New gaming rig - Unable to install any OS

nadj

nadj

nadj

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At wits end here. I must've tried about 100 times since Wednesday. Your help would be much appreciated. New gaming rig:

  • AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU
  • Asus TUF B650 Plus Wifi motherboard - Latest BIOS version as of today - v3281 (later swapped motherboard)
  • RAM, 2 different brands available to test:
    • Crucial Pro DDR5 RAM 128GB Kit (2x64GB) 5600MHz
    • Kingston FURY Beast Black RGB 128GB (4x32GB)
  • NVMes, 2 different brands available to test:
    • Corsair MP700 PRO 2TB M.2 PCIe Gen5 x4 NVMe 2.0 SSD2TB
    • Samsung 1TB (old model)
  • CORSAIR RM1200e 1200W PSU
  • Gigabyte RTX 5090 (currently not plugged in)
No GPU, no other PCI card or USB device plugged in. System POSTS fine, everything detected correctly (CPU, RAM and disks).

The problem is that I am unable to install any OS. Be it Windows 10, 11 or Ubuntu. Windows installer starts of fine. I can see the disk and then configure partitions and select one for install, however when copying files it goes from 0 to 100% in 2 seconds (impossible). It then moves on immediately to the installation part but then bombs out within a few more seconds. The machine either reboots or an error concerning the installation media shows up. There is nothing wrong with the USB keys (both of them). I am able to install Windows on other devices using these just fine. The ISO is written to the USB drives using Ventory and Rufus (with MBR and also tried GPT).

Things tried:

  1. Used one RAM stick at a time, in all slots - Crucial
  2. Used one RAM stick at a time, in all slots - Kingston Fury
  3. Tried the Corsair NVMe in 2 M2 slots on the motherboard - Same issue.
  4. Tried the Samsung NVMe in all slots - Same issue
  5. Disabled CSM, Enabled CSM, Set CSM Mode to "Custom" as well as "Standard" - Same issue
  6. Disabled Secure Boot, Enabled Secure Boot - Same issue
  7. Disabled Fast Boot, Enabled Fast Boot - Same issue.
  8. Two different USB keys, MBR, GPT modes - Same issue
  9. Tried the USB key from 3 different USB ports
What on earth could it be?


In the photo, you can see Copying Windows files is ticked. That tick occurs within 1 to 2 seconds demonstrating some kind of inability to write.

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2025-09-24 15:58:

  • Tried the 3rd M2 slot
  • Tried a 3rd USB key with Macrium Reflect Rescue Media (in a bid to restore a back up to the NVMe instead of doing a new Windows install).
  • Tried lowering RAM speed to 3600MHz
  • Disabled AMI NVMe driver support in the BIOS
No difference whatsoever. Will now try a SATA SSD.

2025-09-24 16:58:

  • No SATA SSD cables at home, will try tomorrow.
  • Reverted to BIOS v3263, Cleared CMOS (via jumpers) - No joy
  • Kali Linux Live without any NVMe plugged in runs smooth (so not a core system stability issue)
2025-09-24 21:04:

  • Tried yet another USB key created using Microsoft Media Tool with an alternative (freshly downloaded) Windows 10 ISO
  • Tried a 3rd NVME (Samsung Pro Series 2TB)!
  • Managed to clone an existing Windows 11 install from another PC onto the Corsair NVMe and inserted this into the new build. Crash on boot (BSOD)
I think that's pretty much any man can try. Turns out, this is a bit of a budget motherboard. Even though it should be compatible, I suspect incompatibility given every other component is pretty heavy. AI reckons NVMe Gen4/Gen5 support is still flaky and to try another motherboard. Returning the current motherboard and going for an ASUS TUF GAMING X870-PLUS WIFI

2025-09-24 22:17:

New motherboard installed. Same freaking issue!!! Only common component remains the CPU, but struggling to understand at this time why that might be the reason for the behaviour I'm seeing. Everything is detected as error free within the BIOS.

2025-09-24 23:17:

Tried running installer from an SSD to USB caddy - Same issue
Unplugged Front Panel USB-A and USB-C connectors from motherboard. Unplugged Audio connector from motherboard - Same issue
Plugged PC into another monitor with a brand new HDMI cable - Same issue
Running MemTest86 via USB now...
 
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I would suggest re-seating the CPU. Looks like you've ruled out all the common/obvious things. Make sure all the CPU pads are clean, and check the pins in the socket carefully, then reassemble.
 
Reseated CPU into new motherboard about 2 hours ago. Inspected earlier. Not a single spec or loss of shine.

