i changed my computer to linux(Zorin) a few months ago and I guess I miss home and want to go back. Problem is that I can't. Every thing I have tried is not working. I Vontroy'd an iso of Windows 11 and when I first started doing it The installer stopped anf said it can't find the driver needed to proceed with the instalation. Startup repair doesn't work because of the missing file. Burnt a new iso on a different drive and now It tells me I am missing the BCD is missing. Switched the bios setting from secure boot to off. Same thing happens. Turn it back on and nope no change. Gparted and shrank the partiton for maybe a dual boot but the computer does not like that. Ok so I erased the drive and decided to try from an empty drive. Windows error that I am missing the driver comes back came back so I can not proceed with the installation. What am I doing wrong?? yes btw. I downloaded it from Microsoft.
Linux is holding me hostage.
- Thread starter dreamer77
- Start date
Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Perhaps you should be asking this question on a windows forum ?
Did you dual boot or keep anything windows related at all ?
What was the problem/s with Linux ..... we can sort out any problems you were having.
Did you dual boot or keep anything windows related at all ?
What was the problem/s with Linux ..... we can sort out any problems you were having.
I looked it up out of curiosity.
The Windows Boot Configuration Data is missing.
www.ventoy.net
You said you erased the drive.... did you completely allow Zorin OS to install to the entire HDD?
The Windows Boot Configuration Data is missing.
Ventoy
Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk again and again, you just need to copy the iso file to the USB drive and boot it.
You said you erased the drive.... did you completely allow Zorin OS to install to the entire HDD?
tinfoil-hat
Well-Known Member
I've used https://github.com/WoeUSB/WoeUSB-ng in the past for writing windows usb sticks, never let me down
theLegionWithin
Well-Known Member
wonder what the health status of your ssd/hdd is - without a working OS though... your bios may have a SMART disk checker baked into it, so it may be worth a try to check that.
odd that you cant install windowsOS though. maybe try a different distro than zorin? seems like a lot of people have issues with that and popos.
odd that you cant install windowsOS though. maybe try a different distro than zorin? seems like a lot of people have issues with that and popos.
to install/re-install windows 11 you need to start with the installation assistant
@dreamer77 welcome to linux.org.
On
So
Chris Turner
wizardfromoz
On
So
- How are you communicating with us at the moment?
- What is your ability to download a Windows or other .iso and move it/burn it onto an installation medium (eg USB stick)?
Chris Turner
wizardfromoz
mikhaltorphin
New Member
Not sure if this is relevant as I don't entirely understand your post. BUT. When I need to install Win 11 from scratch, I need to provide the drivers for my disks/pcie. I was able to pull them from the Intel management driver installer, I think it was?
The problem is not Linux trapping your system. The most common causes of the errors you described are related to Windows setup itself. The installer may not be able to see the storage controller if the BIOS is set to Intel RST, RAID, or VMD instead of AHCI. The installer USB may also be corrupted or written in a way Windows setup does not like, which can lead to the missing driver message or BCD errors. In some systems Windows also expects a storage driver if the controller is intentionally running in RAID or VMD mode.
Start by downloading a fresh Windows 11 ISO and burn it to the USB drive again so the installer is known to be clean. If the same errors appear again, the USB stick itself may be unreliable. Try burning the installer to a different USB drive, preferably a new one from a reputable manufacturer, because failing or low quality flash drives can cause setup errors.
Restart the computer and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings. Ensure the system is set to boot in UEFI mode. Find the storage controller setting and if it is set to Intel RST, RAID, or VMD, change it to AHCI so the Windows installer can see the drive without requiring additional drivers. Make sure the USB device is first in the boot order, often listed as USB HDD. You can also use the one time boot menu instead of changing the boot order. During startup the screen will usually show which key to press for the boot menu. Common keys are F12, F11, F10, ESC, or sometimes F8 depending on the motherboard.
Boot from the Windows installer USB. When Windows Setup asks where to install, select the internal drive and delete every existing partition so the entire disk becomes unallocated space. Do not create partitions manually. Select the unallocated space and continue. Windows will automatically create the partitions it needs and install normally once the installer can see the storage controller and the USB media is working properly.
Try another USB port on your computer. I have a laptop that will not boot ventoy in one USB port even though I can use that same port for everything else.
Start by downloading a fresh Windows 11 ISO and burn it to the USB drive again so the installer is known to be clean. If the same errors appear again, the USB stick itself may be unreliable. Try burning the installer to a different USB drive, preferably a new one from a reputable manufacturer, because failing or low quality flash drives can cause setup errors.
Restart the computer and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings. Ensure the system is set to boot in UEFI mode. Find the storage controller setting and if it is set to Intel RST, RAID, or VMD, change it to AHCI so the Windows installer can see the drive without requiring additional drivers. Make sure the USB device is first in the boot order, often listed as USB HDD. You can also use the one time boot menu instead of changing the boot order. During startup the screen will usually show which key to press for the boot menu. Common keys are F12, F11, F10, ESC, or sometimes F8 depending on the motherboard.
Boot from the Windows installer USB. When Windows Setup asks where to install, select the internal drive and delete every existing partition so the entire disk becomes unallocated space. Do not create partitions manually. Select the unallocated space and continue. Windows will automatically create the partitions it needs and install normally once the installer can see the storage controller and the USB media is working properly.
Try another USB port on your computer. I have a laptop that will not boot ventoy in one USB port even though I can use that same port for everything else.
