MCT-created installer doesn't boot on my desktop, but does boot on my laptop

The gist of this issue is that I have been trying to do a clean install of Windows 11 (2H25) on my custom desktop built around an MSI x870E Carbon WiFi motherboard. After some false starts, I got the MCT to build a USB installer, using the option to build the installer for a different system (I don't remember if I checked or unchecked the box). Everything proceeded as expected.

Using the MSI's F11 key, I pulled up the "select boot device" menu, which is a one-time procedure that overrides normal boot order settings. The USB stick is detected as a UEFI device. However, when I highlight that device and press ENTER to select it, the only thing that happens is a return to the same "select boot device" menu. There is no sign at all of a Windows install starting.

I'm not sure what I should do now.

If it matters, I'm trying to do the install onto an NVMe drive that has had all partitions wiped.

Try temporarily disabling Secure Boot. Sounds like a mismatch with the USB's boot file version.

If disabling secure boot doesn't work, you might try downloading the ISO from Microsoft. Scroll down to "download Windows 11 Disk image (ISO)
You can then use Rufus to create the installation usb drive. Scroll down here and download the portable version of Rufus. Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way
I strongly suggest that you disconnect all other drives while installing windows.

​

You don't need Rufus
Check your BIOS. You must enable to boot from USB devices.

Megahertz said:

You don't need Rufus

Click to expand...

I have used only the MCT, and not Rufus for this windows new install.

Megahertz said:

Check your BIOS. You must enable to boot from USB devices.

Click to expand...

Yes I have multiple times. I am even going to start from scratch after RTFM'ing MSI docs. I'm going to start with flashing a new BIOS.

A clean installation of Windows 11 using the motherboard's default settings should complete successfully on the new motherboard. At least, I'm not aware of any motherboard settings that would normally need to be changed before installing Windows 11.

ChatGPT:

From a technical standpoint, the statement is sound. Modern motherboards such as the MSI MPG X870E CARBON WIFI are generally configured with UEFI, TPM, and Secure Boot support enabled or available by default, so a standard Windows 11 installation should not require changing firmware settings beforehand. The more likely causes of installation issues are the installation media, BIOS version, storage configuration, or a hardware problem rather than a required BIOS setting change.

Click to expand...

First, update the motherboard to the latest BIOS version.

Then, from the one-time boot menu (ASRock F11, ASUS F8, Gigabyte F12, MSI F11), select the Windows 11 installation USB flash drive. This should start Windows Setup.

x509 said:

However, when I highlight that device and press ENTER to select it, the only thing that happens is a return to the same "select boot device" menu. There is no sign at all of a Windows install starting.

Click to expand...

Even if the MCT-created USB works on another computer, it may not be booting correctly on the MSI motherboard. Therefore, you should also try creating the Windows 11 installation USB with Rufus.

Rufus will automatically create a UEFI-bootable Windows 11 installation USB flash drive, but it is worth verifying the following setting:

Partition scheme: GPT

You do not need to worry about the "Target system" or "File system" settings, as Rufus will configure them automatically.

In addition to the NTFS partition, Rufus creates a small FAT partition labeled UEFI_NTFS, which contains the UEFI:NTFS bootloader.

Edit:

I have an ASRock B650E Taichi Lite, and I have changed the following settings in the BIOS setup (although a clean installation of Windows 11 does not require any of these changes):

- OC Tweaker > DRAM Profile Configuration > DRAM Profile Settings > EXPO...
- Tool > Auto Driver Installer > Disabled
- Security > Secure Boot > Install default Secure Boot keys > Yes > Discard changes and exit setup? > No > Secure Boot > Enabled

Celery said:

A clean installation of Windows 11 using the motherboard's default settings should complete successfully on the new motherboard. At least, I'm not aware of any motherboard settings that would normally need to be changed before installing Windows 11.

ChatGPT:



First, update the motherboard to the latest BIOS version.

Then, from the one-time boot menu (ASRock F11, ASUS F8, Gigabyte F12, MSI F11), select the Windows 11 installation USB flash drive. This should start Windows Setup.



Even if the MCT-created USB works on another computer, it may not be booting correctly on the MSI motherboard

Click to expand...

That's a crazy situation. I think that Microsoft is the only one who can lay down some ground rules that "everyone" has to follow. if nothing else, it might reduce their support workload

Celery said:

. Therefore, you should also try creating the Windows 11 installation USB with Rufus.

Click to expand...

Yet in post #4, it says I don't need Rufus

Celery said:

Rufus will automatically create a UEFI-bootable Windows 11 installation USB flash drive, but it is worth verifying the following setting:

Click to expand...

I guess I'll try that. First I am going to start from scratch, clear CMOS, and then proceed with the latest BIOS version, then try the MCT-based installer with things like Secure Boot turned off. If that doesn't work, then I'll do the Rufus installer. If THAT doesn't work, maybe I should switch to a Mac?

Celery said:

Partition scheme: GPT

You do not need to worry about the "Target system" or "File system" settings, as Rufus will configure them automatically.

In addition to the NTFS partition, Rufus creates a small FAT partition labeled UEFI_NTFS, which contains the UEFI:NTFS bootloader.

Click to expand...

OK./

Celery said:

Edit:

I have an ASRock B650E Taichi Lite, and I have changed the following settings in the BIOS setup (although a clean installation of Windows 11 does not require any of these changes):

- OC Tweaker > DRAM Profile Configuration > DRAM Profile Settings > EXPO...
- Tool > Auto Driver Installer > Disabled
- Security > Secure Boot > Install default Secure Boot keys > Yes > Discard changes and exit setup? > No > Secure Boot > Enabled

Click to expand...

Just to be clear:
- You let MCT create a Win 11 USB installation drive. The drive is Fat32 and is less than 32G in size.
Is that correct?

Megahertz said:

Just to be clear:
- You let MCT create a Win 11 USB installation drive. The drive is Fat32 and is less than 32G in size.
Is that correct?

Click to expand...

Yes. The USB is 32 GB, which formats down to 31+GB

Should I use a 16 GB USB instead?

x509 said:

Yes. The USB is 32 GB, which formats down to 31+GB

Should I use a 16 GB USB instead?

Click to expand...

If just putting the windows installation files on the usb only, a 16 GB usb should be fine. Even an 8 GB usb would work fine for now, but with the size of the install.esd ever increasing with each release, a 16 GB usb is a safe choice.

x509 said:

Should I use a 16 GB USB instead?

Click to expand...

I have a "SanDisk Ultra 32 GB USB Flash Drive USB 3.0" and the MCT-created Windows 11 installation USB works without any problems.

Celery said:

In addition to the NTFS partition, Rufus creates a small FAT partition labeled UEFI_NTFS, which contains the UEFI:NTFS bootloader.

Click to expand...

CORRECTION:

The latest version of Rufus changes the name of the UEFI:NTFS partition to RUFUS_BOOT.

In addition to the NTFS partition, Rufus creates a small FAT partition labeled RUFUS_BOOT, which contains the UEFI:NTFS bootloader.



The Media Creation Tool automatically splits the large install.wim (or install.esd) into install.swm and install2.swm when creating a USB. This ensures the installer stays under the 4GB file size limit required by FAT32-formatted drives.