Windows 11 Pro Clean Install Failure

Wynona · Sep 21, 2023

Windows 11 Pro Clean Install Failure

To begin at the beginning of my tale of woe, I needed to do a clean install of Windows 11 on my teaching computer I keep at the Senior Activity Center in our town. There was nothing drastically wrong with the computer; just a few glitches I didn’t like.

It all began when UUPDump decided to go down. As per normal, I came to ElevenForum to see if I could get a clue. I found this thread: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/uupdump-net-site-down.13207/page-4#post-344943 .

Someone posted a link to a UUPDump.net site in Estonia (I didn’t know where this was at the time). It looked like it was OK, so I downloaded the bits and proceeded to set up the ISO, then set up my bootable flash drive with Rufus (done it a gazillion times).

At any rate, everything proceeded normally from building the ISO to building the bootable USB flash drive with Rufus. Installation proceeded normally until it got to the first restart and things went South from there.

I rebuilt everything and started over . . . same result.

So, although I’d never gotten off the ground with the media creation tool, I decided to try that. Add several years to the mix, and this (new to me) tool created the setup flash drive easily.

Back through the process again. . . Amazingly, installation with both Rufus and the Media Creation Tool appear to be identical as far as I can see. I was hopeful it would work this time. Nope, nada! At the first reboot, same old same old . . . Everything frozen.

Now, I had several clean installation failures; with both Rufus and the Media Creation Tool.

My next move was to change the computer I was using for UUPDump and the Media Creation Tool. Maybe there was something wrong with my main computer; nope, everything proceed normally until the first reboot when it all went haywire again.

The next part of this sob story is almost exactly what I saw as installation proceeded with both Rufus and the Media Creation Tool.

So far, no one seems to have the installation problems I have so I’m not sure what to try next.

If you see anything that might be amiss in what I’ve done so far, please let me know.

Windows Setup with Both Media Creation Tool and Rufus
(USB Flash Drive Setup)

Create Bootable Flash Drive with Media Creation Tool
Downloading Windows
Feel free to keep using your PC.
Creating Windows Media
Feel free to keep using your PC.

Your USB Flash Drive is ready.
Finish
Cleaning up Setup

Automatically Create Bootable Flash Drive with Rufus

At this point, I shut down and restarted the PC to clean install Windows 11 from both Rufus and Media Creation Tool

I'm only going to give one copy of the process, since everything is pretty much identical.

Windows Setup with Media Creation Tool and Rufus
(Installation)

Restart PC and spam the Esc key.
Choose F9 from the menu that pops up.
Setup cycles through Language, Keyboard Input Method, etc.
NEXT
I have a menu choice:
Install Now or Repair computer.
Choose Install Now.
Setup is starting.
License terms accepted.
NEXT
Choose Custom Install.
I deleted all partitions on Drive 0 and formatted the resulting drive.
Microsoft noted that it would set drives up to suit itself and did.
0, Partition 1 (small)
Drive 0, Partition 2 (small)
Drive 0, Partition 3 (223 GB) Installation Drive)
I then chose Drive 0, partition 3; Microsoft set the partitions as my installation drive and formatted it.
NEXT
Installing Windows
Getting Files ready for installation
Installing features
Installing updates
Finishing up
Restarting
Pulled flash drive so it wouldn’t start the process all over again.
HP Logo
Starting Services
Getting Ready
HP logo with solid circle chasing its tail.
Black screen and restart
HP Logo with solid circle chasing its tail.
Just a Moment
And here’s where it hit the fan . . . A half circle composed of dots appeared and the computer froze up.

From this point, nothing I could do with either the Media Creation Tool or Rufus would let setup continue. I tried shutting down, and restarting, no go. Reinstalling, nope, nada.

As I said above, I don't know what to do next. . .

zbook · Sep 21, 2023

Wynona said:
Installing updates

If not already tried, clean install without access to the internet.

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

Code:

It is required to have an Internet connection if you want to set up a Microsoft account, or work or school account.

If you have an Internet connection, you will be able to set up a local account (if wanted) when you get to step 21.

