Can't boot from Windows 10 USB stick: Black screen with blinking cursor
TLDR: Windows 10 contains a bug since months that result in non booting systems and installers when VT-d is enabled in BIOS.
This bug exist since 1803 and altough many users seems to have trouble with it, Microsoft doesn't care about fixing this issue for several months.
What can we do?
Not much. The best thing would be not using Windows, since Windows 10 contains forced updates. So even when you use tricks to install an older release, Microsoft will update it very soon without asking you. When you're in the situation like me that you're forced to use the Windows installation (yet), it seems that you must live without VT-d.
History: How I get to this problem (total about 2 days work)
Found out that it works with older Win10 versions, so it seems that Microsoft break something:
Working
- 1709
Not working
- 1803
- 1809
HeiDoc was quite usefull here, since downloading special versions is a big mess on Microsofts side: The current official Media Creation tool didn't let me choose any parameters about the version. Even when using an older version of the tool itself, it doesn't start and force me to download the latest version.
I tried installing 1709 on USB stick which works perfectly. Since Win10 has forced updates, I'm surprised if the system is working after installing the latest auto-updates, which bring the system up to 1803.
Another trick... wait it out. I was using the October build on an ancient T3400 dell quad core. It was flashing. I was messing with my phone for 5 minutes and it proceeded to the install. Let it sit awhile. Might work. Worked for me.