Question Reinstalling Windows 10 on a new SSD – - - crashing/reboot loop during Setup ?

[Michelino77]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to reinstall Windows 10 on a new SSD after running into issues with my previous drive. However, I'm now facing a different problem: during the setup process (language selection, keyboard layout, etc.), the system keeps freezing or crashing and then reboots in a loop.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

• Tested with two brand new SSDs: one M.2 NVMe and one SATA, thinking the NVMe slot might be faulty.
• Tried using a different USB flash drive to create the installer.
• Ran MemTest86 with 4 full passes — no errors reported.
• Booted into Ubuntu from a USB stick and used it for 2–3 hours with no issues at all.

So the hardware seems to be functioning fine outside of the Windows installer.

Any idea what could be causing this? Is there a way to debug or get more info during setup?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SkyNetRising]

Any idea what could be causing this? Is there a way to debug or get more info during setup?

Try with single ram module.
Disable any/all overclocking. Disable XMP/DOCP.
Check cpu temperature in BIOS. Make sure cpu cooler is properly installed.

Recreate windows installer USB media to latest version.

Also list specs of your system.

 

[geofelt]

Is the target C drive the ONLY drive attached?

Did you use the installer to clean and format the new C drive?

 

[Michelino77]

Is the target C drive the ONLY drive attached?

Did you use the installer to clean and format the new C drive?

There's another HDD attached that I always used as storage.
The new drives I used for try reinstall are totally new, and every time I format it removing eventually partitions.

 

[geofelt]

When you have ANY other drive present while you install windows, it will be used to place a boot manager on it, making it all but impossible to ever remove the drive.
Remove the second drive and all will be put on the target C drive. You can reattach the second drive later.

 

[Michelino77]

Try with single ram module.
Disable any/all overclocking. Disable XMP/DOCP.
Check cpu temperature in BIOS. Make sure cpu cooler is properly installed.

Recreate windows installer USB media to latest version.

Also list specs of your system.

Is the target C drive the ONLY drive attached?

Did you use the installer to clean and format the new C drive?

When you have ANY other drive present while you install windows, it will be used to place a boot manager on it, making it all but impossible to ever remove the drive.
Remove the second drive and all will be put on the target C drive. You can reattach the second drive later.

I made another try:
- Using a single RAM module (normally I have 2x16 DDR4)
- I removed LAN Cable (you know sometimes while you customize installation it start find drivers etc)
- Removed all other HDDs leaving only the drive for the installation plugged in

But looks like still same problem.

Should I try with the other RAM module?

Or idk, if there are some logs generated I could check.

 

[geofelt]

I doubt ram is your issue.
since memtest was 100% ok.

Is there a bios update for your motherboard that might have a fix?

 

[Michelino77]

I doubt ram is your issue.
since memtest was 100% ok.

Is there a bios update for your motherboard that might have a fix?

I already updated BIOS to last version.
But I may have a good news, probably I was faster, or the fact I removed the LAN cable made me skip few steps.
Btw now I'm not stuck at installation cuz it was terminated.
If I turn on PC I can even login and see Desktop etc, so I can use Windows for like 5 minutes before the freeze.
Maybe I can try to check some logs at this point?

Update: If I boot in Safe Mode system not crashing.

 

[Michelino77]

Another test: if I boot from a USB drive with Hiren's BootCD PE, which includes a Windows 11 environment, the issue also appears there.
I also tried launching a few games in Safe Mode—only a few actually start, obviously—and I noticed that all CPU cores hit 100% usage. Maybe that’s because the GPU isn’t detected or used in Safe Mode, so I’d say the CPU is probably fine.
The problem only occurs with Windows, around 90–120 seconds after boot.

I’m not sure if there’s a way to disable the GPU outside of Safe Mode to check if that’s the issue, or if there’s a way to make Ubuntu use the GPU to see if the problem happens there too.

Common theories online point to either the motherboard or PSU, but that raises the question: how could one of those components be faulty while still allowing everything else—like Ubuntu, tools like MemTest86, and so on—to work perfectly fine, except for Windows?
If it were a hardware failure, shouldn’t it show up regardless of the OS?

 

[anonsky]

where did you get the windows iso?

 

[Michelino77]

where did you get the windows iso?

MediaCreationTool I always used

 

[Michelino77]

Update: I obtained a new GPU, I putted this one, and still same problem, so if I'm not wrong I can say components ok are:
- SSD
- RAM
- CPU
- GPU

And idk abuot PSU and MOBO

I should obtain spare components for try them, but still strange everything works fine except Windows.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Update: I obtained a new GPU, I putted this one, and still same problem, so if I'm not wrong I can say components ok are:
- SSD
- RAM
- CPU
- GPU

Did you check cpu temperature as it was suggested above?

Please list specs of your system. Asking 2nd time already.

 

[Michelino77]

Did you check cpu temperature as it was suggested above?

Please list specs of your system. Asking 2nd time already.

