This setup error usually means Windows is starting the installer again instead of booting from the internal drive.

If Windows setup keeps looping, pull the install USB after the first restart, then check whether the PC boots from the internal drive or drops straight back into Setup. If it still loops, fix the boot path for that branch instead of starting the install again. Skipping that step wastes time and sends you through the same screens.

What the restart loop means

What the restart loop means
A glowing computer monitor sits on a desk in a dark room

A setup loop usually means Windows Setup is relaunching from the USB, the firmware is skipping the internal drive and landing in BIOS or UEFI, or the machine cannot find a valid boot entry and shows a boot-device error. The fastest first move is to unplug the USB at the first reboot and see which path happens next.

  • The USB installation media is still first in boot priority, so the PC reopens Setup instead of booting the new Windows install.
  • The internal SSD or HDD is present, but the firmware is not using its Windows boot entry.
  • Another attached disk is being chosen instead of the intended target drive.
  • The install media itself may need to be recreated if the loop continues after the USB is removed at reboot.

For example, if the PC copies files to a 1 TB SSD, restarts, and then returns to the language screen, that points to the boot path. If the machine instead reaches BIOS and shows no Windows Boot Manager entry, the firmware may not have a usable OS entry yet.

Windows install decision table

Windows install decision table
Illustrated people and a laptop with the Windows logo and install text

Use the symptom you see after the reboot to pick the next action. This keeps you from repeating the same install with the same boot path still in place.

Symptom after reboot Most likely cause Exact next action
Returns to the setup language screen USB installation media is still being used at startup Shut down, unplug the USB, and power on again so the internal drive can boot first.
Asks Yes/No about upgrade The PC booted back into installation media Select the internal drive in BIOS/UEFI boot priority, then retry without the USB attached.
Lands in BIOS The firmware is not finding a bootable Windows entry Open Boot or Startup and move Windows Boot Manager or the internal drive above USB.
Black screen with “reboot and select proper boot device” Firmware is looking at the wrong device or no boot entry exists yet Check boot priority, then verify the target disk contains the Windows partition and boot files.
OS Boot Manager missing No valid UEFI boot entry is present Boot from the installation USB, open Repair your computer, then use Command Prompt to rebuild boot files.
Drive 1 is the install target The wrong drive was selected on the partition screen Go back to the disk list, identify the internal SSD or HDD by size, and choose the target disk before deleting partitions.
Multiple disks connected Setup may place files on the wrong disk or firmware may prefer another disk Power off, disconnect every other drive, and leave only the target SSD or HDD connected.
Install media recreated but loop persists The internal boot path is still not correct, or the USB was recreated incorrectly Recreate the USB, then reinstall to unallocated space on a single connected drive.

How do you stop setup from restarting?

The first reboot is the key moment. Remove the USB as soon as the PC restarts, then let it try the internal drive once; if Setup opens again, do not keep pressing through the same screens. Recheck the boot path, because repeated restarts can mean the machine never switched away from installation media.

  1. Let Windows Setup finish copying files and wait for the first restart.
  2. As soon as the PC turns back on, unplug the USB installation media.
  3. If Setup still opens, shut down and enter BIOS/UEFI with the motherboard key shown on screen.
  4. Set the internal SSD or HDD above USB in boot priority.
  5. If the installer returns again, do a clean reinstall on unallocated space with only one drive connected.

A common first-timer mistake is leaving the USB inserted through every restart because setup had just completed. That makes the PC boot the installer again. Remove the USB only at the first post-install reboot, then let the internal drive take over.

How do you check BIOS boot order?

Open firmware setup and inspect the boot list, not just the startup screen. You want the internal Windows entry, often labeled Windows Boot Manager, above USB. On systems that offer both UEFI and Legacy modes, the install media and the installed Windows entry need to match the same mode.

  1. Restart the PC and press the firmware key shown on the splash screen, commonly Del, F2, F10, or Esc.
  2. Open the Boot, Startup, or Boot Priority menu.
  3. Look for Windows Boot Manager or the internal SSD/HDD name.
  4. Move Windows Boot Manager or the internal drive above USB storage.
  5. If the system offers UEFI and Legacy choices, keep the mode that matches how Windows was installed.
  6. Save changes and reboot with the USB removed.

If the menu only shows USB devices and not the internal disk, the firmware may not see a valid Windows boot entry yet. That is different from a simple order problem. In that case, use the repair path from the installer or rebuild the boot files on the target drive.