Mem test at 50% so far zero errors.
 
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OK, I just realised that I never bothered to plug in CPU_12v_2 (the second 8pin power port). MEM test passed successfully anyway. Considering I have a Gen5 and Gen4 SSD and power hungry CPU, this could be it. Tomorrow will try with the additional power.
 
Regular SSD not detected at all. Nothing on SATA channels showing up.
It's not the media, same media works on other PCs/Laptops. I can't even install Ubuntu on this machine.

So, I connected the second CPU 12v power lead. No change. Exact same problem. The CPU and PSU are the only thing not swapped yet. I'm going through hell here swapping parts spending a fortune. £4,500 spent with nothing to show for it yet. Yikes
 
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Have you tried installing Windows with the motherboard outside the case? I'm wondering if there's a short somewhere.
 
What happened when you tried
The macrium recovery usb?

If kali worked what about a windows Live usb/PE?
Pretty sure somewhere i have a windows PE
That allows installing windows from the PE

Or try ventoy from a fixed disk not usb
It runs fine off a m2 drive
And all the isos stored on the same m2

Though would need a second pc to set up
Some of those options

Theres also install windows over network
Though never tried that
No idea of requirements for it

As mickyflinn just said
While trying ideas order a cheaper cpu
If any of the ideas sort things
Can just return the cpu
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
What happened when you tried
The macrium recovery usb?

If kali worked what about a windows Live usb/PE?
Pretty sure somewhere i have a windows PE
That allows installing windows from the PE

Or try ventoy from a fixed disk not usb
It runs fine off a m2 drive
And all the isos stored on the same m2

Though would need a second pc to set up
Some of those options

Theres also install windows over network
Though never tried that
No idea of requirements for it

As mickyflinn just said
While trying ideas order a cheaper cpu
If any of the ideas sort things
Can just return the cpu
Click to expand...

Macrium - Windows logo (loading) screen appears for a few seconds then screen goes black and machine reboots
WinPE - I'll give it a go but I think it'll be the same as the above
Ventoy, I tried from yet another spare NVMe I had which I put into a USB caddy. Exact same behaviour as regular USB keys
Windows install over the network - Me too, not done since the days of Windows 2000!

I've just had a look at this thread where some people have posted similar Windows installation issues though background info is missing. I will play with a few BIOS settings before I get a new CPU.

Thanks
 
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I see posts online suggesting it could be a Memory issue. I see you mentioned BIOS was upgraded to latest and swapped the board and now using the X870.

I don't yet have an AM5/DDR5 yet myself, but online I can see suggestions to enable EXPO. I don't know if it will be enabled by default, but just wanted to suggest it as I couldn't see any mention of it above.
 
nadj said:
Macrium - Windows logo (loading) screen appears for a few seconds then screen goes black and machine reboots
WinPE - I'll give it a go but I think it'll be the same as the above
Ventoy, I tried from yet another spare NVMe I had which I put into a USB caddy. Exact same behaviour as regular USB keys
Windows install over the network - Me too, not done since the days of Windows 2000!

I've just had a look at this thread where some people have posted similar Windows installation issues though background info is missing. I will play with a few BIOS settings before I get a new CPU.

Thanks
Click to expand...
The fact kali ran fine yet macrium recovery didn't
Is curious
So be interested to see if a windows PE runs OK
Was/is kali on one of the drives you have attempted to
Install windows from?

And no logical reason for this suggestion
But you've tried just about everything else so far
What happens if you try with the 5090 for the graphics
Instead of the igpu?
If you already tried that then excuse me not
Noticing it as a lot of information
And my brain sometimes misses stuff even though
I read things multiple times
 
nade said:
I see posts online suggesting it could be a Memory issue. I see you mentioned BIOS was upgraded to latest and swapped the board and now using the X870.

I don't yet have an AM5/DDR5 yet myself, but online I can see suggestions to enable EXPO. I don't know if it will be enabled by default, but just wanted to suggest it as I couldn't see any mention of it above.
Click to expand...

I enabled EXPO and tried EXPO profile I and II. Also tried setting RAM speed to 2000Mhz. No joy. There are hundreds of settings to play with here. Still looking but thanks for the suggestion
 
What happens if you try with the 5090 for the graphics
Instead of the igpu?
Click to expand...
No, you're good :-). Just disabled onboard VGA and tried with the 5090. Exact same deal.
Kali is running from the exact same key as the Windows 10 and Windows 11 installers (Ventoy). Just tried again. Seems good. The only difference I guess is that it's not actively reading or writing to any real disk
 
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