Inaccessible Boot Device Stop Code

Question

Inaccessible Boot Device Stop Code

Jackson 20

Hey so I just booted up my girlfriend’s desktop for the first time in a few weeks and I got the error. I tried everything I can find online, all the command prompt things, uninstalling recent updates and resetting. Side note everytime I tried to reset it just brings me back to “choose and option” in the advanced options menu. I’ve got no clue what to do.

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Answer accepted by question author

John DeV 164.9K Independent Advisor

The best thing to do in this situation is to perform a Clean Install of Windows 11. However, you will need to find another working Windows computer from a family member or friend near you to create the Windows 11 USB Installation media.

Find another working computer then download the Media Creation tool (Click Download tool now). Use the tool to "Create installation media (USB flash drive at least 8GB in size) to install Windows 11". Instructions inside the link.

Note: Please make sure to uncheck the "Use the recommended options for this PC" box. Please check the link below for more details.

https://support.microsoft.com/windows/create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d

If you want to retrieve your important files, Insert the USB Installation media into your computer. Please change the boot order in the Bios Settings. Boot your PC from the Installation Media you created.

Click Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Command prompt

Type: notepad.exe

Press Enter

Click File, then Open

This will open a Mini-Explorer that you can use to find folders or individual files that need to backup, right click the files to Send to USB flash drive.

Kindly refer to the link below on How to Perform a Clean Install for more details.

https://support.microsoft.com/windows/reinstall-windows-with-the-installation-media-d8369486-3e33-7d9c-dccc-859e2b022fc7

Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T19:51:16.4+00:00

So just to be clear here, the boot issue is on my girlfriend pc. I have one of my own, so I went a picked up a 64gb flash drive and downloaded the windows 11 installation media on it. I plugged it into her pc and changed the boot property to the flash drive. It ended up giving me the same error.

Separate question how will I activate Windows 11 on her computer once the clean install is complete? Or will it already be activated?
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T19:54:04.6566667+00:00

OK, so I tried it again and I got to the Windows 11 set up on her computer. I’m just worried that it won’t be activated and I’ll have to buy another Windows 11 key. Is there anything you can do to help? also, once Windows 11 is set up will I always have to keep the flash drive plugged into her computer or is there a way to move it over to the SATA SSD?
John DeV 164.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-06T20:05:21.5133333+00:00

Is your girlfriend's copy of Windows already came preinstalled on her desktop computer?

If so, it will automatically activate once connected to the internet.

You can safely remove the USB flash drive after doing a Clean Installation of Windows.
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T21:03:46.25+00:00

So Windows 11 came preinstalled on her computer. But now I’m running into another issue, when going through set up on her computer, it tells me the system doesn’t meet requirements. Which doesn’t make sense because the computer came with windows 11 and ran it fine for months. It tells me it’s missing TPM 2.0. I’m not sure what that is, so I called Microsoft and they told me to take it into geek squad and Microsoft would reimburse me for the bill. But nobody at Microsoft or Geek Squad on the phone seemed to be listening to what I was saying, Geek Squad kept saying I needed to upgrade my computer which is ridiculous in my opinion. I don’t have the money for that and the computer worked just fine a month ago. Is there anything I can do at home to fix this or does the computer really need to be upgraded?
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T21:04:38.9366667+00:00

Also do I have to take it to geek squad? Or could I take it to a small business that won’t overcharge me? And can be trusted.
John DeV 164.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-06T21:19:16.7533333+00:00

Were you able to boot into Windows or are you still stuck on the Windows Setup page?

Could you take a picture of the issue using your phone and post it in your next reply?
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T23:46:27.2566667+00:00

I’m unable to boot into windows with the SATA hard drive. So I got a flash drive and downloaded the Windows 11 Installation Media like you said. Plugged that in, and it works I get into a blue screen with a Windows setup window. Go through the steps, select “do not have a product key”, select “Windows 11 Home”. I’m unable to upload an image the file size is too large. But this is what the screen says:

“This Pc doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements

Here’s why:

❌ The PC must support TPM 2.0”

That’s all, please let me know if you need more information.
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-07T00:17:43.9466667+00:00

Hey so I figured it out, I just needed to go into bios and enable TPM PTT. Don’t know why it got disabled but I was able to reinstall Windows 11. Thanks so much your your help and I hope you have a wonderful week!

