Trouble Booting Windows 11 After Fresh Build
Asked by
TechieWizard42
I just built a new PC and installed Windows 11 on a thumb drive for a clean install. I'm reusing an NVME drive from my old computer, but it's not the same one where Windows was previously installed. Every time I boot with the thumb drive connected, I go through the Windows installer process, it restarts, and I get a popup saying, 'You started an upgrade, remove ISO to continue or click no to clean install.' If I select 'yes', I get stuck in the BIOS, and if I choose 'no', I end up back in the Windows installer, repeating the cycle. The SSD is recognized in BIOS but isn't a bootable option, and attempts to repair it haven't helped. What should I try next?
Answers
You might want to try formatting the drive again to ensure there's no leftover data causing issues. Sometimes a fresh format can clear up the booting problems. While you're at it, double-check if your BIOS settings are configured correctly for the NVME drive, just to be safe.
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It sounds like your BIOS might need a bit of tweaking. Some motherboards require you to enable NVME support manually. Also, ensure that you've used the latest installation media from Microsoft and that you're selecting the right drive during setup. If possible, delete all existing partitions from that NVME during installation; it might help clear up the conflicts.
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Have you considered resetting the BIOS to default settings? Sometimes, just starting fresh can sort out strange issues like this—especially with drive recognition. Make sure to disconnect any other drives just to focus on the NVME you're trying to install Windows on.
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