Overcoming Windows 11 Installation Resets on Ryzen 7

bartman
2025-12-16

Table of Contents

I was hitting Windows 11 installer resets on an ASRock B550M Steel Legend motherboard with a AMD Ryzen 7 5700G processor. The system ran Linux stable for months and BIOS was perfectly stable also, but Windows installers (both 10 and 11) triggered resets, even while idle. It looked like a Windows-specific power management issue, likely related to CPU C-states.

After extensive troubleshooting—updating BIOS, swapping DIMMs, changing M.2 slots, even trying a new PSU—nothing stuck. The culprit? Deep C-states enabled in Windows Preinstallation Environment (PE), causing instability on certain Ryzen configs. Here’s the workaround that finally got me through the install.

The Solution: Disable C-States During Installation #

The key is to temporarily disable processor idle states (beyond C1) using powercfg commands in the installer. This prevents power-related crashes without permanent changes. Follow these steps:

Download the Windows Installer ISO and Create Bootable Media

Grab the latest Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft’s website using the Media Creation Tool. Use Rufus or dd to burn it to a USB drive. Ensure the drive is formatted as FAT32 for compatibility.
Add a power.bat File to the Installer Drive

On the USB drive (let’s assume it’s mounted as D: on your working machine), create a file named power.bat in the root directory. Edit it with these three lines:
```
1powercfg /setacvalueindex scheme_current sub_processor IDLEDISABLE 1
2powercfg /setdcvalueindex scheme_current sub_processor IDLEDISABLE 1
3powercfg /setactive scheme_current
```
These commands disable deep C-states in the current power scheme, forcing the CPU to stay in a more active idle mode.

NOTE: You could also put this script on another USB stick. Or just type it in after you boot. I prefer the script since the system will reboot in a couple of minutes, so the clock is ticking.
Boot into the Installer and Run the Batch File

Insert the USB, boot into the Windows installer (ensure UEFI mode in BIOS). At the first screen (language selection), press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt. Change to the USB drive (usually D: or E:). Run the script.
```
1> d:
2> power.bat
```
Close the prompt and proceed with the installation. It should no longer reset.
Wait Until the System Reboots

Let the installer copy files and prepare the drive. It will reboot automatically after the first stage.
Run the Batch File Again After Reboot

As soon as it reboots into the second stage (OOBE or setup completion), press Shift + F10 immediately to open Command Prompt again. Switch to the USB drive and run power.bat once more.
```
1> d:
2> power.bat
```
This ensures C-states stay disabled during the final setup.
Continue the Install as Normal

Proceed through the rest of the setup, including account creation.
(OPTIONAL) Skip “NRO” registration

You could wait until you’re prompted for network, hit Shift + F10 and run this magic command:
```
1> oobe\bypassnro
```
This will actually force you to run the second pass of the installer again, but on the next reboot, you will be presented with a “I don’t have internet” option.

And that’s how I spent my Saturday. Thank you Microsoft.

This method got me past the resets and into a fully installed Windows 11. Once booted, you can verify stability and optionally re-enable C-states via Power Options if needed (though on my Ryzen 5700G, leaving them disabled improved idle behavior without issues).

Why This Works #

Windows PE enables aggressive power saving by default, which can conflict with Ryzen’s C-state implementation on some motherboards. Linux distros often default to safer idle modes, explaining the stability difference. The powercfg tweaks force “idle polling,” keeping the CPU awake enough to avoid crashes.

If this doesn’t resolve your issue, check for hardware faults (e.g., run MemTest86) or BIOS settings like Global C-state Control. Share your setup in the comments if you’re still stuck!

Hope this saves you hours of frustration.

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