• Motherboard: MSI B450 Gaming Plus Max
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super
• RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) Corsair Vengeance DDR4
• Power Supply: Corsair TX550M (550W, semi-modular)

CPU temperature is ok.
I can even play some games in Safe Mode, all core go to 80-90% and no crash

 

[stonecarver]

I'm trying to reinstall Windows 10 on a new SSD after running into issues with my previous drive. However, I'm now facing a different problem: during the setup process (language selection, keyboard layout, etc.), the system keeps freezing or crashing and then reboots in a loop.

But I may have a good news, probably I was faster, or the fact I removed the LAN cable made me skip few steps.
Btw now I'm not stuck at installation cuz it was terminated.

I'm trying to reinstall Windows 10 on a new SSD after running into issues with my previous drive

everything else—like Ubuntu, tools like MemTest86, and so on—to work perfectly fine, except for Windows?

Can I ask the most basic question to check off your list is the time and date set correctly in BIOS / Windows.

That can and will be a chain yanker effecting Window in weird mysterious ways. Just a thought.

 

[Michelino77]

Can I ask the most basic question to check off your list is the time and date set correctly in BIOS / Windows.

That can and will be a chain yanker effecting Window in weird mysterious ways. Just a thought.

Hm, it's 1 hour behind the correct one.
But I unplugged and plugged PC many times for many tries, idk if is something wrong or what.
When I removed the RAM module if I remember good, the BIOS was resetted (not sure)

 

[Michelino77]

Anyway, I bought a new MOBO, installed it, and still same problem.
So components I swapped are:
- SSD (M.2 + SATA)
- GPU
- MOBO

About:
RAM: I tested with MemTest86 4 pass, all ok 0 errors, and anyway I tried to boot with 1 module per time with both module and still same problem, I'd say RAM are ok
CPU: I don't think there's a way to test it, but I used it with all cores all 100% for long time and no crash in Safe mode, Ubuntu, or even in Win10 normal mode but Windows 10 LTSB 2016 ISO MSDN version.

So, the problem not occur in:
- Ubuntu
- Latest Win10 Safe Mode
- Windows 10 LTSB 2016 ISO MSDN

The problem occur with:
- Latest Win10 normal mode
- Win11
- Win11 PE Hiren's CD

I tried to make a clean boot disabling all not Microsoft services, and startup items, still same problem.
And the problem anyway occurs always after exactly 90 seconds from boot.
Like if there's something triggering the freeze.

Idk at this point it I should try also with a new PSU, but how can it be an hardware problem and give problems only in certain situations?

 

[stonecarver]

So the hardware seems to be functioning fine outside of the Windows installer.

Idk at this point it I should try also with a new PSU, but how can it be an hardware problem and give problems only in certain situations?

I cant' say this is 100% your issue but I will express real hands on working on other people computers that have had an issue installing Windows and it kicks out the install process.

Yes indeed a power supply can and will trigger Windows during install and it will refuse to let that install complete.

I have had to get creative to one fix the install and two the client ONLY wants to pay for a working install of Windows.

What to do ?

You could borrow a power supply and see if Windows moves forward with that.

Interesting putting the clients original power supply back in there computer AFTER Windows was installed and all worked.

You could try msconfig and while your in safe mode choose selective start up and than boot without safe mode and see if you get anywhere.

So, the problem not occur in:
- Ubuntu
- Latest Win10 Safe Mode
- Windows 10 LTSB 2016 ISO MSDN

The problem occur with:
- Latest Win10 normal mode
- Win11
- Win11 PE Hiren's CD

It's kind of confusing

And the problem anyway occurs always after exactly 90 seconds from boot.

So is it installing Window the issue or now that moved forward and your now fighting the newer version of Windows.

I think I'm following but if I'm off kindly get me up to speed.

The 90 seconds from boot issue sound like a delayed driver kicking in at that point and that's why using msconfig and choosing " Selective Boot " and see if it plays nice.

 

[Michelino77]

The 90 seconds from boot issue sound like a delayed driver kicking in at that point and that's why using msconfig and choosing " Selective Boot " and see if it plays nice.

Its already Selective Boot by default:

do I have to uncheck all checkboxes?

 

[stonecarver]

Well darn!

Okay so did you put it in Selective Startup ?

This is a new Windows install ?

Try it in Original Boot Configuration.


But just so I'm clear if you install your old version of 2016 Windows 10 the computer plays nice.

 

[Michelino77]

Well darn!

Okay so did you put it in Selective Startup ?

This is a new Windows install ?

Try it in Original Boot Configuration.


But just so I'm clear if you install your old version of 2016 Windows 10 the computer plays nice.

Well, I tried selective startup and unchecking all (some checkbox was checked automatically, probably is services necessary)

Windows now working in normal mode, finally, but tons of services are disabled.

So y, a service is causing the freeze, now I had to enable like 10-15 services in order to gain back internet connection, and now I can navigate.

I still have to try und what causing freeze.