Windows 10 installation failing. Just getting a black screen with a blinking line in top left corner

[Xeliath]

I am installing windows 10 onto a old desktop that I had lying around, but it won't install. I put my USB install drive in, change the boot order to be the USB drive first, and then when I go to start up, I got a black screen with a line that makes me thing of direct coding. As in, there is the underscore line for typing, but I can't type anything.

Please help. I want to give this desktop to my friend, who doesn't have a computer at all.

Thanks if you can help

By the way, it is using a 64 bit CPU, so that should not be a problem.

[DutchTexan]

Just now, XeLiath said:

I am installing windows 10 onto a old desktop that I had lying around, but it won't install. I put my USB install drive in, change the boot order to be the USB drive first, and then when I go to start up, I got a black screen with a line that makes me thing of direct coding. As in, there is the underscore line for typing, but I can't type anything.

Please help. I want to give this desktop to my friend, who doesn't have a computer at all.

Thanks if you can help

By the way, it is using a 64 bit CPU, so that should not be a problem.

Is there a gpu in the system or integrated graphics? Is the display adapter driver up to date? Did it prompt the windows logo and then go black? What monitor are you using and how is it connected? Have you tried updating the BIOS, if you can?

[DutchTexan]

Spoiler

1) Create installation media for windows 10.
    Refer to the below link:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install
2) Insert the Windows 10 installation DVD in the DVD ROM and restart your computer.
3)  Click on Repair your computer. 
4) Click on Troubleshoot and in the Advanced options.
5) Select Command Prompt. 
6) Type the following commands into the prompt and press Enter key after each command.
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd 
7) Restart the computer.  

Spoiler

If your Windows Installer bootable USB is loading a black screen, you have one of your ROM options disabled in your BIOS. Try resetting BIO to default settings.

Spoiler

If your Windows Installer bootable USB is loading a black screen, you have one of your ROM options disabled in your BIOS. Try resetting BIO to default settings.

Spoiler

Resetting BIOS to default did the job for me

 

[-rascal-]

How old is this computer?

It is a pre-built (e.g. DELL, Acer, etc) Computer, or a custom built system?

 

Some pre-built OEM systems do not have support for newer Operating Systems.

In the past, I have ran into an Acer PC that did not support Windows 7 and above.

[homeap5]

3 hours ago, XeLiath said:

I am installing windows 10 onto a old desktop that I had lying around, but it won't install. I put my USB install drive in, change the boot order to be the USB drive first, and then when I go to start up, I got a black screen with a line that makes me thing of direct coding. As in, there is the underscore line for typing, but I can't type anything.

Please help. I want to give this desktop to my friend, who doesn't have a computer at all.

Thanks if you can help

By the way, it is using a 64 bit CPU, so that should not be a problem.

If you're sure that you prepared your USB proper (for legacy boot, not UEFI) then you have one more option - install win10 using second computer (change boot to legacy), then (after installation) move HDD/SDD to this old desktop.

[Xeliath]

 

2 hours ago, DutchTexan said:

Is there a gpu in the system or integrated graphics? Is the display adapter driver up to date? Did it prompt the windows logo and then go black? What monitor are you using and how is it connected? Have you tried updating the BIOS, if you can?

There is a GPU in the system, I do not know what you mean by display adapter driver, it never got to the windows logo, I'm using a old apple screen (like, from 2008, or something, it's 1920x1200 through DVI-D [I think it's DVI-D]) I have no idea how to update the BIOS

31 minutes ago, homeap5 said:

If you're sure that you prepared your USB proper (for legacy boot, not UEFI) then you have one more option - install win10 using second computer (change boot to legacy), then (after installation) move HDD/SDD to this old desktop.

I've used this USB drive to install windows 10 on at least 5 separate computers, most of which are older computers than this one, with no problems at all. I also currently don't have access to my desktop, though I can get shipments, so any super cheap solutions that require specific hardware is a option (super cheap being >$5)

 

[Xeliath]

3 hours ago, DutchTexan said:

  Reveal hidden contents

1) Create installation media for windows 10.
    Refer to the below link:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install
2) Insert the Windows 10 installation DVD in the DVD ROM and restart your computer.
3)  Click on Repair your computer. 
4) Click on Troubleshoot and in the Advanced options.
5) Select Command Prompt. 
6) Type the following commands into the prompt and press Enter key after each command.
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd 
7) Restart the computer.  

  Hide contents

If your Windows Installer bootable USB is loading a black screen, you have one of your ROM options disabled in your BIOS. Try resetting BIO to default settings.

  Hide contents

If your Windows Installer bootable USB is loading a black screen, you have one of your ROM options disabled in your BIOS. Try resetting BIO to default settings.

  Hide contents

Resetting BIOS to default did the job for me

 

... I have already done this, but in the morning, I'll try it again, sometimes I find stuff like this requires multiple attempts.

[homeap5]

https://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager/download.html

Here you have - a solution.

Can't boot directly from USB? Run bootloader from CD and then boot from USB.

 

Not good enough? Prepare boot DVD with Windows instead of boot USB.

 

What mainboard is that so you cannot boot from USB?

[Xeliath]

12 hours ago, homeap5 said:

https://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager/download.html

Here you have - a solution.

Can't boot directly from USB? Run bootloader from CD and then boot from USB.

 

Not good enough? Prepare boot DVD with Windows instead of boot USB.

 

What mainboard is that so you cannot boot from USB?

I don't have a DVD/CD drive available to me.

[homeap5]

2 hours ago, XeLiath said:

I don't have a DVD/CD drive available to me.

What about my second solution I give you before?

Install windows on other computer then move disk back to this one.

This may be your friend's computer, doesn't matter.

[Xeliath]

5 hours ago, homeap5 said:

What about my second solution I give you before?

Install windows on other computer then move disk back to this one.

This may be your friend's computer, doesn't matter.

I will try that tomorrow, as I'm way to busy today.

 

21 hours ago, -rascal- said:

How old is this computer?

It is a pre-built (e.g. DELL, Acer, etc) Computer, or a custom built system?

 

Some pre-built OEM systems do not have support for newer Operating Systems.

In the past, I have ran into an Acer PC that did not support Windows 7 and above.

it is a Dell computer.

[homeap5]

2 hours ago, XeLiath said:

I will try that tomorrow, as I'm way to busy today.

Please be sure that you'll install it in legacy mode using MBR partition, if your desktop is old.

[Xeliath]

How do I do that?

4 hours ago, homeap5 said:

Please be sure that you'll install it in legacy mode using MBR partition, if your desktop is old.

 

[homeap5]

Use BIOS settings, usb prepared for legacy mode (maybe that is why you cannot boot it) and mbr disk.