I am so mad at windows 11

I have had Windows 11 update brick 2 of my pc's. I will discuss one in this post and then worry about the other one later. OK my question is I have been trying to fix this, but nothing works. So I plan to buy 10 or 11. I can buy 10 cheaper. It should update to 11 by itself. However, I am quite frustrated.with this. I may be better off to spend the extra money for 11. I fear I may go through the same experience if I buy 10 and upgrade. I have been messing around in the BIOS I am not sure how the settings were out of the box. It is a mini PC (Minisforum UM690) from China) The bios looks totally legacy, not UEFi. Do you think I can just go into BIOS and set everything to default? Then install Windows 11 and it turns out as expected? I made a recovery drive just in case the first day I connected it up for issues like this. In troubleshooting. the troubleshooting menu recognizes there is a recovery drive but when I tell it to go ahead and use that drive, I get an error everytime. So I thought I would just install Windows over the one on the pc. I don't know the key that's on it now. That is why I need to purchase a new key. All this trouble over Windows update. I just want to hear some feedback for assurance. Thanks.

Did the computer originally have Windows 10 or 11 on it? Was it activated with a digital license? If so you can try to do a clean install of Windows 10 or 11. With a digital license it should activate automatically.

If you bought the computer new with Windows 11 already installed, you should have a digital licensed copy, assuming the OS is not some illegal copy. There is no key code any more. Some other people may be able to help more in detail, but what exactly has happened? Will it not boot at all, even in safe mode?

If you have a working computer, you can download Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft and create a bootable USB drive. Then start your computer with the USB drive installed, go into your boot menu and select the USB drive and install Windows fresh and new. Once it's installed and you get an internet connection, it should recognize the license through Microsoft digital license and everything should be good.

If you've used the computer and have data to save, some others can direct you to installing Windows, but selecting the keep data option.

I am gonna answer more than one of the questions in this post. It came with Windows 11 pro, I am sure it is a legal OEM. I got one working computer, I can download the Media Creation tool and go from there. Do you think setting bios to default will work because I may have made changes trying to fix it?

@Marshall Moore

Tips for happy computing...

1. Any Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 key will work for you when installing Windows 10. So if you have one lying around...
1a. As mentioned above, you already have a digital license, so you don't need to BUY anything.
2. The X570 motherboard should have everything needed for Windows 11.
3. There are two ways to set up your disks. MBR or GPT. For Windows 10/11 choose GPT.
4. The upgrade from Win 10 to Win 11 is free, but...
5. On Win 10 or Win 11, start using 3rd party backup software.
6. A smart hardware setup is a 500GB SSD for Windows, and then 1 or 2TB SSD or hard drive for storage.

Things you have to set in your BIOS to work with GPT disks...

1. Firmware TPM and Secure Boot.
2. The 3400G CPU is compatible with Windows 11, so is your motherboard.
3. On the MSI X570 motherboard, AND fTPM (TPM) is on the Security tab.
4. CSM and Secure Boot are on the Advanced tab.



However you decide to do it, install Windows 10, get it set how you like it, then make a FULL backup.
Then, either update to upgrade to Windows 11, get it set the way you like, then make a FULL backup.
Now, whether you decide on Win 10 or Win 11, you will have a fresh backup to restore from.

Marshall Moore said:

I am gonna answer more than one of the questions in this post. It came with Windows 11 pro, I am sure it is a legal OEM. I got one working computer, I can download the Media Creation tool and go from there. Do you think setting bios to default will work because I may have made changes trying to fix it?

Click to expand...

If the computer came with Windows 11 already installed why are you trying to change anything?

Changes, now that we know the computer came with Win 10 or 11.

1. Use the MCT to create installation media on a USB stick.
2. Enter the BIOS and make sure AMD fTPM and Secure Boot are enabled.
3. Using the USB stick you created, install Windows 10 or 11.
4. It's a good idea to unhook all other drives when you install Windows 10 or 11.
5. After Win 10 or 11 is installed, you can rehook the other drives.
6 When all is installed... MAKE A FULL BACKUP.
7. Then, when all your programs and tweaks are done... make another FULL backup.

Use a program (free) like AOMEI Backupper Standard, to make the backup.
Also use it to make the AOMEI bootable Rescue media, so if needed, you can access your backup(s) even if Windows won't boot.







Backup software is like System restore, except it... WORKS !!!
Are you getting the message about backup software?
If you had been using backup software... this topic would not exist.

Mr. GHOT, thank you but this isn't that PC that is the one I also have to fix. This PC is not listed in my specs. This one is a mini PC I bought recently it is a Minisforum UM690. I may be on this forum about that one next Windows update bricked it too.

Marshall Moore said:

Mr. GHOT, thank you but this isn't that PC that is the one I also have to fix. This PC is not listed in my specs. This one is a mini PC I bought recently it is a Minisforum UM690. I may be on this forum about that one next Windows update bricked it too.

Click to expand...

I understand. But I refuse to admit that miniPCs exist.

I believe @The Pool Man is our most experienced miniPC guy.
He hasn't been on for a while though. Since February 2023.


But even on a miniPC, the stuff in post #5 and #7 should be the same... except for the specs compatibility, possibly.
It would help us to help you if we knew the specs of your miniPC. Or even the make/model.

Once either Win 10 or Win 11 is on a computer... you don't have to worry about buying anything.
As mentioned above, you have a digital license now.

