I'm dealing with a frustrating issue where my PC gets stuck in an infinite boot loop when trying to start Windows. Here's my setup:
- Ryzen 5 5600GT (with integrated graphics)
- ASUS PRIME B550M-A AC (new)
- 32GB DDR4 RAM
- WD Green 480GB SSD (Windows installed)
- 1TB HDD
- Cooler Master 750W 80+ Bronze PSU (new)
I've already checked the BIOS, and everything seems to be detecting correctly (CPU, RAM, disks) and temperatures are normal (35–45°C). I've also tried changing the boot order but the SSD is only detected as 'Windows Boot Manager' and there's no indication of error in the BIOS.
I suspect the issue could be related to Windows or a corrupted boot system rather than hardware. My questions are:
1. Should I attempt to repair the boot process or is a clean install of Windows a better option?
2. Is there anything else I should verify before formatting?
3. Could the SSD be at fault even though it's detected normally?
4 Answers
If Windows was just installed recently, I'd say go for a clean install for sure. If you've had this setup for a while, trying to repair could be worthwhile to avoid a fresh start. Also, back up your files! If you're missing any important data, consider booting from a live Linux USB to transfer your files before you format.
You mentioned that you checked the BIOS, but how did you do that? Just verifying that things show up isn't enough. Make sure your BIOS version is up to date. The 5600GT requires version 2803 or newer.
You might want to boot from your Windows USB installer, but instead of going for an install, select 'Repair your computer.' From there, use the troubleshooting options and try running Startup Repair. If the boot files are corrupted, this should fix it without causing data loss.
Just because the BIOS sees the SSD doesn't mean it's healthy. The controller could be fine, but the data might still be corrupted. So yes, the SSD might still be an issue despite its detection.
Totally agree! Always better to secure those files first.