[SOLVED] “This PC can’t run Windows 11” - Help

[JohnBucher]

Hello everyone,
My PC recently stopped working and cannot turn on without erroring and blue screening. As such, I am trying to reinstall windows on a separate (brand new) drive, so that I can preserve the old drive and copy files off after.

I recently purchased Windows 11 as I couldn’t find my product key for 10 and my installation disk for 7 wasn’t recognizing my mouse (likely too old). I connected the new SSD (shows up in the boot menu), I put the Windows 11 CD into my CD Reader, and I set the #1 boot priority to the CD Reader.

After startup, I am greeted by the Windows Installation Screen. I enter the language, select Install Now, and enter my product key. Then I get an error: “This PC can’t run Windows 11”. Strange. I eventually tried creating a Windows 11 USB bootdrive using the Create Windows 11 Installation Media on a USB. Plugged that in, same prompts, selections, and same error: “This PC can’t run Windows 11”.

My relevant computer specs are as follows (let me know if you need anything else):
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600x 6-Core Processor
- TUF Gaming X570-PRO (WI-FI) BIOS Ver. 3001
- 32 GB RAM (G-Skill 8192MB 2133MHz)
- (New) 1TB Crucial SSD (intended destination)

- TPM Device Selection is set to: “Firmware TPM” (which should enable AMD CPU fTPM)
- Secure Boot, OS Type is set to: “Windows UEFI mode”
- CSM (Compatibility Support Module) has:
- Launch CSM: “Enabled”
- Boot Device Control: “UEFI and Legacy OPROM”
- Boot from Network/Storage Devices: “UEFI only”

I believe all of these to be fine. My only suspicion is that Windows never asked me where to install, it’s possible that it is looking at the CD Drive or USB and determining that THOSE are incompatible, not knowing that I intend to install it elsewhere. Thoughts?

Any ideas what might be going wrong? Are there any BIOS settings that need altered? Any steps that I am missing? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[thestryker]

For boot device control I'd try setting that to just UEFI, but otherwise everything seems like you've got it set how it should be.

If you could get into safe mode for your failing install you could try running WhyNotWin11.

 

[35below0]

First thing you could try is installing Win 10 !

Now that you have a Win 11 key, you can simply use that for Win 10 instead. The product keys are interchangeable.

As for Win 11 installation, you should switch CSM off, however i found it much simpler to install Win 10 as it is less fussy, then upgrade to 11. After the upgrade, you will have the option to delete your Win 10 installation or to keep it in case you wish to roll back to 10.

Some say Win 11 installation is much cleaner if you install Win 11 directly, but i say upgrading avoids compatibility and BIOS/UEFI issues so it's worth it for that reason.

 

[NedSmelly]

Can you boot back up in your original OS installation? (And yes one should always do a full backup before a major OS upgrade)

If you can, and it’s Windows 10, then run Windows 11 Installation Assistant which should tell you what steps require correction before the upgrade. (And it’s a free upgrade if done this way…)

 

[JohnBucher]

For boot device control I'd try setting that to just UEFI, but otherwise everything seems like you've got it set how it should be.

If you could get into safe mode for your failing install you could try running WhyNotWin11.

This did the trick!! Thank you so much!

Funny that all the issues came down to a single BIOS setting… But at least it’s fixed now. Thanks again!

 

[Ralston18]

@JohnBucher

Just for the record: what was that single BIOS setting?

What was changed: original setting, new setting?

 

[JohnBucher]

@JohnBucher

Just for the record: what was that single BIOS setting?

What was changed: original setting, new setting?

The setting was: “boot device control”

Original setting: “UEFI and Legacy OPROM”
Changed to: “UEFI only”

 

[Ralston18]

Thank you.