After windows 11 update computer will not boot

Question

After windows 11 update computer will not boot

Ken Kirk 20

After windows 11 update computer will not boot. message mentions bitlocker

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Answer accepted by question author

John Jefferson Doyon 82,760 Independent Advisor

Hi, @Ken Kirk

The update may have triggered the BitLocker recovery screen. Do not reset or reinstall Windows yet because this could erase your files.

On another device, sign in using the Microsoft account connected to the computer:

BitLocker recovery keys https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey
If you set up or used the device with a work or school account, you can also check here: https://aka.ms/aadrecoverykey
Match the "Key ID" shown on the computer with the recovery key listed on the page, then enter the 48-digit key.

If you can enter the recovery key but Windows still does not start, please tell me what screen or error appears next.

Ken Kirk 20 Reputation points

2026-07-25T19:45:59.48+00:00

I got the recovery key, but windows could not boot the computer. I am attempting to install windows from USB media file - now I am stuck at "Select location to install windows 11" as my hard drive is not listed and it is attempting to install onto the USB itself. Any ideas of how to get out of this perpetual loop?
John Jefferson Doyon 82,760 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-25T19:59:52.77+00:00
Hi,

Do not select the USB drive. Windows Setup is not detecting the computer’s internal SSD.

At the installation screen, press Shift + F10 then enter these commands one at a time:

diskpart

list disk

If only the USB drive appears, close the window and restart the computer into the BIOS or UEFI settings.

Is the internal SSD listed in the BIOS?

What is the exact brand and model of the computer?

Does the computer use an Intel or AMD processor?

If the SSD appears in the BIOS but not in Windows Setup, you will most likely need the storage controller driver from the computer manufacturer. Download and extract the Intel RST/VMD or AMD storage driver onto the USB, then select "Load driver" on the installation screen. Windows Setup may not display a drive when the required storage-controller driver is unavailable.

If the SSD is also missing from the BIOS, this may be a drive connection or hardware issue rather than a Windows installation issue.

Be aware that deleting partitions or completing a clean installation will erase the files on the internal drive.
Ken Kirk 20 Reputation points

2026-07-25T21:14:24.79+00:00

I can see on the bios boot options "Windows boot manager (INTEL SSDPEKNW512G8H) - I presume this is the SSD drive. Otherwise, I cant find any reference to a disk in the BIOS.

HP Laptop 17-cn0xxx

Product number 52V01UA

Bios F.29

HP Laptop 17-cn0065cl (52V01UA)

I found BIOS update F.36 and downloaded it to the USB stick which has the ISO.

However, I don't know how to get to the BIOS to update it from the USB.

Also, I didn't see any driver specific to the SSD on the HP site.

How to install the updated BIOS exe file if I can't boot the computer?

I am well over my head into the process. Win 11 update and install killed my computer.
John Jefferson Doyon 82,760 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-25T21:34:09.63+00:00
Thank you for letting me know.

Yes, "Windows Boot Manager (INTEL SSDPEKNW512G8H)" means the BIOS can see the SSD.

Do not update the BIOS yet. The BIOS .exe cannot be installed by copying it to the Windows USB.

First, test the SSD:

Turn off the laptop

Turn it on and press Esc repeatedly

Press F2

Open "Component Tests"

Select "Storage" and run the quick test

If the SSD passes, Windows Setup is probably missing the Intel storage driver.

The easier option is to use the HP Cloud Recovery Tool on another Windows computer and create an HP recovery USB for product number 52V01UA. This should include the correct storage drivers.

Did the storage test pass?

Do you need to save any files from the SSD before reinstalling Windows?

Do not delete any partitions if you still need the files.
Ken Kirk 20 Reputation points

2026-07-26T00:05:39.5533333+00:00

The SSD passed the quick test. I made a USB bootable drive with HP software. BIOS Version F.36 Rev.A

There is nothing on the computer I can't lose.

The BIOS is now F.36

However, when I run the disk list it still does not find the disk it is only listing the USB drive. (Shift + F10) when the W11 installation window is open.

