I'm trying to install Windows 11 using the Rufus bypass method and I've followed all the setup instructions to create the install media correctly. I've set the USB drive as the first boot device. The installation process starts off fine, but when it reaches 77%, the PC reboots and that's where everything goes wrong. If I keep the USB stick plugged in and select USB boot, I get this message: "It looks like you started an upgrade and booted from installation media. If you want to continue with the upgrade, remove the media from your PC and click yes. If you want a clean installation, click no."
If I remove the USB and click yes, the PC reboots but when I go back into BIOS to change the boot order to the installation disk, it hangs on "Verifying DMI Pool Data." If I pick no, the cycle just repeats after another reboot. Even if I leave the boot order set to USB but take it out, it still hangs on the same message. What am I doing wrong?
3 Answers
Another option is to reset your BIOS. Then set your SSD as the first boot option. After saving those changes, when you restart, press F12 to temporarily change the boot order to the USB. Wipe the SSD completely and create new partitions. Don’t mess with the BIOS settings after the first restart. If you keep hitting the same error, the USB might be faulty, so consider making a new one. Also, check your memory modules just to be safe.
It sounds like you might be dealing with a partitioning issue. I ran into the same problem once and found that the partitions on my SSD were messed up. What I did was remove the SSD, connect it to another PC externally, delete the partitions, and then the installation worked on the next try.
If you aren’t worried about losing your data, another route is just to go for a clean installation from scratch.
Here’s a thought: during the installation, try deleting all the existing Windows partitions and create new ones from scratch. After the first restart, unplug the USB. It doesn't make sense to restart from the USB again since the installation has already begun.
Removing the flash drive and clicking yes causes a reboot, but then I end up back to the BIOS and it hangs at "Verifying DMI Pool Data."
This is the answer - worked for me as well!