Windows 10 doesn't start a fresh installation when only updates are applied.
Windows 10 doesn't start a fresh installation when only updates are applied.
Spec's Mobo features an Asus sabertooth Z77, equipped with an i7 3770K processor. It comes with a 500W power supply, a GTX 1050 graphics card, 20GB of Samsung DDR3 RAM, and a Hyper-212 EVO CPU cooler. The storage includes an ADATA SU635 SSD (though it's quite affordable and often unreliable). There are also two 2TB Barracuda HDDs installed. This setup is going to be quite detailed, so I apologize ahead of time for covering everything I attempted and tested. My problems began after fixing a wire mess that someone had left before me. When purchasing from the FB marketplace, no effort was made to manage cables properly. At the time, the system ran Windows 11 smoothly with no issues.
I cleaned up everything, ensuring cables were neat and secure, plugging in correctly. After a reboot, Windows 11 started but encountered problems. It attempted to fix itself, but failed. I ran all available recovery tools in Windows 11, yet it refused to load. Eventually, the PC refused to open Windows 11.
I suspected the SSD might be faulty, possibly due to insufficient power-down time, which could have corrupted data even when the machine was off. I reinstalled Windows 11, but it reported incompatibility. So, I opted for Windows 10 instead to avoid further complications.
During installation, I only added the Wi-Fi adapter driver and let the PC update itself. After restarting, it booted into Windows 10, which displayed a loading screen that froze after a minute. I tried booting into the Windows loading interface, but it remained stuck in a black screen or a spinning icon.
I suspected the GPU might be the issue, so when the screen went black, I pressed Ctrl+Windows+Shift to check for sounds. Since there was no noise, it indicated Windows wasn't loading properly. I thought the problem could be with the SSD, so I reinstalled Windows 10 and let it handle updates.
When I installed Windows 10, I only added the Wi-Fi adapter driver and allowed updates. After a restart, the PC booted into Windows 10, which then entered the EFI setup. It displayed a loading screen that would not progress beyond the circle icon and froze after about a minute.
I considered the possibility that the GPU was malfunctioning, so I tried booting into another HDD. I attempted to reinstall Windows 10 using a different 2TB drive, but the issue persisted. I reset the BIOS, updated it, and rechecked all connections, ensuring everything was snug but not overly tight.
I continued reinstalling Windows 10, only adding the necessary RAM and drivers. Eventually, I let the PC handle updates and found that installing Linux resolved the problem. It worked perfectly, and I gained access to the internet without any issues.
Confirming, any system older than the 8th Gen won't receive official support and may not work with automatic installation. See: Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements | Microsoft recommends Intel processors for Windows 11. You can try installing Windows on unsupported hardware, but this usually leads to an "unsupported state" where updates and support aren't guaranteed. These devices might still receive updates, but Microsoft isn't obligated to do so. Outside of that, I need to clarify: Are you suggesting you can install Windows and then manually install the WiFi driver and reboot, only to find the system freezes or stops booting? That seems to match what the quotes suggest. I just want to double-check before proceeding.
I only set up Windows, then add my Wi-Fi adapter driver. It connects to the internet, lets the system update automatically, and restarts. But when I try to boot back in, it keeps saying problems.
Have you allowed it to rest so it doesn’t take an unusually long time to start? My setup sometimes shows a black screen before fully booting, without any clear reason. Also, I don’t suggest letting Windows install the drivers automatically. You mentioned you made a Windows USB drive, which suggests another machine is involved. I suggest using that USB to build the bootable installer, then include a folder for drivers and download them yourself from the manufacturer’s site. Install everything except the WiFi first, then restart. If it works, make a backup and add the WiFi driver; if the problem recurs, the driver might be faulty and you may need an older version.
I left it on a black screen overnight and kept it in frozen loading mode the next day. I installed without any drivers and the reboot worked just fine. A friend let me connect to their Wi-Fi, tried an Ethernet link, downloaded updates, and rebooted—still facing the same problems. I reinstalled and used outdated drivers for my Wi-Fi card, but nothing helped. I confirmed Secure Boot was disabled in BIOS, assuming that might be the cause. My phone has a memory button and I pressed it after swapping several RAM sticks, confirming the issue isn’t with my RAM.
I've tested an older HP Envy tower with a 4-core i5 processor, two 4GB RAM sticks from my PC, and an old SSD. One of my HDDs has been in use, while my GTX 1050 runs Windows 10 with updated drivers and Wi-Fi setup. I've restarted multiple times trying to match the issue, but everything works fine now. I'm considering switching to the other two 8GB RAM sticks I was using before.
While reviewing this, my assumption is that the Windows update has added some drivers and the system is rejecting them. Have you tried connecting to the onboard GPU and removing the GTX 1050 during troubleshooting? Verify in your BIOS that the SATA Mode setting is AHCI, not RAID. Disconnect any unnecessary devices.
1) Front panel audio – the connector can be adjusted in BIOS as HD or AC97 audio; you may disable it for testing.
2) USB connectors (USB 2 and USB 3) – inspect if pins are bent.
3) If you restart the system three times when the Windows boot circle appears, it should boot into recovery mode.
4) On the MOBO homepage, there is a key storage drive labeled "Asmedia SATA Controller Driver"; install this driver first.
I've already tried everything suggested previously, except for using the igpu. It seems like a possible Nvidia graphics driver problem for my PC. I don't experience this issue on the HP Envy; I attempted to install Nvidia GeForce Experience and drivers, rebooted, and everything worked fine. However, when I try it on my rig and reboot, Windows won't load it but it does on the igpu. I've reinstalled multiple times with different GPUs, thinking it might be my GPU, but both a GTX 950 and a 3050 behave the same. Even after updating to Windows 10, I still face the same booting problem, though I can boot with igpu.
You experimented with two BIOS settings—boot menu options. Setting both to UEFI (turning off legacy and enabling UEFI ROM) suggests you’ll need to reinstall Windows and won’t be able to enter BIOS during startup. To restore, reset the CMOS on your motherboard.