Windows can't be installed message during Feature update to Windows 10, version 2004

[smehl]

Hello --

Some searching suggests this is a BIOS problem ... something like

"usually caused if
you try to install (or update) Windows 10
on an MBR drive using a UEFI setting of the BIOS
because UEFI requires a GPT drive.
You must have changed the BIOS setting from legacy
if Windows 10 was previously OK on that disk."

Intel DSA says drivers and software are up to date.

Can someone tell me how to fix this problem?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Stephen Mehl

[n_scott_pearson]

Sure. First, make sure you are booting the Windows Installation media in UEFI mode. Then, when the Windows Installer gets to the scene where you choose the partition to make the boot/system partition, you must delete *all* partitions on the system drive. Once all partitions are deleted, select the unused space entry and then click on OK. This does two things. First, it tells the Windows Installer to replace the existing partition table with a new GPT partition table. Second, it lets the Windows Installer make all decisions regarding partitions and partition sizes.

If you do not like the partition decisions that the Windows Installer is making, continue anyway and let it work its way through the drive formatting process. Once it starts installing files, you can abort the install and restart it, This time, you can delete the partitions that the Windows installer just made, create your own and then select the one you want to be the system partition. It is really best, IMHO, if you don't do this, however.

Hope this helps,

...S

[smehl]

Scott --

Thank you.

I want to make sure I understand your instructions.

I got the message after I started the Feature update to Windows 10, version 2004, in Settings > Windows Update > Updates available.

I was not installing Windows, not "booting ... Windows Installation media".

Stephen

[LeonWaksman]

Hi @smehl 

1. Right click on Windows icon and then open Windows PowerShell( Admin ).

2. Write  command diskpart  and click enter.

3. Write command list disk and click enter.

4. Attach the image of the PwerShell window to your post.

Leon

[smehl]

Thanks Leon --

Thank you. 

Does the update need more than 46 GB?

I will see about cleaning up the drive, just in case.

Contents of the PowerShell window:

Windows PowerShell
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Try the new cross-platform PowerShell https://aka.ms/pscore6

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.18362.1

Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: DESKTOP-0G01SJM

DISKPART> list disk

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
-------- ------------- ------- ------- --- ---
Disk 0 Online 465 GB 46 GB
Disk 1 No Media 0 B 0 B
Disk 2 No Media 0 B 0 B

DISKPART>

Stephen Larry Mehl

[LeonWaksman]

Hi Stephen Larry Mehl

I asked to attach an image of the PowerShell (Admin). See the attached image from my computer. I wanted to verify if your drives having GPT partition. 

Yes, 46 GB of free space should be enough for Windows upgrade. 

Leon

 

[LeonWaksman]

If you see that you have correctly partitioned drive 0 (GPT), what is the Drive 1 and 2?

Leon