:

The biggest challenge when creating Windows 11 installation media on macOS or Linux is that the sources/install.wim file now exceeds 4 GB. UEFI booting requires the FAT32 file system on the USB flash drive, which does not support individual files larger than 4 GB.

1. If using Linux: The best and easiest option is Ventoy. Install Ventoy onto the USB drive, which allows you to simply copy the Windows 11 ISO file directly as-is into the USB drive's file partition. Ventoy can boot it directly.
   For instance, balenaEtcher is unable to flash a Windows 11 ISO into a UEFI-compatible USB drive. It merely performs a raw clone of the ISO image to the USB.
2. If using Mac: Since Ventoy or Rufus are not available for macOS, you can use the wimlib tool in the Terminal (installable via Homebrew) to split the install.wim file into smaller parts to fit the USB drive.
3. If using a Windows machine: Create the USB drive using either the Media Creation Tool (which downloads pre-split .swm files) or Rufus (which creates a small FAT partition in addition to the NTFS partition for the UEFI:NTFS bootloader).

ChatGPT:

Click to expand...

While i tried this in a previous attempt. I tried following the way you posted it.
The same error appears at 75% again.

I'd consider finding a friend with a Windows machine and building your installation media there. I'd also consider a different FLASH drive in case there's a problem with that one. Make installation media on both of them, you'll have two chances to succeed.

gunrunnerjohn said:

I'd consider finding a friend with a Windows machine and building your installation media there.

Click to expand...

As of right now, I can´t see any other options. I have considered using or getting virtual machine on my mac, but it seems like too much of an hassle.

Bri1 said:

As of right now, I can´t see any other options. I have considered using or getting virtual machine on my mac, but it seems like too much of an hassle.

Click to expand...

Why can't you find someone, even remotely, that will generate the installation USB drive for you? Ship the FLASH drive or drives to them and they ship them back.

here is a link to make a Windows bootable USB from within MacOS

best of luck Steve ..

gunrunnerjohn said:

Why can't you find someone, even remotely, that will generate the installation USB drive for you? Ship the FLASH drive or drives to them and they ship them back.

Click to expand...

I can, just no one availible today, and i would prefer to get it done ASAP. But I might just have to get a friend to create it.

WinDiskWriter - Windows Bootable USB creator for macOS

Split Windows Installer Images
Newer Windows ISOs contain a large (>4GB) install.wim file.
Since FAT32 only supports file sizes up to 4GB, WinDiskWriter automatically splits it for you!

Click to expand...

If the Windows 11 installation still fails at 75% when using a USB created with WinDiskWriter, the problem is likely elsewhere. An incorrectly created installation USB (for example, one created by writing the ISO directly via dd) typically either fails to boot entirely or throws the error: "A media driver your computer needs is missing." on the partition selection screen.

If the computer contains two or more disks, it is a known issue for installation to fail in some systems. Try disconnecting the other disks leaving only the Windows disk. Alternatively you can disable the other disks in BIOS, but I think is better to disconnect them. Also at 75% is very likely that Setup has finished most of the installation and searches for updates and drivers. One of them might fail making the whole installation fail. To prevent that make sure you are disconnected from the internet, if there is a LAN cable disconnect it or disable Ethernet device in BIOS.

Celery said:

WinDiskWriter - Windows Bootable USB creator for macOS

GitHub - TechUnRestricted/WinDiskWriter: 🖥 Windows Bootable USB creator for macOS. 🛠 Patches Windows 11 to bypass TPM and Secure Boot requirements. 👾 UEFI & Legacy Support

🖥 Windows Bootable USB creator for macOS. 🛠 Patches Windows 11 to bypass TPM and Secure Boot requirements. 👾 UEFI & Legacy Support - TechUnRestricted/WinDiskWriter

github.com

If the Windows 11 installation still fails at 75% when using a USB created with WinDiskWriter, the problem is likely elsewhere. An incorrectly created installation USB (for example, one created by writing the ISO directly via dd) typically either fails to boot entirely or throws the error: "A media driver your computer needs is missing." on the partition selection screen.

Click to expand...

Thank you for this, however the program crashed when I started the writing process.

spapakons said:

If the computer contains two or more disks, it is a known issue for installation to fail in some systems. Try disconnecting the other disks leaving only the Windows disk. Alternatively you can disable the other disks in BIOS, but I think is better to disconnect them. Also at 75% is very likely that Setup has finished most of the installation and searches for updates and drivers. One of them might fail making the whole installation fail. To prevent that make sure you are disconnected from the internet, if there is a LAN cable disconnect it or disable Ethernet device in BIOS.

Click to expand...

The PC has 2 HDD’s and 3 SSD’s, so that might also be an issue, i will check it out! Thanks!