If installing a Windows 11 Pro or Education edition and you currently do not have an Internet connection available, 
click/tap on I don't have Internet, and go to step 21D to set up a local account. I don't have Internet is not available 
by default for the Home edition unless you use either command below first. (see bottom screenshot)

If you don't have an Internet connection and none of the above worked for you, then press the Shift + F10 keys to open 
a command prompt. Copy and paste the OOBE\BYPASSNRO command into the command prompt, and press Enter. 
This will restart the computer, and take you back to step 13. You should then be able to click/tap on I don't have internet 
when you get back to this step, and go to step 21D to set up a local account. (see bottom screenshot)

If the OOBE\BYPASSNRO command doesn't work for you, then copy and paste the MSOOBE\BYPASSNRO command into 
the command prompt, and press Enter. This will restart the computer, and take you back to step 13. You should then be 
able to click/tap on I don't have internet when you get back to this step, and go to step 21D to set up a local account. 
(see bottom screenshot)

SlicEnDicE · Sep 21, 2023

You failed to identify which computer you are trying to clean install on.

...anyways, since it is highly likely it's a HP computer, it is possible that there's some special component driver that fail to load or the the driver is missing entirely.

Some HP devices can be a pain to setup.

Try to get the computer into a state where it enters safemode. There you can investigate further, what's still missing and which driver versions Windows has used as default.

glasskuter · Sep 21, 2023

Wynona said:
Choose Custom Install.

I deleted all partitions on Drive 0 and formatted the resulting drive.

Microsoft noted that it would set drives up to suit itself and did.

0, Partition 1 (small)

Drive 0, Partition 2 (small)

Drive 0, Partition 3 (223 GB) Installation Drive)

I then chose Drive 0, partition 3; Microsoft set the partitions as my installation drive and formatted it.

Wynona, this descriptive part of the process just doesn't sound right to me.
From memory, you delete all partitions which results in ALL unallocated space. You install Windows on the unallocated space. The installation process creates and formats all the necessary partitions automatically. You don't do any formatting at all. Nor do you choose the partition. The installation process knows which partition to install Windows on because it just created it itself.

Also make sure all other drives are disconnected during the install process.

antspants · Sep 21, 2023

glasskuter said:
Wynona, this descriptive part of the process just doesn't sound right to me.
From memory, you delete all partitions which results in ALL unallocated space. You install Windows on the unallocated space. The installation process creates and formats all the necessary partitions automatically. You don't do any formatting at all. Nor do you choose the partition. The installation process knows which partition to install Windows on.

Also make sure all other drives are disconnected during the install process.

Yes.
And at the first screen of windows install I run diskpart.

Shift key + F10
Type; diskpart
Type; list disk
Type; select disk x (careful you are cleaning the right drive/disk)
Type; clean
Type; exit

this wipes all partitions and sets the disk ready for windows install

Fabler2 · Sep 21, 2023

antspants said:
Yes.
And at the first screen of windows install I run diskpart.

View attachment 71607

Shift key + F10
Type; diskpart
Type; list disk
Type; select disk x (careful you are cleaning the right drive/disk)
Type; clean
Type; exit

this wipes all partitions and sets the disk ready for windows install

I don't do that as Windows has already deleted all partitions that should have been done during the installation process.

antspants · Sep 21, 2023

Fabler2 said:
I don't do that as Windows has already deleted all partitions that should have been done during the installation process.

This is before that.
It’s just a thing I have about windows installs. Probably not an issue anymore but in days past, I had one too may instances of windows creating installs within a partition, weird I know. Like I said, way back, it became a habit for piece of mind.

Fabler2 · Sep 21, 2023

antspants said:
This is before that.
It’s just a thing I have about windows installs. Probably not an issue anymore but in days past, I had one too may instances of windows creating installs within a partition, weird I know. Like I said, way back, it became a habit for piece of mind.

Oops, you're right. My error :look:

Bastet · Sep 21, 2023

I would’ve deleted all partitions & then selected the unallocated space to install Windows - a custom install is usually done if you wish to keep personal files I believe. I also would’ve left the installation USB drive connected until the installation had completed/booted into Windows.

