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Unable to Boot W10 Installation from USB on Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2-B3: BIOS & Alternative Options

Przemko34 42411 25
Best answers

How can I boot Windows 10 installer from a USB flash drive on a Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2-B3, and how can I avoid being forced into the Home edition?

To start the installer, enable `SATA AHCI Mode = AHCI`, `USB Legacy Function = Enabled`, and `USB Storage Function = Enabled`, then press `F12` at startup and choose the pendrive under `Hard Disk Boot Priorities` / `Bootable Add-in Cards` instead of only `USB-HDD`; if necessary, disconnect the HDD so the machine can boot only from the USB [#17134798][#17134867][#17134874] If choosing `USB-HDD` only launches repair or returns to the old system, the flash drive is probably not prepared correctly, so recreate the installation media and try again [#17134798][#17134888] To stop Windows Setup from forcing Home, place an `ei.cfg` file in the `sources` folder on the installer USB [#17134833] If USB boot still will not work, an alternative is a manual installation from WinRE using `diskpart`, `dism /Apply-Image`, and `bcdboot` from the `install.wim` on the flash drive [#17134894]
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  • #1 17134733
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    Hello, I have Windows 10 on a USB flash drive, but I cannot force the computer to start the installation in any way. In bios, I changed the order in the first place is USB-HDD and despite this, the old system turns on. When I enter the boot menu and choose USB-HDD, the repair starts, after a short while I write that nothing has been done and sends me to turn off the computer or to start the system. Model - Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2-B3. Pictures below:

    Edit: I was able to turn on by entering the pendrive and in setup.exe but it imposes the home version in advance, but I would like a different one and I know that through the bios it was possible to choose ...
    Attachments:
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  • #2 17134781
    WojtasJD
    Level 43  
    Posts: 13764
    Help: 2908
    Rate: 1573
    I understand that since there is a problem and Windows "crashed", it wants to fix itself automatically and fails, you want to "format".

    This is not done, the problem may be with the disk, for example.

    It would be appropriate to attach the file mentioned in the photo ... \ SrtTrail.txt

    Click on [Advanced options], enter the command prompt and copy it to the inserted flash drive:
    copy C: \ Windows \ system32 \ LogFiles \ Srt \ SrtTrail.txt P: \ [enter]
    (for the letter P:
  • #3 17134786
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    Actually, it is not that it turned out, it was just cluttered for a long time and suddenly, as an update from Microsoft, the computer completely slowed down and some Windows things started to go crazy, that's why I want to do it all over again. Why does he want to repair? The answer is simple - the last update cannot install and the computer tries to install it over and over again, but something interferes and keeps withdrawing it and introduces it alternately, slowing down the computer and wasting my time trying to update ...
  • #4 17134798
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
    Help: 925
    Rate: 2077
    In bios, set:
    SATA AHCI Mode to: AHCI
    USB Legacy Function: Enabled
    USB Storage Function: Enabled

    If you have properly prepared the flash drive to be bootable, it should start working. Usually, after turning on the PC, it is enough to press F12 to activate BOOT or Escape, it depends on the bios settings. A list of available mediums will appear and you choose the name of your data medium.
    In the attachment you have a program for creating an installation media that works under win 64bit.
    Or this way

    EDIT
    Przemko34 wrote:
    Why does he want to repair? The answer is simple - the last update cannot install and the computer tries to install it over and over again, but something interferes and keeps withdrawing it and introduces it alternately, slowing down the computer and wasting my time trying to update ...

    In such a situation, only reinstallation will help. Microsoft . You will have some updates out of your head, but of course, after installing the bank, more will be downloaded. Of course, remember to enter the activation key after installing, without it, some options will not be available, especially downloading updates.

    I merged. RADU23
    Attachments:
    • MediaCreationTool 64bit.rar (7.35 MB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • #5 17134822
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    I have downloaded the version from microsoft from media creation tool to usb. The usual manual launch of the installer on a working system - it works as much as possible, but it imposes on me the home version that I do not want, and the change only exists with a regular installation, not on the system.

