Questions on SSD problem

Yes, I did re-boot and check BIOS settings. What is confusing is that when I first get to the BIOS screen, it shows the PXEs as UEFI options but when I go into BIOS setup from here (2nd screenshot), they show as disabled. Another thing that is a bit confusing is on exiting BIOS, you can 'save changes and reset', or 'save changes'. I'm not sure what reset means in this context. If I made changes, why would I reset? I tried it both ways but am still getting the blue screen after WinnTsetup applies the image and reboots, although I no longer see the "Start PXE over IPV4..." message befor the frown blue screen appears (as it did in my post #52). Maybe this means it's now some other problem than PXE?

When a computer boots, it looks to Bios and goes through the various Boot options. If the M.2 or HDD are missing or failed, or Windows is corrupted, it will go to the next boot device, which is PXE Boot. This is used to install Windows from a Network drive, that many big companies use. As long as PXE boot is lowest in the boot order, it shouldn't matter. The only reason your computer is trying to Boot from the PXE boot, is because there are no other Boot devices.

A few things to change In the second picture #61, Enable boot option #2 BootX64.EFI This is the boot partition on the M.2.
Also, in the second picture of Post #59 Dell computers in the Bios Advanced/NvME/SATA Operation Mode usually set to RAID, but you may try changing it to AHCI. If that fails, you can boot back to the Bios and reset it back to RAID.

To boot to a USB Flash drive installer, if burned properly. Put the Flash drive start the computer pressing F12 repeatedly. Select the Flash Drive from the boot menu. If this doesn't boot the computer, the flash drive wasn't burned correctly.

If the installer starts, choose your Language, then choose Install Now then Custom Install. In Where would you like to install Windows? it should show your M.2. If so, Delete ALL Partitions until the drive is all Unallocated Space. Then Press Next. Windows will do the rest.

If it doesn't show your M.2 drive, and says Load Drivers, then you need to download the IRST driver
On another computer, download this file and extract this to the root of your USB Flash drive installer. When it asks for Drivers, browse it to the Flash Drive to the IRST file. This will now show your M.2 and you can continue the install .

Hi Spunk, thank you for your input. I don't know if you looked back in this thread to where I wasn't able to boot to Windows at all until SIW2 offered his bootable 23V7.iso which has the DEll suplied drivers already integrated. With this, I was able to finally get to a Windows screen (as shown in post #22) and it is from here that I'm running WinnTsetup, as he suggested, to try and install a Windows 11 (I have the Windows 11.iso on a external drive plugged into a usb). WinnTsetup starts and runs, applies the image of the Windows 11 iso and at that point needs to reboot to then continue in set up. This is where I keep running into the "inaccessible boot device". When I first got it to runn this far, prior to the blue screen message (inaccessible boot device), I was getting a screen text message saying "Start PXE over IPV4..." (as shown in post #52). Now that I've disabled PXE, I no longer see that message but still end up at "inaccessible boot device".

That error can be the result of the wrong mode in bios.

have a look and change it to whatever is the other one

from AHCI/NVMe to RAID ON or from RAID ON to AHCI/NVMe

Well, you guys were right, changing it out of RAID mode and it was almost there... WinnTsetup made it past applying the image and rebooting into phase 2. I was answering set up question and reached the one that asked if I wanted to verify my Windows install by having the code emailed to my Microsoft account. I thought, sure. I had logged into the account a couple days ago, so I knew it worked. Well, I kept looking for the email and it never came. In the meantime, the machine went into screen saver mode and wouldn't come back (I wasn't watching when it happened). I waited a few minutes and it was clear that it wasn't coming back. I shut it off via power butttton and rebootedn (no F keys). The first screen shot came up. I assume the lack of an emailed code is linked to this. I rebooted again, went to the bootable usb. I opened DiskGenius and reformatted ESP(0) and C: and tried again. The 2nd screen shot was the result. I then went into BOIS to see if anything had changed and it hadn't. I'd like to try again and but wait until it is fully installed and connected to internet, etc. before validating the license... (it didn't occur to me that the machine wasn't yet set up to request the code). But how do I clear the decks so I can try again?

My suggestion is to start again, but do not use the WinNT Setup to install Windows.

First, Unplug ALL other drives, like USB and internal drives except your M.2 that you are going to install Windows to.
If you still have the Windows 11 ISO that was burned to a USB Flash drive with the Media Creation Tool, Or better yet burn the ISO with Rufus use that. If you can, add the IRST driver to this Windows installer


Attach USB, start computer pressing F12. Select the Flash Drive with the Windows 11 Installer. on it Choose your Language, Custom Install, Browse for IRST driver if necessary.
Do a Clean Install At Where Would Like to Install Windows? Delete All Partitions, until the drive is all Unallocated Space. Then Press Next, Windows will do the rest.

Go through the install. When it comes to the part where it asks to connect to the internet, Hold down the Shift key + F10 to start the Command Prompt type
and press enter. By passing the need for an MS Account. The computer will restart. It should pickup the Setup where you left off
Disable your Wifi and disconnect your Ethernet cable, so there is no Internet.
in that windows You now click you have NO Internet. This will allow you to create a Local Account with a name and password you make up. After that you can connect to the internet again.

How to Set Up Windows 11 Without a Microsoft Account

Later if you like you can covert the Local account to an MS account if you want.

Thanks Spunk, I'll try that if I can get past the current problem... The drive is BitLocked but the recovery key isn't working... I checked it many times. I logged onto my Microsft account and double checked the numbers. It looks like there are a few methods to try and bypass bitlocker but they all assume your main drive is still able to operate windows.

A follow up. Since I had already recovered my personal data from the drive, I had nothing to lose by trying to format it and reinstall Windows 11 Pro. I was unable to format from the comman prompt, but I forget precise reason why, but it had something to do with the drive being Bitlocked. I booted into 23V7.iso and just for the hell of it, opened File Explorer, navigated to the C drive, right click, format, and it worked. I unchecked the quick format box, if that made any difference. It took a few hours (2 TB drive) but was successful. I tried installing via WinnTsetup and got much further along than last time (past the MS account code) but eventually, while answering set up questions, the screen went blank and machine became unresponsive. I think the question was 'do you want to save any apps, personal files, etc.' and I answered yes, (forgetting that I had wiped the drive). Would this have been enough to make the installer lose its lunch? or maybe this indicates a problem with the drive itself? Anyway, I decided it was time to send the machine back to seller for repair.