Windows Install Fail On New Build

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 17:48

Gigabyte x870e Elite WiFi 1.2. Ryzen9 9950x. Samsung 990 pro. Kingston Fury Beast 6000 64gb. Windows fails at 33% everytime with watchdog error.
Used 3 different motherboards. One was faulty. One was a 870 Tomahawk.
Changed CPU.
Put SSD in another pc and installed Windows like a dream, but would not work in this new build.
In this new build installed Ubuntu no problem at all.
Tried latest and older 2023 version of windows. Fails at 33% after reboot but 2023 version did get further and then failed.
I have tried all bios configurations and installed latest and previous versions and windows fails same place everytime.
Windows installs sluggishly and motherboard code is always settling around 29/30.
All settings in bios correct and tried many different settings with no improvement.

Has anybody got a clue please?

Philtor · 24 Apr 2026 at 18:11

Appreciate you managed to get Ubuntu working but I would be testing the RAM at this point just to rule that out.

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 18:25

I did buy a tester card and I think they tested ok. All lights lit up, but in the middle they were dimmer. Exactly same configuration on both sticks. So I assumed???? they were ok??

Philtor · 24 Apr 2026 at 18:46

I always use MemTest86. Maybe I'm old school

not sure how effective a tester card would be tbh. I mean, can you be sure?

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 18:54

Well I cant use memtest because I cannot install windows and my old pc is 7 years old DDR4. But just say the ram is ok. What else could it be or could I do? 4 months now this has been going on and doing my head in. To add I purchased Ram when it was 650 euro's. Things have changed greatly.

nlel1975 · 24 Apr 2026 at 19:21

Try installing off a USB stick if you’re installing off a DVD. I’ve had windows fail to install off DVD before but installed fine off USB stick.

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 19:39

I am installing off usb sticks

Philtor · 24 Apr 2026 at 20:10

So you create a MemTest USB stick on another machine and test the one which is problematic.

I assume you have tried using a different USB stick and downloading the image again?

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 20:23

In nearly 4 months I have tried 4 different usb drives. Even purchase 3 of them new. I have tried windows installer and Rufus. I have tried latest windows and one from 2023. I have tried windows 10. I have tried installing drivers before windows installation. I have tried plugging all into mains electric sockets and not using my UPS. I have altered bios so many times enabling and disabling. I have found out that certain AI help is complete rubbish. The only thing I havent done is pop the sticks back in the jiffy bag and send them back. So I thought I would try this place for one last go.. Good idea with Memtest but can I test with no windows installed?

Tetras · 24 Apr 2026 at 20:33

DeadFromNeckUp said:
I have found out that certain AI help is complete rubbish.

DeadFromNeckUp said:
What else could it be or could I do? 4 months now this has been going on and doing my head in.

You haven't got a new build working for 4 months?

Well, the AI help says:

Pull all unnecessary USB devices, use wired if possible.

Disable fast boot, RAID mode and XMP/DOCP or EXPO.

Consider put SATA/RAID driver on flash drive.

I'd also suggest manually setting PCI Gen 4 for PCI-E slots and M.2 slots. Pull any riser(s) if possible, direct in-slot for graphics.

freddie64 · 24 Apr 2026 at 20:34

DeadFromNeckUp said:
Kingston Fury Beast 6000 64gb.

2 x 32gb sticks or 4 x 16gb sticks?

If 4, try with 2 sticks.

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 20:38

Tetras said:
You haven't got a new build working for 4 months?

Well, the AI help says:

Pull all unnecessary USB devices, use wired if possible.

Disable fast boot, RAID mode and XMP/DOCP or EXPO.

Consider put SATA/RAID driver on flash drive.

I'd also suggest manually setting PCI Gen 4 for PCI-E slots and M.2 slots. Pull any riser(s) if possible, direct in-slot for graphics.

Well I did find a fault with one motherboard and the return time for componants is nearly 3 weeks.
I have tried all you suggested.

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 20:39

freddie64 said:
2 x 32gb sticks or 4 x 16gb sticks?

If 4, try with 2 sticks.

2 x 32gb sticks. And I try install with one stick.

Tetras · 24 Apr 2026 at 21:04

DeadFromNeckUp said:
Windows installs sluggishly and motherboard code is always settling around 29/30.

DeadFromNeckUp said:
I have tried all you suggested.

Tetras said:
Pull all unnecessary USB devices, use wired if possible.

DeadFromNeckUp said:
Put SSD in another pc and installed Windows like a dream, but would not work in this new build.

Do you have any spare SSDs? Just to rule that out?

For clarity, what USB devices do you have connected exactly? Are any of them wireless? You've tried a basic wired USB mouse/keyboard only?

Are you building inside or outside of the case? I ask because there's a small possibility of something inside causing the problem, like a faulty header.

Is the CPU cooler the same every time? Also a very slim possibility of contact issue if the same mount.

DeadFromNeckUp said:
Tried latest and older 2023 version of windows. Fails at 33% after reboot but 2023 version did get further and then failed.

Are you creating the installation media on the same PC?

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 21:10

Tetras said:
Do you have any spare SSDs? Just to rule that out?

For clarity, what USB devices do you have connected exactly? Are any of them wireless? You've tried a basic wired USB mouse/keyboard only?

Are you building inside or outside of the case? I ask because there's a small possibility of something inside causing the problem, like a faulty header.

Is the CPU cooler the same every time? Also a very slim possibility of contact issue if the same mount.

Are you creating the installation media on the same PC?

Temp never rises above 20 degrees and all perfect there.
All building inside case.
No spare ssd's but i tested the ssd by installing windows from my old pc. It flew on to it.
All that is connected is monitor, keyboard and mouse all wired.
I have tried friends pc to make an installation usb. Same results.

Tetras · 24 Apr 2026 at 21:13

DeadFromNeckUp said:
Temp never rises above 20 degrees and all perfect there.

It is to do with the pin contact.

In rare cases, a mount can cause problems (e.g. over tightened, under tightened, uneven), but the consequence is usually losing memory channels or a boot failure, not being stuck at 33% on a Windows installation.

Still, worth mentioning if this has been a common factor for all builds.

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 21:16

Tetras said:
It is to do with the pin contact.

In rare cases, a mount can cause problems (e.g. over tightened, under tightened, uneven), but the consequence is usually losing memory channels or a boot failure, not being stuck at 33% on a Windows installation.

Still, worth mentioning if this has been a common factor for all builds.

Double checked. Dismantled, checked, cleaned, reinstalled and screwed down a little at a time.

maj · 24 Apr 2026 at 21:27

Is BIOS up to date? Is the RAM in the right slots? Have you tried with just one RAM stick in? None of this would explain why Linux installs fine though.

DeadFromNeckUp · 24 Apr 2026 at 21:29

maj said:
Is BIOS up to date? Is the RAM in the right slots? Have you tried with just one RAM stick in?

Yes to all and tried with earlier bios. Same results.

RavenLunatic · 24 Apr 2026 at 21:34

I had a similar problem installing Windows 11 on my machine as it would restart halfway through installation every time. I fixed it by installing Windows 10 with all the required drivers then upgrading to windows 11 from within Windows 10.