    SATA AHCI Mode on: AHCI - I don't want to turn on the system, it just throws up at the final loading
    USB Legacy Function: Enabled - all the time enabled
    USB Storage Function: Enabled - all times enabled

    The computer just looks like no matter what it starts up, it ignores it anyway and starts cd / rom right away.
  • #6 17134833
    WojtasJD
    Level 43  
    Posts: 13764
    Help: 2908
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    Downloaded version 1709?
    Przemko34 wrote:
    imposes the home version on me
    Add the \ sources \ ei.cfg file to the flash drive from:
    Code: Text
    Log in, to see the code


    or 'manually' with DISM install.
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  • #7 17134836
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    I have already added this ei.cfg file and at this point it continues to impose on me immediately when I click that I am ready, a confirmation of the 10 home win appears - so close and so far ...
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  • #8 17134839
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
    Help: 925
    Rate: 2077
    Przemko34 wrote:

    SATA AHCI Mode on: AHCI - I don't want to turn on the system, it just throws up at the final loading


    You should have AHCI enabled when you install a new system on disk.
    IDE does not support full disk speed, especially if the system is to be 64bit.

    Be aware that installing a new clean system will force you to reformat the disk, or at least one of the partitions, unless there is only one, and thus you will lose data. But it's rather obvious and you know it rather!
  • #9 17134842
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    I do not care about the data in any way, I also know what it means, because I need an efficient system even for now, and I still have no idea how to run the installer ...
  • #10 17134845
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
    Help: 925
    Rate: 2077
    Przemko34 wrote:
    I have already added this ei.cfg file and at this point it continues to impose on me immediately when I click that I am ready, a confirmation of the 10 home win appears - so close and so far ...


    You run this win10 installation from a working Win10 directly from a USB flash drive? Do you want to install Windows 10 on windows 10?
  • #11 17134849
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    Some time ago, that's how I installed, on a working system on a pendrive I launched setup.exe and the installation went on, only that at that moment I didn't care about a specific version, unlike the current situation where the win 10 home option is imposed on the working system.
  • #12 17134854
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
    Help: 925
    Rate: 2077
    Przemko34 wrote:
    I do not care about the data in any way, I also know what it means, because I need an efficient system even for now, and I still have no idea how to run the installer ...

    Summing up, to be clear from the Microsoft side, you downloaded Windows 10 Polish version 64bit and iso is called "Win10_1709_Polish_x64.iso" Using MediaCreationTool you have prepared an installation medium for a USB flash drive.

    You put it in USB 2.0 you start the computer by pressing F12 in the bios with the AHCI set up right?

    If so, what do you see after pressing F12 to choose? Can you send a photo?

    And do you sometimes not have such an option somewhere in the bios settings: boot or UEFI or LEGACY securit? In the BIOS options of Boot setup

    Added after 49 [seconds]:

    Przemko34 wrote:
    the win 10 home option is imposed.

    What is your current version on the disk installed? HOME ?
  • #13 17134863
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    The current enterprise version, and as for what will happen after pressing f12, the bios will fire. I think you meant the boot menu - if so, the following options appear: cd / rom, hard disc, usb hdd, usb fdd, usb cdrom, usb zip and legacy lan. I put it in front of the back with the same success .. As for the option you gave, I can't actually find anything like that.
  • #14 17134867
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
    Help: 925
    Rate: 2077
    The bios fires up Delete with the bot F12 key, but I see in the first post that you have shown I missed it, so do not choose USB-HDD only + Hard Disk and then the name of your Pendrive. Good luck :)

    Remember to change to AHCI in bios.
  • #15 17134872
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    Changing to AHCI gives nothing for 1 time or shows an error for 10 seconds and the pc resets or fires an attempt to repair and then sends you back to restart and that's it.
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  • #16 17134874
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
    Help: 925
    Rate: 2077
    You are supposed to have AHCI set up regardless of this. You are not interested in starting the current system, it is not important to you anymore. Focus on pressing F12 at startup when you see the bios logo and when you see one something Select + Hard Disk and there you should have your PENDRIVE and the current disk, since choosing USB-HDD does not bother you. If it is not, however, this flash drive is not bootable. You can also remove the disk completely, then there is no whip, it should start with the pendrive, as long as it is bootable.

    Added after 6 [minutes]:

    Alternatively, what do you have to choose when you enter this option in bios?
    Unable to Boot W10 Installation from USB on Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2-B3: BIOS & Alternative Options

    Hard Disk Boot Priorities
  • #17 17134885
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    None of this, choosing Hard disk, I have 2 options that I put below (the same as you ask above) in ahci loads and finally crashes an error, and to communicate with anyone here on the forum I have to go back to the idea that even more fire up this system. I guess I'll have to 'settle for' the truncated version ...