1 additional answer

Your answer

Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T19:51:16.4+00:00

So just to be clear here, the boot issue is on my girlfriend pc. I have one of my own, so I went a picked up a 64gb flash drive and downloaded the windows 11 installation media on it. I plugged it into her pc and changed the boot property to the flash drive. It ended up giving me the same error.

Separate question how will I activate Windows 11 on her computer once the clean install is complete? Or will it already be activated?
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T19:54:04.6566667+00:00

OK, so I tried it again and I got to the Windows 11 set up on her computer. I’m just worried that it won’t be activated and I’ll have to buy another Windows 11 key. Is there anything you can do to help? also, once Windows 11 is set up will I always have to keep the flash drive plugged into her computer or is there a way to move it over to the SATA SSD?
John DeV 164.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-06T20:05:21.5133333+00:00

Is your girlfriend's copy of Windows already came preinstalled on her desktop computer?

If so, it will automatically activate once connected to the internet.

You can safely remove the USB flash drive after doing a Clean Installation of Windows.
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T21:03:46.25+00:00

So Windows 11 came preinstalled on her computer. But now I’m running into another issue, when going through set up on her computer, it tells me the system doesn’t meet requirements. Which doesn’t make sense because the computer came with windows 11 and ran it fine for months. It tells me it’s missing TPM 2.0. I’m not sure what that is, so I called Microsoft and they told me to take it into geek squad and Microsoft would reimburse me for the bill. But nobody at Microsoft or Geek Squad on the phone seemed to be listening to what I was saying, Geek Squad kept saying I needed to upgrade my computer which is ridiculous in my opinion. I don’t have the money for that and the computer worked just fine a month ago. Is there anything I can do at home to fix this or does the computer really need to be upgraded?
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T21:04:38.9366667+00:00

Also do I have to take it to geek squad? Or could I take it to a small business that won’t overcharge me? And can be trusted.
John DeV 164.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-06T21:19:16.7533333+00:00

Were you able to boot into Windows or are you still stuck on the Windows Setup page?

Could you take a picture of the issue using your phone and post it in your next reply?
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T23:46:27.2566667+00:00

I’m unable to boot into windows with the SATA hard drive. So I got a flash drive and downloaded the Windows 11 Installation Media like you said. Plugged that in, and it works I get into a blue screen with a Windows setup window. Go through the steps, select “do not have a product key”, select “Windows 11 Home”. I’m unable to upload an image the file size is too large. But this is what the screen says:

“This Pc doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements

Here’s why:

❌ The PC must support TPM 2.0”

That’s all, please let me know if you need more information.
Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-07T00:17:43.9466667+00:00

Hey so I figured it out, I just needed to go into bios and enable TPM PTT. Don’t know why it got disabled but I was able to reinstall Windows 11. Thanks so much your your help and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Answer 1

John DeV 164.9K Independent Advisor

Hi, good day!

Can you check if you can boot into BIOS and if your HDD/SSD is detected?

If your computer actually manages to boot into Windows, let's check whether minidump files are being created by your device.

Navigate to the path below to locate these files.

C:\Windows\Minidump

Copy and paste all of your minidump files into a different folder before zipping it.

The ZIP file should then be uploaded to the cloud via a website such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive.

To obtain the share link, right-click and select "Share."

Please post the link to the ZIP file here so it can be reviewed.

Please make sure to share the link public. Select the file, click the "Share" button, and under "General access," change the setting from "Restricted" to "Anyone with the link".

I look forward to your update and am happy to continue working with you until the issue is resolved. If you find the answer helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and consider upvoting it. Otherwise, please keep me posted by clicking "Add comments" below instead of selecting Yes or No.

Jackson 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T00:46:37.9433333+00:00

It does show up in the BIOS, and it does not boot into windows. It says there was an issue, then restarts, runs diagnostics, auto repairs, then says it couldn’t fix the issue. And asks if I’d like to troubleshoot. The first time I booted it up it opened just fine, opened to the windows screen with the time where you hit any button then input the PIN, but it was frozen. So I restarted and then it would no longer get to that screen.

So I can get into BIOS, but when it tries to boot windows is says we ran into a problem. Then it goes back to a black screen that says Pro Series, then diagnostics and automatic repairs. Then a windows blue screen with the text ““Automatic Repair

Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your pc

Press “advanced options” to try other options to repair your pc or “shut down” to turn off your pc.

Log File: C:\Windows\System32\Logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt””

Thank you for your quick response, I appreciate it greatly and await the next!

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Inaccessible Boot Device Stop Code

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