Ghot · Sep 21, 2023

@Wynona

1. Make your installation media. Make sure it will work for MBR and/or UEFI.
2. Disconnect all internet and all other drives. Disconnect any and all peripherals as well.
3. Boot to the install media (USB stick?), with the "Boot menu", not from within the BIOS.
4. Delete all partitions on the target drive, and don't format it. Just leave as unallocated.
5. Start your install. Say... no, skip, later, to every question, and uncheck all boxes of offered things, during install.
Personally... I would also create a "Local account". You can always switch to an MS account later.
6. When it wants to restart, leave the USB stick alone.
Because we used the "Boot Menu", the install will just skip the USB stick if it wants to.

7. When you get to the Desktop, install motherboard and vid card drivers, then make a backup.
8. Then reconnect the internet, do your Windows Updates.
9. Lastly, install your programs, do personalizations, and go get any of the things we skipped in step #5, that you may want.
10. Then make your final backup.

My guess is that step #6 is what is causing your issue.
Pulling out a USB stick during install may be confusing the installer.

It could also be the... formatting or updates (don't do either), like others have mentioned.

In step #2, peripherals, means anything that's not the keyboard or mouse.
No printers, chargers, controllers, hubs... etc.

Leave the boot priority in the BIOS... alone.
The BIOS should list either the Boot Manager or the Windows drive... first.

Whenever you want to boot from something else... use the "Boot Menu"
Here is the list of F-keys to access the "boot menu", for all laptops and motherboards...

My Boot Menu looks like this... If I want to boot from my Corsair USB stick, I just click on it, and hit the ENTER key.
If installing Windows, I would choose the UEFI Corsair USB stick option, since my drives are GPT.
The advantage of using the "Boot Menu" is that whatever you choose to boot from, will only happen... ONCE.
So when installing Windows, you won't have to worry about "pulling out the USB stick", after the restart.

johnlgalt · Sep 21, 2023

@Wynona - do you have a backup of the old system?

If so, restore it, then check for BIOS updates for your system while running the old system. If you have no new BIOS / other firmware updates for your devices, then try again, adding in the bits that everyone else has suggested above:

1. Use diskpart to clean the drive during install, and then let Windows installer pick the cleaned, unformatted drive (Windows installer does everything for you, you don't even need to format anymore).
2. Disconnect all peripherals (IOW, only have a KB and mouse. If this is a laptop and you have a working trackpad, try using that in lieu of an external mouse. If you're using an external monitor with a laptop, disconnect it during install.
3. Don't connect your machine to the Internet when installing. If your machine has the capability, disable the wireless connection.

It's possible Windows 11 is trying to install one of the newest updates that is causing all sorts of glitches.

Alternatively, you could also try to install a pre-22H2 .ISO on your system. If you do, make sure it is not connected to the Network, ever, during install, and be sure to disable any option to go online and get the latest updates during install - you can do that later.

Wynona · Sep 23, 2023

I haven't forgotten this thread . . . I'm going to print all the responses, do my research, and hopefully get the machine back up and running.

In the meantime, I'm setting up another teaching machine to use for the time being.

There just aren't enough hours in my days anymore!

Thanks all for your input. I really do appreciate it.

Wynona · Sep 23, 2023

Got a question:

I want to add a second drive to the "new" teaching machine (it only has one). I have a 500 GB Samsung 860 EVO that was in another machine at one time.

I will use my Sabrent docking station to format it. Will formatting the drive be enough to get rid of any nasties that may be on it?

johnlgalt · Sep 23, 2023

Normally, yes, unless you've somehow gotten some truly insidious stuff.

Probably overkill, but assuming it is currently set as a gpt drive, you might consider using diskpart to clean the drive, then let it create an MBR based drive (so don't use the convert gpt function), and then format it, and then go back and clean it again, then use convert gpt, and set it all up again.

If it is currently not gpt, cleaning and converting to gpt before setting up the partition and formatting should be sufficient.

This will not do anything related to possible malicious code in the firmware of the drive - but it is highly unlikely that you have such embedded Malware on the drive, so you should be fine.