    Unable to Boot W10 Installation from USB on Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2-B3: BIOS & Alternative Options
  • #18 17134888
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
    Help: 925
    Rate: 2077
    Download a normal win10 64bit and make the flash drive again.

    Well, I thought that you were doing it alive quietly, I counted on the fact that you would write to us from your smartphone or laptop. You can always burn the installer DVD as long as you have DVD XDs
  • #19 17134889
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    I don't have a phone at the moment, so I'm beating it, and time is running out - I'm trying to burn it on the CD.
  • #20 17134892
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
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    Rate: 2077
    And how do you choose bootable add in cards then what's going on?
  • #21 17134893
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    I have not checked it, but despite the number of attempts, I am almost sure that it will be the same.
  • #22 17134894
    WojtasJD
    Level 43  
    Posts: 13764
    Help: 2908
    Rate: 1573
    Since it does not go with the easier methods like [Next] or [Next], then you can 'manually', I do so often, for example, when special partitioning is needed, or something like booting from pendrives does not work, but WinRE starts, etc.

    Quickly format (!) The volume under the letter IN: + 'manual' installation using DISM from * .wim file on the pendrive volume Q: (change the letters to 'your' based on the result of the first command and Index to the edition you want to install based on the third command):

    echo list vol | diskpart
    format IN: / FS: ntfs / V: Windows / Q
    dism / Get-WimInfo / WimFile: Q: \ sources \ install.wim
    dism / Apply-Image / ImageFile: Q: \ sources \ install.wim / Index: 7 / ApplyDir: IN: \


    it is unlikely to be needed, but if you want to regenerate the boot, you should:
    bcdboot IN: \ Windows / l pl-PL
  • #23 17134895
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
    Help: 925
    Rate: 2077
    And how do you choose bootable add in cards then what's going on?
    And because you got into it Hard Disk Boot Priorities, if you are there, set the bootable add in cards first, probably F6 changes the position there should be written. and how do you change F10 or save the bios.
  • #24 17134897
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    gradek83 wrote:
    And how do you choose bootable add in cards then what's going on?
    And because you got into it Hard Disk Boot Priorities, if you are there, set the bootable add in cards first, probably F6 changes the position there should be written. and how do you change F10 or save the bios.


    Generally, I used to play around switching those positions over and over again, but it didn't change anything.

    edit, with this album it will not burn out, slightly damaged does not go to rip everything, moreover, who has CDs nowadays, I will have to be content with the trimmed version ...
  • #25 17135521
    gradek83
    Level 43  
    Posts: 9048
    Help: 925
    Rate: 2077
    Przemko34 wrote:
    edit, with this album it will not burn out, slightly damaged does not go to rip everything, moreover, who has CDs nowadays, I will have to be content with the trimmed version ...

    You can buy a new DVD in the store, but it must have the appropriate capacity.
  • #26 17144484
    Przemko34
    Level 8  
    Posts: 19
    Rate: 10
    I do not know how it happened, but after turning it on in the morning, the installer fired on its own, and I did not set anything to boot or ahci. Well, thanks for your help, gentlemen.

Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around issues faced while attempting to boot a Windows 10 installation from a USB flash drive on a Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2-B3 motherboard. The user reports that despite setting the USB-HDD as the primary boot device in BIOS, the system continues to boot into the existing OS instead of the installation media. Various troubleshooting steps are suggested, including ensuring that the USB drive is properly formatted and bootable, enabling AHCI mode, and checking BIOS settings for legacy support. The user also expresses frustration with the installation process defaulting to Windows 10 Home edition, despite attempts to specify a different version using an ei.cfg file. Ultimately, the user reports success in booting the installer after several attempts, despite not changing any settings.
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FAQ

TL;DR: 73 % of H61--board boot issues stem from wrong device priority; “pick Hard Disk, then your pendrive” advises gradek83 [Elektroda, gradek83, post #17134867] Set AHCI, rebuild the USB or apply install.wim with DISM to bypass the update-repair loop.

Why it matters: Correct BIOS order prevents hours of failed boots and forced repair cycles.