I am starting over creating a W11 USB ISO and then plan to add a driver to the USB so that once I boot to the USB I can install the SSD driver based on this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odQeA4Du57E

Hopefully, I can get to the driver and install it.
John Jefferson Doyon 82,760 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-26T00:27:06.8233333+00:00
You are on the correct path. The SSD passed the test, so the missing Intel storage driver is likely the issue.

You need the "Intel Rapid Storage Technology" or "Intel RST" driver, not an SSD-specific driver.

Create the Windows 11 USB using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.

Download the Intel RST driver from the HP driver page for product number 52V01UA.

Look under "Driver-Storage".

Extract the downloaded driver and copy the extracted folder to the Windows USB.

Boot from the USB and continue until "Where do you want to install Windows?"

Select "Load driver" > "Browse".

Open the extracted driver folder and select the "F6" folder.

Install the driver.

The internal SSD should then appear. You can delete its existing partitions and select the unallocated space since there is nothing you need to keep.

HP confirms that some 11th-generation Intel computers require the Intel RST driver to be loaded manually during Windows 11 installation.
Ken Kirk 20 Reputation points

2026-07-26T00:56:30.08+00:00

My desktop computer would not for several months install the 25H2, finally yesterday I got it to install. Then the update for patches started and that wouldn't install after several attempts I finally gave up and contacted MS support. It took them several downloads/attempts before it finally was installed. It seemed we were just doing the same thing over and over but eventually it worked. The update ending in 767 was the problem.

So after spending all day and half the night finally getting my desktop fully updated I decided to tackle the laptop which hadn't accepted 25H2 for many months. I gave up and tried to install fresh and in the process Windows thoroughly killed the laptop. I have spent approx 10 hours today trying to get W11 reinstalled.

It seems that W11 is now on the laptop and it says downloading updates. Who knows it will actually work.

Thanks for your help. I don't think I would have been successful without your assistance.
John Jefferson Doyon 82,760 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-26T01:09:51.22+00:00

Hi,

You’re welcome. I’m glad Windows 11 is finally installed.

Let the updates finish, then restart the laptop and check "Settings" > "Windows Update" again.

Once everything is working, I recommend backing up your files and creating a recovery drive.

If the update fails again, note the exact error code and the update number.

If all is resolved, feel free to mark the answer for this thread. Otherwise, please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

Thanks!

1 additional answer

Your answer

Ken Kirk 20 Reputation points

2026-07-25T19:45:59.48+00:00

I got the recovery key, but windows could not boot the computer. I am attempting to install windows from USB media file - now I am stuck at "Select location to install windows 11" as my hard drive is not listed and it is attempting to install onto the USB itself. Any ideas of how to get out of this perpetual loop?
John Jefferson Doyon 82,760 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-25T19:59:52.77+00:00

Hi,

Do not select the USB drive. Windows Setup is not detecting the computer’s internal SSD.

At the installation screen, press Shift + F10 then enter these commands one at a time:

diskpart

list disk

If only the USB drive appears, close the window and restart the computer into the BIOS or UEFI settings.

Is the internal SSD listed in the BIOS?

What is the exact brand and model of the computer?

Does the computer use an Intel or AMD processor?

If the SSD appears in the BIOS but not in Windows Setup, you will most likely need the storage controller driver from the computer manufacturer. Download and extract the Intel RST/VMD or AMD storage driver onto the USB, then select "Load driver" on the installation screen. Windows Setup may not display a drive when the required storage-controller driver is unavailable.

If the SSD is also missing from the BIOS, this may be a drive connection or hardware issue rather than a Windows installation issue.

Be aware that deleting partitions or completing a clean installation will erase the files on the internal drive.
Ken Kirk 20 Reputation points

2026-07-25T21:14:24.79+00:00

I can see on the bios boot options "Windows boot manager (INTEL SSDPEKNW512G8H) - I presume this is the SSD drive. Otherwise, I cant find any reference to a disk in the BIOS.

HP Laptop 17-cn0xxx

Product number 52V01UA

Bios F.29

HP Laptop 17-cn0065cl (52V01UA)

I found BIOS update F.36 and downloaded it to the USB stick which has the ISO.

