Booting Win10 install DVD, "press any key" does not respond.

[Ichinisan]

Working on a PC that needs the OS reinstalled. Earlier this month, I created a Windows 10 install DVD. Should be the latest "creator's update" since I used the latest "media creation tool" from Microsoft.

I can see the DVD's boot loader briefly after I select that device from the EFI BIOS boot menu. The bootloader on the disc says "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD..." Then it ignores my key presses. I think it then tries to pass boot to the hard drive or something, so that fails.

There is no option in the BIOS for legacy USB keyboard mode. I've tried different USB keyboards. This system doesn't have a PS/2 port for an older keyboard.

I actually booted with the hard drive disconnected so it would force booting the DVD, then reconnected power to the drive. I got through the first few screens of the Windows 10 installer, but it doesn't see a drive on the screen where I would select one to install Windows (even if I refresh that screen).

There are still some things I can try, but I thought I should ask here in case there's an easy / elegant solution.

 

[TheELF]

If you can connect said drive to a system with working windows then follow these instructions,just substitute usb with the drive you are working on.
If you can't connect the drive and you have a spare usb drive that is big enough to hold the installation and the .wim file...
https://www.howtogeek.com/196817/ho...-go-usb-drive-without-the-enterprise-edition/

If the file is install.esd,which it will since it has better compression,you can use https://www.winreducer.net/ to turn it into .wim

Don't get fooled by the article calling this windows To Go it's going to be a normal installation if you do it on the hdd.

 

[deustroop]

Working on a PC that needs the OS reinstalled. Earlier this month, I created a Windows 10 install DVD. Should be the latest "creator's update" since I used the latest "media creation tool" from Microsoft.

You've likely done this already but try another media installation. It may be the media you now have is inappropriate to your system.Or take the media to another system for a comparison.

 

[mikeymikec]

BIOS update?

 

[Ichinisan]

BIOS update?

I remember trying that on a similar HP system that had the same issue earlier in the month. In that case, it didn't work. I couldn't easily update the BIOS on this one because the current OS install was b0rked and I couldn't boot to the install media.

Like before, I fought with this system for a few hours and I don't remember how I ultimately got it booted to the DVD with the HDD still attached. I think I had to disable "secure boot" or something.

 

[mikeymikec]

When I have that trouble I usually google the manufacturer along with 'bios setup', maybe a model number too. Failing to find a specific instruction for accessing the BIOS on that model, I usually just try every hotkey that the manufacturer in question has been known to use.

Disconnecting the HDD should allow you to access the BIOS, then change the boot order to always check say the CD drive.

I did have one computer this year though that basically ignored any request to check bootable devices, that was fun. I don't remember the solution for that. It might have been something bizarre like "it started playing ball of its own accord".

 

[Ichinisan]

When I have that trouble I usually google the manufacturer along with 'bios setup', maybe a model number too. Failing to find a specific instruction for accessing the BIOS on that model, I usually just try every hotkey that the manufacturer in question has been known to use.

Disconnecting the HDD should allow you to access the BIOS, then change the boot order to always check say the CD drive.

I did have one computer this year though that basically ignored any request to check bootable devices, that was fun. I don't remember the solution for that. It might have been something bizarre like "it started playing ball of its own accord".

I had no difficulty getting to the BIOS and changing the boot order. It would boot the DVD just fine (that's when you see the "press any key..." message. Then the DVD's bootloader tries to pass back to the hard drive because it thinks I never pressed a key. The EFI BIOS probably needs to simulate a legacy PS/2 keyboard for that Windows 10 bootloader, but the BIOS lacks an option for me to configure that.

I wish I remembered how I eventually worked around it. Encountering this issue twice in 1 month, I'm sure to encounter it again.

 

[mikeymikec]

Installing it without UEFI enabled would bypass the 'press any key' for a new HDD/SSD because the traditional bootloader would detect the lack of partitions on the storage device and fire up setup straight away.

Not my favourite solution...

 

[mrblotto]

I did a wee bit of googling.......and it may be worth a try to remove the 'bootfix.bin' file from the \ISO\boot folder before creating the DVD. Or maybe create the DVD, then export it to an ISO file, remove the file, and recreate.

I've done it before when creating a PGP boot CD, but it's been years and I can't remember what I did

Good luck!

 

[Ketchup]

Another option - if you delete the partition(s) from the drive, the installer won't even stop on the "press any key" screen.