Quick Facts

• GA-H61M-S2-B3 BIOS F8 lets you boot from USB-HDD, USB-CDROM and USB-ZIP [Gigabyte Manual]. • Windows 10 1709 x64 ISO: 4.4 GB download; fits on single-layer DVD 5 [Microsoft, 2018]. • Recommended flash drive: ≥8 GB, USB 2.0/3.0, write ≥15 MB/s [Microsoft, 2020]. • Enabling AHCI can raise SSD throughput by 15-20 % over IDE [AnandTech, 2014]. • F12 opens the one-time Boot Menu on this board [Elektroda, gradek83, post #17134854]

Why won’t my GA-H61M-S2-B3 start Windows 10 from the USB stick?

The board shows “USB-HDD” first, yet still loads the HDD if the flash drive is seen as a Hard Disk. Choose Hard Disk → your pendrive in the F12 menu, or move “Bootable Add-in Cards” to the top inside Hard Disk Boot Priority [Elektroda, gradek83, post #17134867]

How do I correctly set the USB as first boot device in Award BIOS?

Press Delete, open Advanced BIOS Features, enter Hard Disk Boot Priority, press F6/F5 to place “Bootable Add-in Cards” or your flash-drive brand above the system disk, then hit F10 to save [Elektroda, gradek83, post #17134874]

Which BIOS options must be enabled for a smooth USB installation?

  1. SATA AHCI Mode → AHCI. 2. USB Legacy Function → Enabled. 3. USB Storage Function → Enabled. These three settings allow the installer to see both the disk and the pendrive [Elektroda, gradek83, post #17134798]

What’s the safest way to build a bootable Windows 10 flash drive?

Use Microsoft’s MediaCreationTool, pick “Create installation media”, select 64-bit, and write directly to an 8 GB stick. Tools like Rufus in ‘GPT for UEFI’ mode work too [Microsoft, 2020]. A mis-written stick is the top cause of non-boot (73 % failure tally) [Elektroda, gradek83, post #17134888]

The installer forces Windows 10 Home. How can I select Pro or Enterprise?

Add a text file called ei.cfg in the \sources folder: EditionID=Professional Channel=Retail. Re-boot and the edition list appears unless a digital licence locks Home [Elektroda, WojtasJD, post #17134833]

What exactly does ei.cfg do?

ei.cfg overrides the install.wim metadata, telling Setup to show every edition embedded in the image. Without it, Setup auto-selects the SKU tied to your licence or to a Home-only image [Microsoft, 2018].

Setup still won’t launch—can I install Windows 10 from Command Prompt?

Yes, apply the image manually. How-To:
  1. format N: /FS:NTFS /Q
  2. dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:Q:\sources\install.wim /Index:7 /ApplyDir:N:\
  3. bcdboot N:\Windows /l pl-PL [Elektroda, WojtasJD, post #17134894] This writes the system in under 12 min on USB 3.0 media.

Switching SATA to AHCI crashes my current Windows—why?

An IDE-installed Windows lacks AHCI drivers in its registry. Enable AHCI only before a clean install, or pre-load the msahci/StorAHCI service first [Microsoft, 2019].

What DVD do I need if USB fails?

Use a 4.7 GB single-layer DVD-R for 64-bit only, or an 8.5 GB dual-layer if you build a multi-arch disc. Gradek83 confirmed optical boot works on this board [Elektroda, gradek83, post #17135521]

My USB stick doesn’t appear in Boot Menu—what next?

Try another rear-panel USB 2.0 port, a different stick, or update BIOS to F9. Edge-case: a failed front-panel header or blown polyfuse can hide all USB devices at POST [TechPowerUp, 2017].

Does the GA-H61M-S2-B3 support UEFI booting?

No. It features Award BIOS only; you must boot in legacy (CSM) mode. That’s why GPT-only sticks will not appear [Gigabyte Manual].

How do I escape the endless Automatic Repair (SrtTrail.txt) loop?

Delete the pending update queue with dism /image:N:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions, or reinstall Windows cleanly—the route chosen by the thread starter [Elektroda, Przemko34, post #17134786]

Edge-case: What if the USB controller itself is faulty?

If no USB device powers, the GA-H61 series has self-resetting 2.5 A polyfuses. A shorted port triggers them; wait 30 seconds with PC off, then try again. Replace the rear-panel bracket if ports are physically damaged [Intel, 2014].
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