Solved! Windows Could Not Prepare the Computer to Boot...

Some Windows users run into the following error message in the process of reinstalling or upgrading Windows OS through a bootable USB drive:

“Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation. To install Windows, restart the installation.”

This post revolves around this error message related to the Windows 10/11 OS installation or upgrade and offers step-by-step solutions.

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Reddit discussions on "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot"

There are heated discussions about the "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" error message in the post on Reddit. The original poster created the bootable USB drive through Rufus and the partition scheme (including SSD) was set to GPT.

Quite a lot of warm-hearted geeks and netizens offered their suggestions or solutions. You can check the following post for more details.

[HELP] Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation.
by u/RegLoiD in buildapc

Solutions to "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot"

The solutions are provided based on the possible causes of the "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" error message, including conflicts caused by hardware equipment, incompatible BIOS, outdated BIOS, incorrect partition scheme, etc.

Remove unnecessary hardware equipment or peripherals

The excessive hardware equipment connected to the Windows PC may trigger the BIOS-related glitch and cause the "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" error message to appear during Windows OS installation or upgrade.

It is suggested that users remove unessential hardware equipment and peripherals, including USB adapter, docking station, USB drive, SD card, CD, and more. However, you need to make sure the disconnected devices will not stand in the way of Windows OS installation. 

Clone the Windows OS from one disk to another

There are different methods for users to install a Windows OS, such as Clean Install, Upgrade Installation, Repair Installation, Reset This PC. All these methods are inevitably complex and time-consuming and unable to retain the apps, settings, data, or personal files important for users.

Moreover, users might come across various errors when installing or upgrading Windows, e.g. "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot." Therefore, system clone through a reliable tool has become quite the thing these days, which allows you to completely clone the Windows OS to another hard disk

iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows is a professional and easy-to-operate disk management tool that can help you make an exact copy of the system partition along with system files, data, settings, apps, and other components essential for Windows to boot and run.

iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows is a perfect choice when you want to migrate Windows, upgrade the hard drive without reinstalling Windows, set up multiple computers with the same configuration, run Windows from an external hard drive, etc.

Here's how to clone Windows OS disk through iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows:

You can share this tool with your friends!

Check BIOS compatibility

Whether the BIOS is properly set up or compatible with the Windows OS is the key to solving the "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" issue. You can visit the motherboard manufacturer website or contact them to seek help.

Update the BIOS

The outdated BIOS version may be the culprit for the "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" error message when installing Windows. Here's how to update the BIOS using a USB flash drive on Windows 10:

Step 1: Check BIOS version:

Step 2: Prepare and format the USB drive:

Step 3: Download the BIOS update file from the manufacturer website:

Step 4: Enter the BIOS to update

Configure the installation media in a proper way

The "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" error could occur due to an improperly configured installation media, especially those who rely on the USB drive to install Windows.

In this case, all you need is a tutorial on installing Windows from a bootable USB, which involves details on the configuration: How to Free Install the Windows from USB? (with Pictures)

Set correct partition scheme based on UEFI or BIOS

Improper partition scheme applied to the UEFI or BIOS firmware interface will result in the "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" error message. UEFI works perfectly with the GPT (GUID Partition Table), and BIOS uses MBR (Master Boot Record).

The following tutorial is about how to convert MBR into GPT when installing Windows OS with UEFI, thus the "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" error message will be solved eventually.

Step 1: Launch Command Prompt during Windows setup

Step 2: Delete volume by inputting commands below and hit the Enter key after each.

Step 3: Convert MBR into GPT and create primary partition by inputting commands below and hit the Enter key after each (You don't need to restart Command Prompt):

Step 4: Format volume by inputting commands below and hit the Enter key after each (You don't need to restart Command Prompt):

When all steps and commands above are correctly done, you can resume the Windows installation process, in which the "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" error will not pop up.

Delete all partitions during Windows setup

Deleting all partitions is the ultimate means if the "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot" still persists. Given that deleting partitions erases all the data, creating a Windows System Image backup is necessary.

Here's how to delete partitions during Windows setup:

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