Encounter issues while enhancing my tailored configuration to Windows 11.
Encounter issues while enhancing my tailored configuration to Windows 11.
My PC has been struggling lately, especially with games like Cyberpunk and Valorant, or when streaming in our Discord community. Even after upgrading to a 4070, it keeps crashing. I decided to start fresh with a completely clean Windows install. My current version is likely over five years old, with several component updates, and I suspect some unnecessary buildup has accumulated. I’m hoping for a smooth, new setup. There’s a lot of leftover files and settings that might be causing issues. I wanted to reset everything and consider moving to Windows 11, but the system health report says my hardware doesn’t meet the requirements.
My machine includes an AMD Ryzen 2600X, Asus ROG Strix B450-F with 32GB G.Skill, a 4070 Tuf 2 HDD (1TB and 2TB), two SSDs—a 120GB SATA drive and a 1TB M.2 SSD (currently running Windows), plus a 500GB Linux dual-boot module that I plan to replace with a larger drive for my games library during the reinstall. I recently updated the BIOS to version 5302 (released Oct 20, 2023) and enabled TPM, but I’m still facing problems with secure boot.
If I turn on UEFI/Legacy support in the BIOS and switch to UEFI first, as Microsoft recommends, and activate Windows Secure Boot, the health check says it’s incompatible. Disabling the Compatibility settings makes all boot options vanish, so I can’t even try Windows to test compatibility.
Could there be a setting that hides my M.2 drives when I disable this option? Or did I install/format them in a way that forces the CSM? The Asus site claims my motherboard is ready for Windows 11, but I’m not sure if that applies to my specific configuration.
The GPU upgrade came from a mix of wanting to refresh after several years and noticing problems in OBS about multiple streams. Crashes began after the upgrade and haven’t occurred recently, so I thought it was driver-related. It seems a clean install might fix everything. The key question is whether a BIOS tweak could help without complicating things further.
Activate secure boot via BIOS, then mount the USB drive and prepare the SSD for installation.
I don't have access to your PSU details. Could you provide the model number or any other information about your power supply?
choose between this option or upgrade to a new SSD for W11. afterward, keep your files on the previous drive as a backup. ensure only the new drive is connected during installation of W11.
Here’s a revised version of your text:
1 – Ensure all SATA and USB devices are disconnected; only the M.2 drive should be active.
2 – Navigate to the BIOS settings, locate the boot section, and verify CSM is turned off.
3 – Select the Secure Boot option below and choose another operating system, not Windows UEFI.
4 – Open Key Management, remove any existing Secure Boot credentials.
5 – Use a USB drive preloaded with a UEFI bootable Windows 10 ISO.
6 – Press F10 to save changes, exit, and restart the computer.
7 – The installation will begin automatically since the NVME device now has its own driver.
8 – During reboot, press F2 to access BIOS and adjust boot priority so Windows boots first.
9 – Revisit Secure Boot settings and set it to UEFI mode.
10 – In Key Management, add the default secure boot keys.
11 – Press F10 again to finalize installation.
Once Windows is running, power down and reconnect your other storage devices.
Edited on January 13, 2024 by leclod
current setup appears to be based on MBR, which is limited to 2TB. it’s not accepting updates beyond that size. for drives under 500GB, OS installation isn’t advised. if you have a 4TB NVMe drive, install Windows directly without using GPT—this creates a single large partition. the MBR restriction applies here. secure boot isn’t typically needed during Windows 11 installation, but you’ll need to complete verification steps afterward to activate it. depending on your hardware, you might get a green confirmation and then have to restart or enter BIOS via advanced settings. if there’s data present, consider removing old drives, as they can slow performance. i haven’t used a spinning drive in my system for seven years.
In Step 3, selecting the "other OS" Secure Boot choice was made to ensure compatibility with alternative operating systems that may be required for specific applications or services. This decision was based on the need to maintain flexibility and support diverse environments post-installation. After confirming this setting, further adjustments will be reviewed to align with any new requirements.