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Unable to start the Windows 11 installer from USB

_erreip_ Posted messages 198 Status Member -  
Kiilla Posted messages 768 Status Member -

Hello,

I'm trying to get an old PC that I assembled myself back up and running; it’s probably been about ten years since I last used it. It hasn’t been used for 2 or 3 years, I think.

1. Initial problem: Sudden shutdown after startup

When I turned on the machine, Windows 10 started up fine, everything seemed okay. But after a few minutes (without any use, just started), it suddenly shut down. I immediately thought there might be an overheating issue and opened the case. Indeed, one of the brackets of the CPU cooler was broken. The heatsink was therefore no longer in contact with the CPU. I remedied this by replacing the bracket with a new one, and took the opportunity to clean off the old thermal paste and apply a new one.

2. Second problem: CPU overload

After that, I restarted the PC and quickly heard the fan ramp up. The task manager then indicated that the CPU was running at 100% (still without launching anything). Not wanting to overthink it, and knowing the installation was old, I decided to prepare a Windows 11 installation with a complete reformat of the SSD to start fresh (thinking it’s probably one or more software that’s overloading the CPU). I created a USB drive with Windows 11, discovering Ventoy along the way, which seems very practical.

3. Attempt to install Windows 11

I tried to boot from this USB drive (inserted into a USB port on the motherboard, at the back of the case) in UEFI mode. I had access to the Ventoy interface, which allowed me to choose the Windows ISO to boot from. The screen stayed stuck for a moment on the AsRock logo of the motherboard, then rebooted.

I tried again, this time without UEFI mode. I still had access to the Ventoy interface to choose the Windows ISO to boot from. The screen stayed stuck for a moment on the Windows logo of the installation ISO (without a loader), then rebooted.

4. Test on another machine: OK

To ensure that the problem wasn't with my USB drive, I attempted to boot from it on another PC. I had access to the Ventoy interface, which allowed me to choose the Windows ISO to boot from. The Windows 11 installer launched properly, and I reached the language selection interface. I decided not to go further; the USB drive seems to be functioning correctly.

5. Questions

Can anyone tell me what might be wrong?

The first question that comes to mind is why UEFI mode completely crashes, while the classic mode at least gets me up to the Windows logo? But then again, it doesn't really matter that much.

The thought that comes to mind so far is that it could be a faulty CPU. It would be running at 100% because it’s partially burned out, which would prevent the Windows 11 installer from launching?

Thank you very much to anyone who could help me move forward.

4 answers

  1.
    Didi64_549 Posted messages 2839 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
     

    Hello,

    The motherboard should not be followed as it is old for 10 or 11 which are heavy versions to install.

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    1. _erreip_ Posted messages 198 Status Member 126
       

      Yet it ran for a while on W10... And then I find it strange that it completely prevents the installer from starting.

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    2. Didi64_549 Posted messages 2839 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
       

      Hi,

      Windows 11 generally requires a GPT disk with UEFI boot.

      If the disk is in MBR, it may block the installation.

      You need to remove the USB drive after the first restart.

      Once the installation has started and the PC restarts, remove the USB drive to prevent it from restarting the installation instead of booting from the hard drive.

      Check with the PC Health Check tool if the PC is compatible with 11 (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, etc.).

      Then, you can recreate the USB drive with Rufus in UEFI/GPT mode.

      Disable Secure Boot in the BIOS if the drive is not recognized.

      Use a recent USB drive to avoid older USB 2.0 ones as well.

      Free up as much disk space as possible as Windows 11 requires at least 64 GB of free space.

      That's basically it.

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  2. Kiilla Posted messages 768 Status Member 309
     

    Hello,

    Normally, Windows 10 should install without any problems, but be careful for Windows 11; your motherboard must support the TPM module or TPM 2.0, as Microsoft has implemented this security feature.

    If your motherboard is not TPM compatible in the BIOS, you will not be able to install Windows 11; the installation will inevitably fail. I wanted to do a clean installation of Windows 11, and it crashed every time during the installation, but my TPM, specifically AMD FTPM, was disabled. Once I enabled it in the BIOS, the installation was able to complete successfully.

    I don't know Ventoy; I recommend going to the official Microsoft website to download Mediacreationtool.exe for Windows 11. Run the software, and after following the steps, it will create a bootable USB drive to install Windows 11 on the USB. You will just need to restart the PC, boot from the USB, and install Windows 11.

    Best regards.

    .

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    1. _erreip_ Posted messages 198 Status Member 126
       

      Oh, thanks for the info, I'll try to look into this TPM issue, if worse comes to worst I'll just do a fresh install of Windows 10.

      Before Ventoy, I had tried with Microsoft's tool, the result is the same but the MS tool is much slower since it requires downloading the Windows image with each attempt...

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  3. thev Posted messages 2008 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   722
     

    Hello,

    I also have quite an old PC with an Asus UEFI Bios motherboard. In fact, despite its name, it does not boot in UEFI mode but in classic BIOS mode, so it uses MBR disks. (All this motherboard could do was load a UEFI firmware to eventually boot in that mode, but it was not the standard option at all.)

    In conclusion, I am not surprised that UEFI mode does not work. You must stay in classic mode.

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    1. _erreip_ Posted messages 198 Status Member 126
       

      Thanks, I'll take that into account and assume that UEFI won't work. I thought I had noticed that before but I wasn't sure, and I have to say it's quite surprising...

      By the way, I believe I saw that Ventoy allowed a choice between MBR and I can't remember what else, I'll check that.

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  4. _erreip_ Posted messages 198 Status Member 126
     

    In the end, the results are as follows:

    1. W11 + UEFI => ASROCK logo then reboot
    2. W11 + BIOS => Windows logo then reboot
    3. W10 + UEFI => OK
    4. W10 + BIOS => Not tested but likely OK

    The type of partition (MBR or GPT) for the installation USB seems to have had no impact. Therefore, I kept W10+UEFI+GPT.

    I imagine that W11 is not compatible with the configuration. I would have liked to receive an error message explaining why, but we can't ask too much from a small company like Microsoft.

    => This machine will therefore remain on W10 for the time being, despite the end of support next October. In any case, the processor always reaches 100% very quickly, it must be damaged (or too old?)

    As for Ventoy, it is indeed a very handy tool that works perfectly, I will keep it.

    Thanks to everyone who helped me make progress on this.

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    1. Didi64_549 Posted messages 2839 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
       

      Hi again,

      Thank you for your response anyway, and you are free to make your choices.

      Wishing you all the best.

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    2. Kiilla Posted messages 768 Status Member 309
       

      Hello,

      There is a way to bypass Microsoft's restrictions and install Windows 11

      even on an old PC. After that, it's not guaranteed that it will work 100%, but it’s worth testing.

      I recommend making a backup of all your personal data before

      starting and following the tutorial.


      Install Windows 11 for free on an incompatible PC

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=visY4IMulwk

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