topic Re: My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows in Mobile and Desktop Processors

My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows

Klrock — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 02:00:36 GMT

My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows. This PC was bought with Win 10 and later upgraded t0 WIN 11 on-line.
IT DOES BOOT INTO A dos structure as shown below:

However, the Windows sub directory shows as follows:

I have tried all recovery options available during the boot of the NUC, but the only thin i find is the unusable DOS directories.

A "NUC8i5Bek1" processor refers to an 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor found in an Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) mini PC, meaning it is a quad-core CPU with decent performance for everyday tasks like browsing, office work, and light gaming; it is generally compatible with Windows 11 as it meets the minimum hardware requirements for the operating system.
Key points about the NUC8i5Bek1 processor:
Processor type: 8th Generation Intel Core i5
Core count: Quad-core
Integrated graphics: Intel Iris Plus graphics
Compatibility: Generally considered compatible with Windows 11

The selections of drivers are confusing and do not seem to find an exact match for my NUC model.

Please provide guidance.

Re: My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows

n_scott_pearson — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 02:26:09 GMT

At system power up (NUC splash screen), use the F10 key to open the boot menu. If you see your system drive, click on the top entry for it and see if it will manually boot.

Next, at system power up (NUC splash screen), use the F2 key to enter BIOS Setup. Click on Advanced and then Devices.

Select the SATA tab. Take a picture of the screen with your smartphone/camera.
Click on the Boot button. Select the Boot Priority tab. Take another picture of the screen.
Select the Secure Boot tab. Take another picture of the screen.

Respond here and include these pictures.

...S

Re: My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows

Klrock — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:05:24 GMT

As requested.

Thanks

Re: My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows

n_scott_pearson — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:09:41 GMT

You tried doing a manual boot? That is, at power on, pressing F10 key to open the manual boot menu and then selecting the entry that includes Windows Boot Manager. What happened?

...S

Re: My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows

Klrock — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:14:36 GMT

Yes, I tried that ans it attempted to reser and repair the PC but no success. I ended up downloading and reinstallng Win 11 but gort the exact same behavior as before. What could be the problem.

Re: My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows

n_scott_pearson — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:51:06 GMT

Well, I see a number of possibilities. Needing a repair implies either that Windows files are missing or corrupted or that the boot sector on the drive is corrupted. This could occur because of problems with the SSD, problems with memory, etc.

You say the exact same thing happened. Describe the process in detail. During the Windows installation process, a number of reboots can occur. Are these happening successfully? Are you getting to the point where you actually log on (provide your account information)?

I'd like to see you go through this process again - but answer the above requests first. This time, when the installer gets to the scene where you choose where to install Windows, use the offered tools to delete *all* partitions on the drive and then select the unused space entry and tell the installer to install to it. This lets the installer control the partitioning of the drive. It also causes the installer to create a totally new GPT partition table and reinitialize the boot sector.

...S

Re: My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows

pressed_for_time — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 22:01:48 GMT

Many Windows 10 machines have disks formatted in the MBR format. Windows 11 will not not boot from a MBR formatted disk but will treat it as a storage drive so that the disk can be written to and read from. And it can be accessed from DOS. Windows 11 will only boot from a GPT formatted drive.

Using the installer to completely remove all partitions and format the drive as GPT will solve the issue. But it will of course destroy all the existing data on the disk so this should not be done if there is existing data that is not backed up. It is possible to verify that a drive is MBR or GPT formatted from DOS. See the screenshot below.

If there is an asterisk under the Gpt column the disk is not MBR. If the asterisk is absent it is MBR.

Reinstalling Windows 11 and formatting the drive as GPT as already mentioned will wipe everything off the disk. A back up should at least allow all the data to be returned although programs may need to be reinstalled.

There are MBR to GPT conversion programs but again with one exception they are destructive.

If reinstalling all the programs and data would be too much hassle there is a potential way of preserving the existing data and installs but it would need a second drive to be purchased and installed. I can expand on this if required.

Re: My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows

Klrock — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:16:52 GMT

Disk scan shows drive as gpt.

Re: My Win 11 NUC BOXNUC8i5Bek1 Will no longer boot into Windows

pressed_for_time — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:47:50 GMT

Well that eliminates the MBR issue. So it seems to be potentially a BIOS Boot setting issue.

In terms of booting into Windows 11 my desktop board only has a small number of relevant settings in the BIOS.

There is a Boot\CSM (Compatibility Support Module)->Launch CSM item that is set to Disabled.

Under Boot\Secure Boot-the OS Type is set to Windows UEFI mode. Secure Boot state is set to User which is non-changeable. And Secure Boot Mode is set to Custom.