Disconnect other drives and reinstall cleanly

When more than one drive is connected, the wrong disk can be selected, or the installer may place boot files somewhere you did not expect. Shut down and leave only the target SSD or HDD connected. Then install to the correct disk, delete its partitions, and continue on unallocated space.

  1. Power off completely.
  2. Disconnect every other drive and leave only the target SSD or HDD connected.
  3. Boot from the Windows installation USB.
  4. At the drive list, confirm the target disk by size. Drive 0 or Drive 1 can vary by system.
  5. Select each partition on the target disk and delete it until only unallocated space remains.
  6. Choose the unallocated space on the target disk and continue the install.

Keeping only one drive connected reduces the chance that Setup places boot files on the wrong disk. After Windows starts normally, reconnect the other drives one at a time.

Windows 11 firmware checks

On Windows 11 systems, confirm Secure Boot is enabled and TPM 2.0 is enabled in firmware. Also keep UEFI mode matched to the installation media. If the machine was set to Legacy for an older install, a new Windows 11 install may not boot the same way without matching firmware settings.

  1. Enter BIOS/UEFI setup.
  2. Open the Security or Boot section and find Secure Boot.
  3. Enable Secure Boot if it is off.
  4. Find TPM, PTT, or fTPM in the security menu and enable it.
  5. Verify UEFI boot is selected if the USB was created for UEFI installation.
  6. Save, reboot, and retry the install with only the target drive attached.

These checks do not fix every loop, but they remove a common firmware mismatch before you assume the drive is bad.

Still not working?

Still not working?
Person sits facing a bright computer monitor in a dim room

If the loop persists after USB removal, boot-order checks, and a single-drive reinstall, move to repair tools from the installation media. Use Troubleshoot and Advanced options, then try Startup Settings, System Restore, or Command Prompt.

  1. Boot from the Windows installation USB.
  2. Select Repair your computer instead of installing again.
  3. Open Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
  4. Try Startup Settings if you need Safe Mode or another startup choice.
  5. Try System Restore if a restore point exists.
  6. Open Command Prompt if you need to rebuild boot files or inspect disks.
  7. If the media was made with the wrong image or an older attempt, recreate it with Microsoft Media Creation Tool and retry the install.

If you need to rebuild boot files from Command Prompt, these standard commands are commonly used on Windows installation media:

diskpart
list vol
exit
bcdboot C:\Windows /s S: /f UEFI

Replace C: with the Windows partition letter you see in recovery, and replace S: with the EFI System Partition letter you assign in DiskPart. If you are repairing a BIOS/MBR install, a common additional command is:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /rebuildbcd

For example, if a 500 GB SSD shows up as Drive 1 while a second 2 TB data disk sits in Drive 0, the wrong disk can be selected during install. Disconnect the second disk and repeat the install on only the 500 GB drive.

Keep reading

Frequently asked questions

Why does my pc keep boot looping?

Most often it is booting the USB installer again instead of the internal drive. Remove the USB at the first restart, then check whether Windows Boot Manager appears above USB in BIOS/UEFI. If the PC still loops, use Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

Why does Windows setup keep restarting after installation?

That usually means Setup is being relaunched from install media or the internal disk does not have a usable boot entry yet. Unplug the USB, set the internal drive first in boot priority, and reboot. If the loop returns, reinstall to unallocated space on one disk only.

How do I stop Windows install from repeating after reboot?

Remove the USB on the first restart, then boot from the internal SSD or HDD. In firmware, move Windows Boot Manager or the internal drive above USB. If Setup still opens, disconnect other drives and reinstall to unallocated space on the target disk.

Should I remove the USB during Windows installation reboot?

Yes. Unplug it at the first post-install reboot so the PC does not re-enter Setup from the flash drive. If you already missed that moment, shut down, remove the USB, and start again. Then check boot priority before retrying the install.

Why does my SSD not boot after Windows install?

Common causes are the SSD not being first in boot order, no Windows Boot Manager entry, or boot files landing on a different disk. Disconnect other drives, confirm the SSD is the install target, and reinstall to unallocated space. If needed, rebuild boot files from Command Prompt.

How do I recreate Windows installation media if setup loops?

Use Microsoft Media Creation Tool to make a fresh USB on another working PC, then boot from that new media. If the loop still happens, the internal drive or boot entry is the branch to fix.