Windows 11 Pro Clean Install Failure

Wynona · Sep 29, 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 because it just created it itself.

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

I think I got the process a little backward . . .

I deleted all partitions on Drive 0. When I chose the unallocated space, that's when MS told me it would add partitions. What I posted was what Microsoft did. I have always formatted the partition I'm installing my OS on.

Wynona · Sep 30, 2023

OK, stick a fork in me . . . I'm done.

There comes a time when you have to admit defeat and just let it go. After countless hours, that time has come for me. I have too many other things that need attention to waste any more of my time on this machine.

Before I made my final decision:

I went to Office Depot and bought some new PNY flash drives . . . to have a clean USB stick, which was the final check. Created the bootable flash drive from media creation tool, and proceeded to install, letting the installation proceed as it should. Everything proceeded as normal until I reached the first restart . . . again, a half circle of dots and the computer was frozen. Even with letting the media creation tool have its way.

The data drive is out and will be put into the replacement teaching machine next week. I'm still debating on whether to put the video card into one of my other machines. I really don't feel the need . . . Ram? Don't remember how much is in there, and whether it would fit in one of my other machines or not. Since they're all HPs, maybe?

Anyway, a sincere thanks to all who have offered advice and possible solutions. I appreciate all of you.

Now . . . do I mark this thread solved? Because the only solution was to quit wasting my time. Or, leave it as unsolved?

Winuser · Sep 30, 2023

Not reading all of the post I have to ask, have you tried installing Windows 10 and then upgrading to Windows 11?

Wynona · Oct 1, 2023

Winuser said:
Not reading all of the post I have to ask, have you tried installing Windows 10 and then upgrading to Windows 11?

I'm done, @Winuser. The Data drive will be installed into my replacement teaching machine this week. I've spent too much time on this; it's time to get to more important things.

Winuser · Oct 1, 2023

Wynona said:
I'm done, @Winuser. The Data drive will be installed into my replacement teaching machine this week. I've spent too much time on this; it's time to get to more important things.

I think you made the right move. When things don't want to work right it can get to someone. I just had to replace one of my atomic time clocks because it wanted to mess with my head when I tried setting it after replacing the batteries. When I was done with it it was in pieces. I was thinking about replacing it because it was old and the outside temp no longer worked so it wasn't a big deal. If you don't send it to the recycling center you can always try again later.

Wynona · Oct 1, 2023

Winuser said:
I think you made the right move. When things don't want to work right it can get to someone. I just had to replace one of my atomic time clocks because it wanted to mess with my head when I tried setting it after replacing the batteries. When I was done with it it was in pieces. I was thinking about replacing it because it was old and the outside temp no longer worked so it wasn't a big deal. If you don't send it to the recycling center you can always try again later.

She going to Goodwill. They take computer stuff, working or not. I also have a really old one that belonged to one of my students to take. I'll give her the receipt.

Maverik · Oct 2, 2023

Wynona said:
She going to Goodwill. They take computer stuff, working or not. I also have a really old one that belonged to one of my students to take. I'll give her the receipt.

OK, it looks like I am a bit late to this thread. But it is still an interesting thread. I've read most of it, but perhaps I've missed where you explained that your PC is Windows 11 ready. I don't recall seeing what generation your processor is, or how many cores it has, or whether the firmware on your PC supports UEFI, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, etc. Maybe I missed all that.

I suspect your PC doesn't fulfill all the hardware requirements for Windows 11. I also suspect that UEFI support has not been enabled in your firmware (or BIOS). Do this first.

You can modify the Windows 11 ISO before you even put it on the Rufus USB. Modify it so that it will install on any PC and so it bypasses all the hardware requirements during setup. Fortunately this is not too hard. You can get an ISO fix kit. Just unzip it. Put the original Windows 11 ISO in the proper folder, run the fix kit script, and then you get a fixed ISO. All of this assumes you have a good ISO, with an install.wim (not an install.esd).

Anyway, here is the link to the fix kit:

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/672915990022979617/1070829297964695552/Win_11_Boot_And_Upgrade_FiX_KiT_v4.0.zip

After you've created a "fixed" ISO, just put it on a Rufus USB like you would any other ISO and install Windows 11.

Ramesh Sharma · Oct 6, 2023

Maverik said:
OK, it looks like I am a bit late to this thread. But it is still an interesting thread. I've read most of it, but perhaps I've missed where you explained that your PC is Windows 11 ready. I don't recall seeing what generation your processor is, or how many cores it has, or whether the firmware on your PC supports UEFI, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, etc. Maybe I missed all that.

I suspect your PC doesn't fulfill all the hardware requirements for Windows 11. I also suspect that UEFI support has not been enabled in your firmware (or BIOS). Do this first.

You can modify the Windows 11 ISO before you even put it on the Rufus USB. Modify it so that it will install on any PC and so it bypasses all the hardware requirements during setup. Fortunately this is not too hard. You can get an ISO fix kit. Just unzip it. Put the original Windows 11 ISO in the proper folder, run the fix kit script, and then you get a fixed ISO. All of this assumes you have a good ISO, with an install.wim (not an install.esd).

Anyway, here is the link to the fix kit:

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/672915990022979617/1070829297964695552/Win_11_Boot_And_Upgrade_FiX_KiT_v4.0.zip

After you've created a "fixed" ISO, just put it on a Rufus USB like you would any other ISO and install Windows 11.

May I know the password for Win_11_Boot_And_Upgrade_FIX_KIT_v4.0.zip ?
Extraction by 7z or peazip asks for password for this encrypted password protected folder. Even README.txt file is password protected.

Ramesh Sharma · Oct 6, 2023

Ramesh Sharma said:
May I know the password for Win_11_Boot_And_Upgrade_FIX_KIT_v4.0.zip ?
Extraction by 7z or peazip asks for password for this encrypted password protected folder. Even README.txt file is password protected.

After searching on Google, I found the archive password for v 2.2
MDL2021
And for v 4.0 the archive password is MDL2023

Maverik · Oct 6, 2023

Ramesh Sharma said:
After searching on Google, I found the archive password for v 2.2
MDL2021
And for v 4.0 the archive password is MDL2023

I just got your request for a password this morning. I'm glad you were able to find the password via a Google search.

Ramesh Sharma · Oct 6, 2023

Maverik said:
I just got your request for a password this morning. I'm glad you were able to find the password via a Google search.

Thanks @Maverik for useful tool you have posted here.

pseudonym · Oct 6, 2023

I just went through a clean install of Win11 Pro 22H2 on my Microsoft Surface Laptop 5. In my case, the USB stick booted up to the first install screen and just froze there. I tried so many things, making new USB sticks, nothing.

Turns out, my laptop was NOT frozen/locked up. Surface devices don't use vanilla device drivers, and Microsoft's Win11 installer does NOT include these drivers (for Microsoft's own devices! Go figure). Anyway, booting again with a wired keyboard and wired mouse plugged in, then adding Surface drivers from Microsoft after the install was complete, solved the non-responsive keyboard, mouse, and touchscreen. At one point during the install, I did have to unplug and replug the mouse and keyboard as the installer stopped recognizing them.

This probably has nothing to do with your Dell install woes, but thought I'd mention it in case it might lead you somewhere.