What the hell did you do now? My system is jacked up after the latest updates.

Shawn,

Thank you for your reply. All the steps you mentioned were included in my troubleshooting process but the end result was as stated in my initial complaint. Though Windows 11 loaded and performed as expected I was still unable to install Linux on my other drive. Installing Linux first resulted in the same issue of not being able to boot into anything but Windows. It wouldn't even let me load a boot-able USB drive. The BIOS is the latest from the manufacturer, as are the video and network drivers. I did eventually get the Intel NIC working again but it periodically becomes disabled and does not fail over to wireless. A manual fail over to wireless sometimes works but I usually have to reboot. Since I have to reboot anyway, I re-enable the Intel NIC in the device manager, then I reboot. I had an occurrence just this morning and had to reboot twice to reconnected to the Internet. Wireless didn't even work this time.

I use my computer as a networking lab and had to modify how my software communicates with itself and other virtual devices, which is something I have never had to do. Part of my lab is on a server that I connect to over a VPN, which stopped working as well. I spent over 24 hours debugging so I could get back to my projects. These types of delays are not good for business. Will Microsoft reimburse me for missing my deadlines? Pttthhhh....riiiight.

I have been using Microsoft Windows since 3.0 and have NEVER had the problems I am having now with Windows 11 version 10.0.26100 Build 26100. This latest rendition of OS has become worse than Windows 8.

Note, my system does not have any viruses, malware, or any other nefarious programs as it gets scanned multiple times throughout the day using a couple different methods. Hardware wise, I had one 500 GB hard drive beginning to fail, but was still usable, so I replaced it. All hardware now passes all tests.

Let's face it, Microsoft botched this one.

Dear Sp00k_

Thank you for posting in the Microsoft community.

It does sound like your recent Windows update has thrown your system into a complete tizzy, especially considering your high-end hardware configuration and dual-boot setup.

This can be very frustrating, especially when a system suddenly becomes unavailable after years of stable operation.

Here are some possible causes and solutions to help you get your system back up and running as much as possible.

Possible main causes of the problem

1. Problematic updates or driver conflicts:

Windows updates may introduce compatibility issues with hardware (e.g. Intel NICs, Realtek network cards) or BIOS.

Some updates may override customized drivers or configurations, especially special settings for the Professional Workstation Edition, and some updates may enhance the security requirements of drivers, rendering most of the original drivers ineffective.

2. Firmware or BIOS settings have been changed:

Updates may have triggered changes to BIOS settings (e.g., disabled dual boot, Secure Boot, CSM mode, etc., forced virtualization platform technology).

The motherboard BIOS may need to be updated to ensure compatibility with the latest Windows kernel version. 3.

3. File system or boot loader corruption:

Updates may have affected your dual boot configuration (e.g. GRUB or Windows Boot Manager).

This can cause USB boot failures or blue screens.

4. Hardware driver incompatibility:

Intel and Realtek NICs stop working possibly due to driver incompatibility or being overwritten by a Windows update.

Performance issues with NVIDIA GPUs may be due to rolled back or corrupted graphics card drivers.

5. System resource management issues:

Slow application loading, game stuttering and intermittent hangs may be related to updated kernel or hardware driver management issues.

Some solution ideas:

Usually after a problem with Windows Update you can try to force a reboot three times into WinRE Repair Mode to try to roll back the most recent Windows Update.

For boot loss issues, you can try to make a Windows Media Repair Tool and try to repair the corrupted bootloader using the BCD command.

For the driver not working correctly, you can try to update the latest driver suite by going to the motherboard manufacturer's official website.

Best Wish

Shawn.Z-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist