My Windows 11 PC was working normally until I installed a recent Windows update, after which it began showing blue-screen errors and would not boot properly. Two days earlier, I had changed the BIOS boot order so the computer would start from a Hiren's Boot USB while I worked on a password issue. I have since restored the BIOS settings to their defaults, but that did not fix the problem. I also tried uninstalling the Windows update, without success. What should I check next, and could the earlier boot-device change be related?
2 Answers
The BIOS boot-order change by itself usually would not cause repeated Windows blue screens once the internal drive is selected again. The most useful next step is to identify the actual stop error and collect crash dumps. If you can reach Windows or Safe Mode, check C:WindowsMinidump and save any files there. Those logs can help determine whether the update exposed a driver, storage, or hardware problem.
The connection between the BIOS setting, the password tool, the update, and the crashes is not clear yet. Confirm that the correct Windows drive is selected as the boot device and that the storage controller mode has not changed from its previous setting. If the system still crashes, try Windows Recovery or Safe Mode and record the exact blue-screen message rather than only reporting that it is a BSOD.
I changed the boot device only so I could start from the USB tool, then restored the default BIOS settings. I’ll check whether Safe Mode is available and look for the minidump files.