Computer Always Returns to UEFI Instead of Booting Windows or USB
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MellowKite47
After reseating the NVMe SSD and CMOS battery, this computer now goes straight into the UEFI setup screen. The SSD passes the built-in self-test, and the WD Green SN3000 1TB NVMe drive appears first in the boot order, but the system still will not boot from it. A Windows installation USB created with Microsoft's media creation tool is also detected in the boot menu, yet selecting it simply returns to UEFI. The motherboard is an MSI PRO B650-VC WIFI. What should I check or change without risking further damage?
Answers
Since removing the CMOS battery resets firmware settings, check the UEFI boot configuration rather than only the drive order. The SSD may be visible as hardware but missing its Windows Boot Manager entry. Look specifically for a “Windows Boot Manager” option in the boot list, and make sure the system is using UEFI mode rather than forcing legacy/CSM. If that entry is gone, the EFI boot files may need to be repaired from the Windows installer.
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Switching to CSM or legacy mode usually will not help if Windows was installed in UEFI mode, and on a modern B650 system it can actually make the existing installation unbootable. If neither the Windows Boot Manager nor the installer starts, boot a Windows installation USB and choose Repair your computer, then Startup Repair. If that fails, the EFI boot files can be rebuilt from the recovery command prompt; reinstalling Windows should be the last resort.
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Confirm that the USB was created as bootable installation media and try selecting its UEFI-labeled entry, such as “UEFI: USB drive,” from the one-time boot menu. If it is detected but will not launch, recreate the installer on another USB drive or with another computer. Also try a different USB port, preferably a rear motherboard port, and temporarily disable Fast Boot or Secure Boot if the installer still refuses to start.
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MellowKite47: The SSD is first in the priority list, but I’ll check whether there’s a separate Windows Boot Manager entry instead of just the drive name.