Berton · Sep 23, 2023

I recycle drives, HDD and SSD, taken from otherwise dead computers, external USB cases and NAS drive units, have a Linux Mint computer with a USB 2-bay drive dock attached. I install GPARTED [GNU Partition Editor] on it and can wipe all partitions on the drives. It can create partitions and format then in several different formats such as used by DOS, Mac OS X, and Windows. I've formatted a 500GB as FAT32. GPARTED can also be obtained as an .iso file used to create a bootable LiveCD, runs on a 'lite' version of Linux. It's also good for cleaning Thumb/Flash drives and put back to their FAT32, works up to at least 256GB.

Wynona · Sep 23, 2023

johnlgalt said:
Normally, yes, unless you've somehow gotten some truly insidious stuff.

Probably overkill, but assuming it is currently set as a gpt drive, you might consider using diskpart to clean the drive, then let it create an MBR based drive (so don't use the convert gpt function), and then format it, and then go back and clean it again, then use convert gpt, and set it all up again.

If it is currently not gpt, cleaning and converting to gpt before setting up the partition and formatting should be sufficient.

This will not do anything related to possible malicious code in the firmware of the drive - but it is highly unlikely that you have such embedded Malware on the drive, so you should be fine.

Thank you, @johnlgalt.

Even if I never get this computer back up to snuff, I'm learning a lot!

I guess I've been lucky, in that I've done numerous clean installs without issue. Thing is, because of non-issues, I haven't taken the tine to learn some of the things y'all are showing me. I have ventured to create a second partition on a drive when I needed it, but, well . . . that's not saying a whole lot.

I found a youtube video on how to use diskpart, which seems really good. I now have to go back and watch it again, then, again . . .

Wynona · Sep 23, 2023

Berton said:
I recycle drives, HDD and SSD, taken from otherwise dead computers, external USB cases and NAS drive units, have a Linux Mint computer with a USB 2-bay drive dock attached. I install GPARTED [GNU Partition Editor] on it and can wipe all partitions on the drives. It can create partitions and format then in several different formats such as used by DOS, Mac OS X, and Windows. I've formatted a 500GB as FAT32. GPARTED can also be obtained as an .iso file used to create a bootable LiveCD, runs on a 'lite' version of Linux. It's also good for cleaning Thumb/Flash drives and put back to their FAT32, works up to at least 256GB.

Hi, @Berton.

I don't have anything Linux. Can I dual boot it with Windows?

I have so many flash, external, and SSD, drives it's not even funny. It looks like it's time for me to recycle them all so they'll be safe to use.

Berton · Sep 23, 2023

Wynona said:
I don't have anything Linux. Can I dual boot it with Windows?

Yes, the GPARTED LiveCD, less than 700MB, is bootable on a Windows computer, is fully functional for the purpose and bypasses Windows entirely. Most Linux LiveDVD discs are over 2GB, fully functional programs and also contains the GPARTED program.

Wynona · Sep 23, 2023

Berton said:
Yes, the GPARTED LiveCD, less than 700MB, is bootable on a Windows computer, is fully functional for the purpose and bypasses Windows entirely. Most Linux LiveDVD discs are over 2GB.

Thanks.

SIW2 · Sep 23, 2023

Wynona said:
Got a question:

I want to add a second drive to the "new" teaching machine (it only has one). I have a 500 GB Samsung 860 EVO that was in another machine at one time.

I will use my Sabrent docking station to format it. Will formatting the drive be enough to get rid of any nasties that may be on it?

Best to use the secure erase/sanitize function which samsung magician probably has.

Or the solidigm software works for all makes of ssd.

Introducing the Latest Solidigm Synergy™ Software

www.solidigm.com

micron explains what it does

The entire user space and over-provision space are completely and irretrievably erased. Every block in the user space is ready to accept new host-written data, moving the drive to its highest performance state, FOB (fresh-out-of-box).

However, some data must be left in place for normal drive operation. This includes the following required data: SSD firmware copies that reside in the NAND, all SMART data, and retired NAND block mapping tables.