That freeze at ~3% during “Verify image” usually points to an issue with the image file or the validation process rather than the installer itself.
A few things you can try:
- Re-download the image (it may be corrupted during download)
- If you’re using USB, recreate it using a reliable tool (like Rufus) and try a different USB port
- Temporarily disable antivirus or security tools that might interrupt verification
- Check disk space and run the installer as administrator
- If possible, verify the checksum (SHA) of the image before upgrading
I also saw a similar case discussed on Dubai Web where the issue was fixed after re-downloading the ISO and switching the USB creation method so it might be worth checking that approach too.
