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MSI X870e Carbon Can't boot from USB drive (Windows install) even with this boot order

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philb2

2[H]4U
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Messages
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I upgraded to this motherboard only 2 months ago, and now I want to do a clean install of Windows 11 to clean up all the cruft. However, even this boot drive order didn't work to boot from the USB drive. This USB drive is detected on Windows. Also, when I did a snapshot of my BIOS screen, this drive was detected as a target to store the screenshot. What am I doing wrong? My previous motherboard was an ASUS X670E model, and I never had this problem.
 
fOK, so I have done a lot of research and it turns out that MSI wants a UEFI-based installer, but the Windows Media Tool creates an MB/FAT32 drive.

So I used Partition Wizard to change the drive to GPT/UEFI, and now the boot order options recognize this drive.
But. But. But.

OK, I need to mention that when I first started the windows install successfully, I deleted everything on the install drive, which is a Sabrent 1TB NVMe drive.

Afetr that, no luck.No matter how hard I try in the BIOS, in EZ Mode or in Expert Mode, the settings don't stick. I set boot #1 to UEFI USB hard drive and verify that the Sandisk USB is recognized. And I set the UEFI hard drive to boot order #2. , No matter, when I restart the system, the system tries to boot from the now empty Sabrent hard drive. Because that drive is now empty, the system pops back into BIOS.

So is this a known BIOS bug? Should i try something different?
 
recreate your installer usb and select "for another computer" during setup. then when you fire up you machine jam on f11 for the boot select menu.
 

Method 1: Standard Clean (Recommended for Reinstallation)​

This method removes all partitions and prepares the drive for a fresh OS installation. It is fast and does not cause excessive wear on the SSD.

  1. Boot from Windows Installation Media and press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
  2. Type diskpart and press Enter.
  3. Type list disk and press Enter to identify your NVMe drive number.
  4. Type select disk X (replace X with your NVMe drive number) and press Enter.
  5. Type clean and press Enter.
 
do that ^ after you manage to get into the installer, make sure its your sabrent. then just let windows do its thing on the "select drive" screen.
 
I picked up an external NVME enclosure to deal with this from inside the windows environment on my test bench PC.
 
pendragon1 said:
recreate your installer usb and select "for another computer" during setup. then when you fire up you machine jam on f11 for the boot select menu.
Click to expand...
Which I did after converting the installer USB to GPT/UEFI.

So the F11 key brings up the USB installer and the Windows Boot Manager on the now empty, no partitions, NVMe drive. And call me surprised, but the installer selection reverts back to the Windows Boot manager. I simply can't select the USB drive. This is so fubar.

I guess I have to wait until Tuesday to try to contact MSI (USA) support.
 
WOk, I finally got the time to clear CMOS. Only it didn't realy clear. After some more creating futzing around, I got rid of the option to boot from NVMe. Then, only then did I discover that my GPT/UEFI installer would not boot. Arrrggggggggggh. :mad: I confirmed this by trying to boot from this USB installer on my laptop, which also could not boot from this installer.

I checked this USB drive and it does have boot and UEFI directories, Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot. What is my next step, if any? (I sure hope there is one.)
 
pendragon1 said:
and dont mess with it this time. it doesnt need "converting".
Click to expand...
pendragon1 I really appreciate all your help. I followed your instructions in post #14, and then restarted my system. No boot, so I restarted with F11 to override the normal boot device order. Only option was UEFI: USB Sandisk etc. No boot.

I checked the contents of this latest USB and, to my surprise, it appears designed to allow a UEFI boot option. So now I'm going to repeat this process with a different USB drive. If that doesn't work, then stage an intervention and have me confined.

1780017518990.png
 
Hey everyone.

So I used a different USB stick, from Transcend. Previously I had been using a Sandisk USB stick. Long story short, I used MCT following pendragon1 's post #14.

Using THIS new USB installer, I could successfully boot up my Lenovo t14S, 2025 vintage, also with an AMD CPU. But, but, but, although my MSI x870e Carbon Wifi detects this drive as a UEFI installer, it refuses to boot up :eek: :mad:. In the F11 menu, I selected the UEFI: JetFast Transcend boot device, but as soon as I do that, the F11 menu reappears. No sign of booting up from the USB stick

So it appears to be unnecessary to "convert" the USB installer stick to GPT/UEFI, but that doesn't seem to be the issue. So what's next? Calling MSI support tomorrow morning? It's late now, time to head into the shower.

Thanks to everyone who has been in this slog with me.
 
Have you tried updating the BIOS? https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MPG-X870E-CARBON-WIFI/support

I'm reading online that this is a common issue with this board that the BIOS update fixed.

I would also try disabling Secure Boot, CSM, TPM, and Fast Boot.

After this, I would also set the boot order in your BIOS so your USB is the first to boot.

You may also need to create a folder on your USB that has the NVME driver on it.
 
Shoganai said:
Have you tried updating the BIOS? https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MPG-X870E-CARBON-WIFI/support
Click to expand...

Yes I have. The BIOS version is current, but the BIOS date is unchanged. Not sure what that means. I used the BIOS Update button (#4 in the manual, I think on p. 24.)
Shoganai said:
I'm reading online that this is a common issue with this board that the BIOS update fixed.
Click to expand...

Can I ask you where you found a discussion of this issue. I looked at the MSI forums, no mention of this issue.
Shoganai said:
I would also try disabling Secure Boot, CSM, TPM, and Fast Boot.
Click to expand...
Yes, yes, yes and yes, Doesn't seem to have made any difference..
Shoganai said:
After this, I would also set the boot order in your BIOS so your USB is the first to boot.
Click to expand...

Did that about 10 tries ago. I disable all the boot options except the UEFI hard disk, but on reboot most of them, e.g. Boot Floppy, reappear.
Shoganai said:
You may also need to create a folder on your USB that has the NVME driver on it.
Click to expand...
That's the one thing I haven't done.

I'll try that next. Where do I place this folder and what do I call it? Can I be sure that this driver is loaded as part of the boot process.


I have to say that I'm really regretting this choice of motherboard. I used to be an ASUS fanboy, and didn't have these kinds of issues with their boards. I thought the MSI board offered more and better features than the ROG Strix-E boards. I'd gladly go back to an ASUS board if I still could.
 
Are you using rufus to make your flash drive bootable or windows installation media? I recommend rufus because it gives options for setup that windows install media doesn't like the ability to make a local account and the like so less setup futzing around.
 
learners permit said:
Are you using rufus to make your flash drive bootable or windows installation media? I recommend rufus because it gives options for setup that windows install media doesn't like the ability to make a local account and the like so less setup futzing around.
Click to expand...
No use of Rufus, just MCT.

I know that Rufus gives additional set up options, but I think I have that covered because I am using an AI to write some post-install scripts. Agree though that I want to start with a local account while disconnected from the Internet. One of those AI scripts backed up my drivers before I started this process. I was sure to download drivers from AMD and MSI. I don't want to depend on MS for that.

I have to correct post #19. I didn't see anything in the BIOS for CSM. I have read that the x870e chipsets do not allow CSM for USB drives. Regardlesss I have selected only UEFI based boot options.
 
Wasted more time today and (1) I'm totally fried, and (2) I need get a lot of "real work" done on my laptop. normally I use the laptop only when I'm traveling or out of the house.

Tomorrow I start from scratch, meaning clear the BIOS. MSI has a nice clear CMOS button.
 
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