My PC was recently affected by malware, so I wiped the system and am trying to perform a clean Windows 11 installation. The installation process has been unreliable: it sometimes freezes, and other attempts end with a Watchdog Violation before making any progress. We have tried changing BIOS settings, disabling CSM, using different approaches, and even attempting to install Linux, but nothing has worked consistently.
The system has a TUF Gaming A520M-PLUS WiFi motherboard, Ryzen 7 5700G, 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD. I also have a second SSD, but it has been disconnected during troubleshooting. The connected SSD is empty. Windows was written to a newly purchased 32GB USB drive using Microsoft's Windows Media Creation Tool.
Could this be a BIOS configuration problem, a faulty USB drive or port, bad memory, storage failure, or another hardware issue? I would appreciate a sensible troubleshooting order because I would really like to avoid replacing the entire PC.
4 Answers
A Watchdog Violation during installation can point to unstable hardware rather than Windows itself. Disconnect the second SSD and all unnecessary USB devices, then test the RAM with MemTest86 or the motherboard's memory test. Also check the NVMe drive's seating and run the manufacturer's diagnostic if available. If you have two memory sticks, test each one separately in the recommended slot.
First, recreate the installer on a different known-good USB drive if possible, preferably using a rear motherboard USB port rather than a front-panel port or hub. In the firmware, load the default settings, use UEFI mode, enable Secure Boot and TPM/fTPM for Windows 11, and avoid changing several unrelated settings at once. If the USB was created correctly with Microsoft's tool, it should normally boot without needing unusual BIOS changes.
Use the one-time boot menu to select the entry labeled something like “UEFI: USB” instead of changing boot settings repeatedly. During setup, delete every partition on the intended system drive and install to the resulting unallocated space. Do not erase the second SSD unless you are certain it contains nothing important. If the computer crashes even while running the installer or Linux from USB, focus on RAM, motherboard firmware, power, and storage diagnostics rather than reinstalling Windows again.
If the installer still freezes with a verified USB, temporarily remove the RTX 3070 Ti and use the Ryzen 7 5700G's integrated graphics, assuming the motherboard has the appropriate video output. This helps rule out the graphics card or its power connection. You can also try installing with only one RAM module, BIOS defaults, and the target NVMe drive connected. Reconnect the other hardware only after Windows installs successfully.
The current installer was made with Microsoft's Media Creation Tool on a new 32GB drive. I will try another drive and a rear USB port, then reset the firmware settings before testing again.