I replaced Windows 11 with Linux Mint, but I now want to install Windows 11 again. I downloaded the ISO from Microsoft and used Ventoy to make a bootable USB, but Windows Setup either fails or reports that required drivers are missing when I try the wimboot option. I'm not sure whether the problem is the USB, the disk partitions, or the boot configuration. My system has a B550M motherboard, Ryzen 7 5700X, and RTX 3060 Ti. What is the correct way to reinstall Windows from scratch?
3 Answers
You can create the installer from Linux with Ventoy: install Ventoy onto the USB, copy the official Windows 11 ISO onto the normal Ventoy partition, and boot the target computer from that USB. You usually should not use the wimboot option unless the standard Ventoy boot method fails. Also try a rear motherboard USB port rather than a front-panel port.
The easiest alternative to Ventoy is Rufus, but Rufus normally needs to be run from a Windows computer. Since you’re currently using Linux, Ventoy is fine, or you can use another working computer to create the USB. If Setup still says a driver is missing, verify the ISO and USB, use a different flash drive if possible, and check the motherboard storage settings. With a normal B550M setup and one NVMe or SATA drive, Windows 11 generally should not need a special storage driver.
For a genuinely clean install, back up anything important first, then remove every existing partition on the drive where Windows will go. At the disk-selection screen, delete the Linux, EFI, swap, and recovery partitions until the entire target drive shows as unallocated space. Select that unallocated space and let Windows Setup create its own UEFI and recovery partitions.
I formatted the Windows drive after installing Linux, but I may not have removed every partition. I’ll check the installer’s disk screen and delete the remaining ones before installing.