An unknown command-line option [/auto] was specified.

Question

_{Monday, June 24, 2019 11:56 AM}

When i try to repair install windows from booted usb i get this error:

"The upgrade option isn't available if you start your computer using installation media.

If a copy of Windows is already installed on this computer and you want to upgrade, remove the installation media and restart your computer. After Windows has started normally, insert the installation media and run Windows Setup."

And when I try over Troubelshould -> Command line i get this error:

"An unknown command-line option [/auto] was specified."

All replies (12)

_{Tuesday, June 25, 2019 12:18 AM | 1 vote}

Note that the only choice from booted media and to do the Clean Install Windows 10 is Custom, not Upgrade.  You can only run an Upgrade install from within Windows.  If you have free Upgrade you can always Clean Install it and it will activate afterwards. 

S.Sengupta,Microsoft MVP Windows and Devices for IT, Windows Insider MVP

_{Tuesday, June 25, 2019 2:59 AM | 1 vote}

If you use bootable installation media to clean install Windows 10, you can’t choose Upgrade option.

If you want to upgrade system, login system, download required iso image and mount it, click setup.exe to in-place upgrade.

Regards

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_{Tuesday, June 25, 2019 6:08 PM}

The problem is i can't see anything sine all windows system letters are missing, and when i start setup.exe I see only a menu bar with close button and _ button. So i can't setup process. I tried also over CMD, i blind copied "setup.exe /auto upgrade. It starts "full screen" setup at least, but i get then the error "An unknown command-line option [/auto] was specified."

_{Wednesday, June 26, 2019 4:37 PM}

Where did you get the idea to use the auto option with this .exe?

_{Friday, June 28, 2019 4:16 PM}

Since i can't see system letters i asked at tenforums how to initiate repair install/upgrade over terminal.

tenforums*com/tutorials/16397-repair-install-windows-10-place-upgrade-post1658750.html#post1658750

I tried now without /auto but i get the same error:

"The upgrade option isn't available if you start your computer using installation media.

If a copy of Windows is already installed on this computer and you want to upgrade, remove the installation media and restart your computer. After Windows has started normally, insert the installation media and run Windows Setup."

_{Friday, June 28, 2019 6:58 PM | 1 vote}

Hello,

Can you please explain how you are starting setup with more detail on the steps you are using?

It's a little unclear whether you are starting setup from inside Windows or from Booting from USB and are getting the same error either way.

What do you mean you cannot see system drive letters?  When you open Windows Explorer are the drive letters present?

the /Auto option only works if you are inside a running copy of Windows 10 already and attempting to upgrade the installation that you are booted into.

how are you starting setup, from an elevated CMD prompt inside Windows 10, running it from the root of the USB drive?

Thanks, Darrell Gorter [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

_{Monday, July 1, 2019 10:01 AM}

Hello,

I tried every way you said :)

I tried booting via stick, also via trouble shoot CMD.

I tried over Windows by clicking .exe, run it over CMD.

I tried over troubleshoot, CMD.

And all 3 variants i tried also choosing as path, a copy on C:/temp and from USB.

But in the end i get never farer then 

"An unknown command-line option [/auto] was specified."

_{Monday, July 1, 2019 4:52 PM | 1 vote}

Hello,

Are you using an unattended file?

Where did you get the media from?

If you are clicking on the exe to run it, you should not get this error, nor should you get the error when booting from the USB stick.  You may want to verify the source of your media is not compromised.

Thanks, Darrell Gorter [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

_{Monday, July 1, 2019 7:22 PM}

I did an USB stick with Media Creation Tool on my Laptop (Macbook Pro 15 with Windows installed).

How can i get sure that i get right file?

_{Tuesday, July 2, 2019 12:20 PM}

I feel like i have to wait until a next iteration of Windows comes out?

Is there no way to force repair install, like tricking via changed version number?

_{Tuesday, July 2, 2019 4:04 PM}

Hello.

Can you search your hard drive and the usb stick for an "unattend*.*" file?

Simply booting from the media, should start setup without any options. (;ole the /auto option)

Clicking on the EXE from inside Windows should also start setup without any options as well.

Getting the USB stick from the media creation tool should be valid media, you may want to scan your system for malware or viruses.

Something is interfering with the ability to run setup

Thanks, Darrell Gorter [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

_{Tuesday, July 2, 2019 8:23 PM}

I use classic official standard version outputted from Windows Media Creation tool.

It is not caused by malware because exactly after I took ownership from old C: drive from old PC i got these problems and by trying to fix it with icacls and takeown i made everything worse ^^

I can't press nor click on anything because, there is no text and buttons are missing or not reacting.

screenshot:  https://i.ytimg*com/vi/fGfa4APJ-GQ/maxresdefault*jpg

Thats the reason why I try over terminal to start everything. I am mostly only over troubleshoot > CMD able to do things. Interestingly FireFox and Chrome seem to work as only programs only tittle missing.

I can download things and prepare .CMD, .bat files and can in normal windows only bindly copy things in to CMD.