I'm building a new PC for a friend, and I'm running into a roadblock. During the final stages of the Windows 11 setup, I received a message saying my system doesn't meet the requirements. I'm trying to install it using a CD that my friend purchased, but also attempted to boot from a USB drive. Unfortunately, the USB method isn't working since it's causing my Samsung SSD to enter an erase loop and I can't boot from it. I've included the specs of the build [here](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/FBnhTM). After some digging, I found out that CSM was enabled by default in the BIOS, and I've disabled it which allowed me to boot from the CD without issues. But are there any other tips to ensure everything goes smoothly?
6 Answers
Updating your BIOS could help! Some motherboards have specific compatibility issues with Windows 11, so getting the latest version can resolve those problems.
Have you checked if TPM is enabled in your BIOS? That's pretty crucial for Windows 11. Also, make sure CSM is disabled, which it sounds like you already did. You should be good to go if those are set right!
If you download the Windows 11 ISO image and use Rufus to create a bootable flash drive, it can bypass the usual spec checks. This method even lets you skip some setup steps and create a local account without issues, which is super convenient!
Did you really pay $120 for Windows? Just curious! Lucky for you, it’s not my money on the line. I tried to convince my friend to go for something else.
You might want to consider converting your boot drive to GPT if it’s MBR. Instead of just upgrading, try a fresh installation of Windows 10 first, then upgrade to 11 after ensuring that secure boot is enabled and CSM is disabled.
Thanks for the reminder! I actually ran into that issue and turned off CSM, which fixed my problem.