Hardware⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-05-29

How to Fix: Windows 10 install from USB stuck on blank blue screen

Quick Answer: Try booting from the USB drive in UEFI mode, disable Secure Boot and set the USB as the first boot device to see if it resolves the issue.

The error you're experiencing, winload.efi error 0xc0000225, is a common issue that occurs when the installation process fails to load the Windows loader. This can happen due to various reasons such as corrupted installation media, incompatible BIOS settings, or outdated drivers.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • Corrupted installation media
  • Incompatible BIOS settings, such as Secure Boot being enabled
  • Outdated drivers or firmware

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Method 1: Disable Secure Boot and UEFI Firmware Updates

  1. Step 1: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings by pressing the key indicated in your motherboard manual (usually F2, F12, or Del).
  2. Step 2: Disable Secure Boot and UEFI Firmware Updates. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.
  3. Step 3: Insert your Windows 10 installation media and restart your computer. The installation process should now complete successfully.

Method 2: Use a Different USB Drive

  1. Step 1: Create a new USB drive with the Windows 10 installation media.
  2. Step 2: Insert the new USB drive and restart your computer. The installation process should now complete successfully.

Method 3: Use a Bootable USB Drive with Rufus

  1. Step 1: Download and install Rufus on another computer.
  2. Step 2: Create a bootable USB drive using Rufus, selecting the Windows 10 installation media as the source file.
  3. Step 3: Insert the bootable USB drive into your computer and restart it. The installation process should now complete successfully.

💡 Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the winload.efi error 0xc0000225 and successfully install Windows 10 on your computer.

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