However, I don't know how to get to the BIOS to update it from the USB.

Also, I didn't see any driver specific to the SSD on the HP site.

How to install the updated BIOS exe file if I can't boot the computer?

I am well over my head into the process. Win 11 update and install killed my computer.
John Jefferson Doyon 82,760 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-25T21:34:09.63+00:00

Thank you for letting me know.

Yes, "Windows Boot Manager (INTEL SSDPEKNW512G8H)" means the BIOS can see the SSD.

Do not update the BIOS yet. The BIOS .exe cannot be installed by copying it to the Windows USB.

First, test the SSD:

Turn off the laptop

Turn it on and press Esc repeatedly

Press F2

Open "Component Tests"

Select "Storage" and run the quick test

If the SSD passes, Windows Setup is probably missing the Intel storage driver.

The easier option is to use the HP Cloud Recovery Tool on another Windows computer and create an HP recovery USB for product number 52V01UA. This should include the correct storage drivers.

Did the storage test pass?

Do you need to save any files from the SSD before reinstalling Windows?

Do not delete any partitions if you still need the files.
Ken Kirk 20 Reputation points

2026-07-26T00:05:39.5533333+00:00

The SSD passed the quick test. I made a USB bootable drive with HP software. BIOS Version F.36 Rev.A

There is nothing on the computer I can't lose.

The BIOS is now F.36

However, when I run the disk list it still does not find the disk it is only listing the USB drive. (Shift + F10) when the W11 installation window is open.

I am starting over creating a W11 USB ISO and then plan to add a driver to the USB so that once I boot to the USB I can install the SSD driver based on this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odQeA4Du57E

Hopefully, I can get to the driver and install it.
John Jefferson Doyon 82,760 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-26T00:27:06.8233333+00:00

You are on the correct path. The SSD passed the test, so the missing Intel storage driver is likely the issue.

You need the "Intel Rapid Storage Technology" or "Intel RST" driver, not an SSD-specific driver.

Create the Windows 11 USB using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.

Download the Intel RST driver from the HP driver page for product number 52V01UA.

Look under "Driver-Storage".

Extract the downloaded driver and copy the extracted folder to the Windows USB.

Boot from the USB and continue until "Where do you want to install Windows?"

Select "Load driver" > "Browse".

Open the extracted driver folder and select the "F6" folder.

Install the driver.

The internal SSD should then appear. You can delete its existing partitions and select the unallocated space since there is nothing you need to keep.

HP confirms that some 11th-generation Intel computers require the Intel RST driver to be loaded manually during Windows 11 installation.
Ken Kirk 20 Reputation points

2026-07-26T00:56:30.08+00:00

My desktop computer would not for several months install the 25H2, finally yesterday I got it to install. Then the update for patches started and that wouldn't install after several attempts I finally gave up and contacted MS support. It took them several downloads/attempts before it finally was installed. It seemed we were just doing the same thing over and over but eventually it worked. The update ending in 767 was the problem.

So after spending all day and half the night finally getting my desktop fully updated I decided to tackle the laptop which hadn't accepted 25H2 for many months. I gave up and tried to install fresh and in the process Windows thoroughly killed the laptop. I have spent approx 10 hours today trying to get W11 reinstalled.

It seems that W11 is now on the laptop and it says downloading updates. Who knows it will actually work.

Thanks for your help. I don't think I would have been successful without your assistance.
John Jefferson Doyon 82,760 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-26T01:09:51.22+00:00

Hi,

You’re welcome. I’m glad Windows 11 is finally installed.

Let the updates finish, then restart the laptop and check "Settings" > "Windows Update" again.

Once everything is working, I recommend backing up your files and creating a recovery drive.

If the update fails again, note the exact error code and the update number.

If all is resolved, feel free to mark the answer for this thread. Otherwise, please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

Thanks!

Answer 1

KADAPA HAKESH 0

Microsoft Account: Go to https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey (account.microsoft.com in Bing) and sign in with the account linked to your PC. The recovery key is often stored there.

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