Is It Normal for My PC to Restart While Downloading Windows 10 to a USB? A Comprehensive Guide

In the journey of upgrading or setting up your PC, you’ve probably run into various scenarios that make you scratch your head and wonder, “Is this normal?” One such situation could arise while downloading Windows 10 onto a USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool. It’s not uncommon for users to experience unexpected PC behavior during this process, including unexpected restarts, unfamiliar files appearing on their system, and prompts that seem completely out of place.

In this article, we will explore why your PC might restart during the Windows 10 USB creation process, what those unfamiliar files might indicate, and whether you really need to go through the whole process again. Let’s dig into the details and clear up any confusion you might have.

Understanding the Windows Media Creation Tool

The Windows Media Creation Tool is a highly useful utility from Microsoft, designed to make the process of upgrading to the latest version of Windows 10 as smooth as possible. It allows you to create installation media using a USB flash drive or download an ISO file for a clean installation on another hard drive.

Why Use a USB Drive?

A USB drive makes a versatile tool in many scenarios:
– Upgrading from Older Windows Versions: If your system is running an older version of Windows, you might need a bootable USB to perform an upgrade.
– Installing on a New PC: New systems with no operating system installed need a bootable installation medium.
– Repair and Recovery: Even functioning PCs can benefit from a USB installation disk as a recovery tool in case of system failures.

The Process: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

Let’s break this down into manageable parts so you understand the entire process, from start to finish:

1. Downloading the Tool: Start by downloading the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official website.
2. Preparing Your USB: Insert your USB drive (with at least 8 GB of free space) and run the tool.
3. Selecting the Right Options: Choose ‘Create installation media for another PC’ and select the appropriate language, edition, and architecture.
4. Downloading Windows 10: The tool will proceed to download Windows 10 onto your USB drive. This can take time based on your internet speed.
5. Creating the Bootable USB: Once downloaded, the tool creates bootable installation media on your drive.

So, what could cause your PC to restart unexpectedly during this process?

Unpacking Unseen Challenges: Why Your PC Might Restart

Unexpected restarts can occur due to several reasons, some normal and some problematic:

1. System Updates Conflicts

Even as you download Windows 10, there might be pending system updates on your current operating system that initiate an automatic system restart. Sometimes, your system automatically prioritizes these updates.

2. Hardware Issues

Problems related to hardware, such as overheating or memory errors, can trigger a system restart. Ensure your hardware is in top-notch condition to avoid interruptions.

3. Software Conflicts

Running multiple heavy applications simultaneously, or using third-party antivirus applications, can conflict with the media creation process, causing a system reset.

4. Media Creation Tool Update

The media creation tool itself might have downloaded an update that also requires a restart, which happens behind the scenes.

Analyzing the Output: Understanding New Files

Upon rebooting your PC, you may notice new files like $WINDOWS.~BT and ESD appearing on your system. Let’s explore what these are:

1. $WINDOWS.~BT Folder

This is a temporary directory that Windows uses during updates or upgrades. It’s a normal part of the upgrade process and usually gets deleted automatically after a successful installation.

• Panther Folder: This folder contains log files related to the Windows installation. It’s useful for troubleshooting in case of errors during installation.

2. ESD Folder

The ESD folder often contains a compressed version of your operating system that Windows uses for recovery or installation. It may contain a “downloads” folder, which could be empty if the download was moved or completed.

Knowing these files exist provides insight into how Windows manages the upgrade or installation internally. They’re part of Windows’ housekeeping and usually pose no threat.

Checking USB Installation Success

How can you ensure that the Windows 10 installation was successfully downloaded to your USB drive?

1. Verifying Files on USB

Plug in your USB and check for the presence of certain files and folders, such as:
– boot folder
– efi folder
– sources folder (includes install.wim or install.esd)
– bootmgr file
– setup.exe

2. Using Disk Management

You can also use the built-in Disk Management tool to make sure the USB is set as a primary active partition—an essential for bootability.

3. Testing the USB

Before using it for installation, try booting another computer using the USB to ensure its functionality. Enter BIOS on a different machine and set USB as the primary boot device. If it starts the Windows Installer, you’re good to go.

What If You Encounter Issues?

If you find that the USB isn’t functioning as intended, you might need to redo the process. Here’s how to ensure a smooth experience:

• Free Up System Resources: Close unnecessary applications, especially those using extensive memory, like web browsers and games.
• Perform a Clean Boot: Boot your PC in clean mode, loading only essential drivers and startup programs, minimizing Software conflicts.
• Inspect USB Health: Use Software tools to check the health of your USB drive. Ensure it’s not defective.
• Alternate USB: Try using a different USB drive to rule out device-specific issues.

Conclusion: Is This Normal?

In essence, it can be normal for a PC to restart during this process if updates, hardware, or software conflicts occur. While it isn’t supposed to happen every time, it does sometimes happen due to underlying system processes. Keeping your operating system up to date and your PC properly maintained should minimize these occurrences.

The unexpected files you found are standard components of the Windows setup process. As long as they don’t interfere with your system’s operation, they’re nothing to worry about.

When in doubt, it’s always a good practice to have backups and ensure you follow the recommended guidelines for creating installation media. This will help guarantee a smooth experience should you ever need to install or reinstall Windows on your machine. With these insights, you can now tackle similar situations with more confidence and ease.