Windows 11 USB installer crashes at ~70%, NVMe won’t boot after install

Troubleshooting Windows 11 Installation on ASUS H610E-D4 M.2 Motherboard: Addressing Installer Crashes and NVMe Boot Failures

Introduction

Installing Windows 11 from a bootable USB can sometimes present unexpected challenges, particularly with specific hardware configurations. Users with ASUS H610E-D4 motherboards and NVMe SSDs may encounter issues such as the installer crashing midway or the system failing to boot from the NVMe drive after installation. In this article, we will explore common causes of these problems and provide effective troubleshooting strategies to ensure a smooth Windows 11 installation and boot process.

Understanding the Setup

Hardware and Software Configuration:
– Motherboard: ASUS H610E-D4 M.2
– Storage: NVMe SSD (NVMe recognized in BIOS)
– USB Installer: Created using Windows Media Creation Tool, formatted as FAT32, with an capacity exceeding 8GB
– BIOS Mode: UEFI enabled, Secure Boot and Fast Boot disabled
– Boot Method: Using Boot Override to initiate the Windows installation

Issue Description

During the Windows 11 installation process:
– The installer begins to load and reaches approximately 70% completion.
– The screen suddenly goes black, and the system reboots to the Power-On Self Test (POST) screen.
– Upon reboot, a prompt appears to press F1 to access BIOS settings.
– If the process is attempted again, the installer proceeds to create partitions on the NVMe SSD; however, Windows fails to load fully, displaying a black screen after the initial boot.

Troubleshooting Steps Attempted

• Testing different USB ports (USB 2.0 and USB 3.0)
• Disabling Secure Boot and Fast Boot in BIOS
• Recreating the bootable USB installation media
• Verifying BIOS settings for UEFI mode and GPT partitioning

Potential Causes and Solutions

1. Corrupted or Incomplete Installation Media
2. Issue: A faulty or improperly created USB installer can cause instability during installation.

3. Solution: Use the latest Windows Media Creation Tool to recreate the bootable USB. Consider reformatting the drive and ensuring the ISO is downloaded from official sources.

4. BIOS/UEFI Configuration Conflicts

5. Issue: Misconfigured BIOS settings, such as legacy mode vs. UEFI or Secure Boot conflicts, can prevent successful installation or boot.
6. Solution:
7. Confirm that UEFI mode is enabled.
8. Disable Secure Boot temporarily during installation.
9. Ensure that C