Troubleshoot Clean Windows 11 Installation Media That Triggers Reboots
Troubleshoot Clean Windows 11 Installation Media That Triggers Reboots
Here are your updated PC specifications:
- Mobo - MSI mpg z790 Edge Wifi DDR5 CPU
- Intel i7 13700k with cooler
- NZXT Kraken 360 Elite RAM
- G.Skill Trident Z5 32GB, 6000MHz
- Storage: Samsung 980 Pro M.2 1TB
- GPU: ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 OC
- PSU: Corsair rm850X 850W, 80+ Gold
- Issue: After setup, the system booted directly into BIOS with the green light on the motherboard. All components were detected—SSD, RAM (without XMP), and CPU. CPU temperatures rose but stayed at a steady 32°C, confirming the cooler is working.
- Updated motherboard BIOS via MSI website using m-flash; system returned to BIOS after reboot.
- Configured UEFI, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot for Windows 11 installation.
- Windows install media created from a 16GB USB and formatted to FAT32; booted successfully, turning off the green light.
- During installation, random shutdowns occurred at various points—pressing 'Next' or waiting caused restarts.
- Ran MemTest86 to verify RAM functionality (no working RAM available for testing).
- M.2 and GPU PCIe lanes appear to function without issues.
- No PCIE lane conflicts detected after passing MemTest86.
Please let me know if you need further clarification or troubleshooting steps!
Confirming the issue occurred solely during the Windows 11 installation. You plan to test with another USB drive to minimize factors. Your observation about passing memtest86 without shutdowns is noted.
During the Windows setup process, I managed to stay in BIOS as long as needed without problems and ran memtest86 smoothly. I've tested several USB drives—using the one that came with the product key first, then creating my own from a personal USB. Thanks for your help!
Do you have another device to test for installing Windows? Have you checked different USB ports on the stick? It seems like the motherboard might be faulty, but let's narrow down the possibilities first.
Ensure your system drive is set as the primary boot device. Otherwise, it might restart to USB if you don’t uninstall it after installation. After finishing the setup, install all necessary drivers and Samsung Magician to maintain control over your NVMe storage.
I would begin by getting another storage device from a different location. It doesn’t need to be high-speed or large—just an average 80GB SATA HDD would suffice. The goal is to verify whether the same performance occurs with another drive.
Next, remove all components except the RAM stick in the second slot, keeping the CPU, cooler, power supply, and one drive connected via the motherboard display. Unplug everything except the keyboard. Initiate the test by connecting a paperclip or screwdriver to the power pins. If the behavior remains consistent after these steps, it’s probably a motherboard issue.
Unless the drive runs smoothly in Memtest and BIOS checks, it’s unlikely the problem lies with the PSU. Consider taking it to a repair shop for a thorough component test. This situation seems to involve hardware uncertainty.