Windows 11 Pro Installation: Unable to run .exe, .cmd, or .ps1 files


G

Ghost1959

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Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
I've loaded multiple different versions of Windows 11 Pro on modern hardware (Z590 mainboard, DDR4 RAM, etc.). Each install was clean (I wiped the boot SSD each time). I was able to successfully load the OS each time, but I am unable to execute any .exe, .cmd, or .ps1 files, programs, or scripts. I get an error stating that there is no associated program available.

I've used only clean ISOs downloaded from UUPDump, and even one from MS MDT. All have June 2026 updates. I use a small autounattend.xml to create a local user account, with nothing else added or removed. It is very generic. I have not tried older ISOs yet, but I may when I have time.

Does anyone have any clues? I'm at the frustrated, pulling-my-hair-out stage.

TIA
Click to expand...
 
Windows Build/Version
2800.2340

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
OS
Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
Some exes must run or the system wouldn't even start up. Can you run notepad or mspaint or anything else from the Start menu? Can your run cmd.exe or powershell.exe? Please post a screenshot of the error. There are sometimes clues in the screenshot that a simple description misses.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10/11
OS
Windows 10/11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Acer
I can run the base programs (notepad, etc.). Command prompt and Powershell won't launch at all but Terminal will. I'll provide a screenshot of the error once I get home from the 9 to 5....
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
OS
Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
Under System Settings / Activation, are you in "Windows S" mode?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
Good suggestion. I'll check when I get home from work.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
OS
Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
Windows S mode is enforced by writing some UEFI variables, so it survives across multiple re-installs. Which is sneaky, but I believe it was originally intended for kiosk mode or "locked down" environments. The problem is some PC's get sold with S mode from the factory.

The normal solution is to download a free Windows Store "app" (it's not a real app) which clears S mode. Another fix mentioned online is to disable Secure Boot, and reboot twice in a row. Twice because Windows sees it's rebooted without Secure Boot and clears some UEFI settings, and the second to make those changes take effect.

Either solution should make S mode disappear for future re-installs.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
Interesting. The hardware involved is DIY (ASUS mainboard, etc.) so it never had an "S" version OS on it but it did have an older Windows OS with the older kernel and I'll need to see if I truely wiped the UEFI and old boot code from the drive. I also enabled secure boot as I was setting this up for eventual sale and wanted it as generic as possile on the way out the door. I'll report back in hopes of saving someone else the time...
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
OS
Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
In your unattended file, are you "wiping" by using a disk layout? Or running diskpart "clean, convert gpt" before installing?

I'm wondering if there are leftover policy files in the EFI volume. If Setup thinks it has to recreate every filesystem, then it will quick format the EFI volume and only copy the default files over. A number of Windows policy files can be hidden in the EFI (for boot-time enforcement).
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
I never use autounattend.xml to format the OS drive. I always manually setup the boot drive. I'll use Acronis Disk Director to re-initilize the SSD and go from there.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
OS
Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
I am not sure about modern Setup, I didn't find the screen where you choose your disk, but if you switch to classic Setup and see that screen make sure you delete all partitions until the whole SSD is unallocated. No need to create any partitions manually, just click to start installing and Setup will automatically create them.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8737)Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz4GBMobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8737)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro v25H2 (build 26200.8737)Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generat...2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB...
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v25H2 (build 26200.8737)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB (GV-N3050WF2OCV2-6GD)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Deepcool Gamma Archer CPU cooler, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
spapakons said:
I am not sure about modern Setup, I didn't find the screen where you choose your disk, but if you switch to classic Setup and see that screen make sure you delete all partitions until the whole SSD is unallocated. No need to create any partitions manually, just click to start installing and Setup will automatically create them.
Click to expand...
I start from a re-initiazed (completely blank) drive. Based on the suggestions so far I'll go back and start over and see if I need to do more troubleshooting.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
OS
Windows 10 19043.1149 x64
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