I'm having a major issue with my Windows 11 setup on a B650E Ryzen AMD motherboard. When I start my PC, I can get to the desktop, but almost nothing works. Apps, browsers, Task Manager, Command Prompt, and even PowerShell won't open. The only things that function are File Explorer (barely) and the Start Menu, but even those get glitchy. I've tried restarting multiple times, but nothing helps. I've got a Windows 11 setup on a USB that I've used to reset my PC to a previous update, but that fix never sticks and the issue always returns.
To give some backstory, I initially had trouble setting up Windows 11 because I was missing a Wi-Fi driver, which led me to run a command in Command Prompt to access the BIOS. Now, when I power up, my PC automatically goes to the BIOS screen, which is annoying but not critical. When I tried saving and exiting BIOS, that's when these problems really started. Initially, some apps would open, but they'd lose connection almost immediately, and I lose all ability to interact with the desktop. Does anyone have any ideas on how to solve this?
4 Answers
Just an update: I used the USB to access Command Prompt and ran `sfc /scannow`, which found some corruption and fixed it. I'll reboot and see if it makes any difference. If it doesn’t, my backup plans are: A) Use my old save to reinstall without losing files, B) Completely delete my partition and start fresh with Windows 11, C) Check into reflashing the BIOS, and D) Maybe just take the tower to a tech store if all else fails. E) If that doesn't work, I might resort to some techno-occultist rituals for good measure!
Your Windows installation is probably corrupted, which explains why your apps and Command Prompt won't open correctly. The USB reset is a temporary workaround. Here’s what I suggest: 1) Back up your important files using File Explorer. 2) Do a complete Windows reinstall from your USB, and make sure to delete the system partition entirely for a fresh installation. 3) Double-check your BIOS settings; things like boot order and Fast Boot could be interfering. 4) After reinstalling, update all motherboard drivers before you restore your apps. This approach should help you get everything back to normal.
It sounds like your BIOS might be acting up! Have you noticed any errors when it automatically takes you to BIOS at startup? Also, consider checking if the CMOS battery is dying—sometimes that can cause strange issues. If you haven’t, try reflashing the BIOS and loading the optimized defaults. Also, testing with a new local account might show if the issue lies with your current account. Don't forget to check your hard drive's health too—it could be failing.
It definitely seems like a service issue, especially with network-related things. This could be causing your whole system to fail to initialize correctly. Here are a few things to try: 1) Check BIOS and see if Fast Boot is enabled—try disabling that to see if it helps. 2) If you manage to get Command Prompt open, run `sfc /scannow` right away to scan for corrupted files. 3) Also make sure your Windows drive is set as the primary boot device in BIOS, not the USB. This issue likely isn’t hardware-related, so you're on the right track!
Honestly, I think going for Plan B or C sounds like the way to go. Sometimes resetting everything is the best route. Just be careful with your backups!