Marshall Moore said:

I am gonna answer more than one of the questions in this post. It came with Windows 11 pro.....

Click to expand...

Marshall Moore said:

...it is a Minisforum UM690.

Click to expand...

Specs here:

I just sent an email to the manufacturer to ask if the BIOS settings are default out of the box. I kinda guess it would be. I don't recognize the name of the BIOS maker on this PC it is made in china. I think I will wait for their response before I dive in. I hope they email me back tomorrow. It was kicking butt before the update. (32 gigs of DDR5, it has an AMD 6900hx CPU 8 core 16 thread I upgraded the storage total to 8tb. One NVME at 4tb and one 4tb SSD. Thank you for caring enough to respond.

Marshall Moore said:

I just sent an email to the manufacturer to ask if the BIOS settings are default out of the box. I kinda guess it would be. I don't recognize the name of the BIOS maker on this PC it is made in china. I think I will wait for their response before I dive in. I hope they email me back tomorrow. It was kicking butt before the update. (32 gigs of DDR5, it has an AMD 6900hx CPU 8 core 16 thread I upgraded the storage total to 8tb. One NVME at 4tb and one 4tb SSD. Thank you for caring enough to respond.

Click to expand...

Damn... that's not a miniPC. That's a full blown desktop PC squeezed into a teeny case.














The official ancient wisdom...

I just got an idea and would like some feedback. The pc came with Windows installed on a 512-GB NVME. I wanted more storage so I cloned it to a 4tb NVME. I still have that drive. I wonder if I could just clone it again. I don't see why not. What do you all think?

Marshall Moore said:

I just got an idea and would like some feedback. The pc came with Windows installed on a 512-GB NVME. I wanted more storage so I cloned it to a 4tb NVME. I still have that drive. I wonder if I could just clone it again. I don't see why not. What do you all think?

Click to expand...

Yeah, you can do that. If you put the 512GB in the PC, you might want to disconnect the internet so it doesn't "update" again.
This time... after the clone... make a backup... THEN rehook it to the internet.
Then immediately make the backup software's rescue media, so if Windows won't boot, you can still access your backups.




Personally, I like Macrium Reflect better, but it's no longer free (license is lifetime though)...








Always, good to know...
Not for this problem, but this should definitely be in your Windows toolbox. ^^

I'm a mini-pc user. I have a couple of older 5th gen Core i5 Intel Nuc's and my latest is a Beelink SEI8. My Beelink is a Intel Core i5-8279u, with 32GB of RAM, 512GB NVme, I added a spare 512GB Sata SSD I had at home, it came with WIndows 10 Pro, it has dual monitor support, Wifi 6, and BlueTooth 5. This is the box that I am running Windows 11 on at home.

You will NOT need to provide any key to reinstall your OS. You can use the Media Creation Tool, install the version your mini-pc came with and it will auto activate.

Marshall, just a couple of points here:

1) You noted that this system came with Windows 11 Pro. Because a Windows 10 license is exactly the same as Windows 11, there is no need to purchase a license even if you do decide to install Windows 10. Just make sure to install the Pro edition and it will activate automatically.

2) The same holds true for Win 11 Pro. You can simply install it and it will activate automatically. Bottom line is that you do NOT need a license key.

3) I may be able to guide you through some BIOS settings. Most of these Mini PCs from China seem to favor AMI BIOS. Could you tell me if your BIOS is an AMI BIOS? If so, I'll be happy to make some suggestions. NOTE: All of the mini PCs I use are Intel based, so it's entirely possible that since yours is AMD based, the BIOS may be different. However, there should still be a setting to load defaults in your BIOS. It's usually on the same screen as the option to save and exit your BIOS changes.

4) I don't know how readily available the drivers are for your Mini PC. Can you tell me if you can still get into Windows at all? If so, the first thing that I would do is make a backup copy of all your drivers. Simply open a command prompt as Administrator and then run this command:

pnputil /export-driver * C:\Drivers

Then, save that entire folder to a thumb drive, external HD, etc. This will allow us to reinstall all the drivers with a single command if you reinstall Windows.

So let's start by you telling me if your system uses an AMI BIOS. In the meantime, I'll do some research to see what I can find about your Mini PC.

pparks1 said:

I'm a mini-pc user. I have a couple of older 5th gen Core i5 Intel Nuc's and my latest is a Beelink SEI8. My Beelink is a Intel Core i5-8279u, with 32GB of RAM, 512GB NVme, I added a spare 512GB Sata SSD I had at home, it came with WIndows 10 Pro, it has dual monitor support, Wifi 6, and BlueTooth 5. This is the box that I am running Windows 11 on at home.

You will NOT need to provide any key to reinstall your OS. You can use the Media Creation Tool, install the version your mini-pc came with and it will auto activate.

Click to expand...

Oh, no. They're breeding.

For a better understanding of this computer watch this review.

Live Review: MINISFORUM UM690 Venus Series - AMD RYZEN 9 6900HX, USB4 - Gaming Mini PC $649!

Ghot said:

Oh, no. They're breeding.

Click to expand...

Also have a 2020 Mac Mini M1, which I guess would also qualify as a mini-pc. It's been a great box for everyday use.

My primary machine, is a full desktop running Windows 10. That's where I game and run all of my VM's. But having little boxes has been great for running Windows 11, Linux and Mac OS.

MisterEd, I wasn't trying to change anything. Window notified me they had an update so Microsoft is who wanted to change my stuff up and I trusted them.