Windows 11 Home Not Working After Windows Tweaking

beckylousiana · Jul 15, 2025

Did I ever run a successful Bootrec /rebuildbcd ?? How would I know that?

beckylousiana · Jul 15, 2025

correction on #41
Typo!
ok, yes I tried resetting, before I reached out here on Maor Geeks. I can try again.
I just booted from usb, ran the bootrec /rebuildbcd and no windows installation found, ran attrib c:\boot\bcd -h -r -s and nothing happened, no error message or anything. just back to X:\WIndows|System32

Oh My! · Jul 16, 2025

It is hard for me as well. In addition to what we have done I have ideas floating around in my head as possibilities. I am desperately trying to get us access to the files. BitLocker makes sit harder to access the drive so if we are somehow able to boot that should overcome the roadblock.

Allow me some time to test my next potential steps.

Oh My! · Jul 16, 2025

At the x:\windows\system32 prompt type cd \sources and let me know if it changes to x:\sources

beckylousiana · Jul 16, 2025

X:\Windows\System32>cd sources
"The system cannot find the path specified"

X:\Windows\System32>c:
results "c:\sources>"

See image attached

Oh My! · Jul 16, 2025

Can you confirm you booted to the USB device?

beckylousiana · Jul 16, 2025

yes! I set it up in bios.

Oh My! · Jul 16, 2025

I really appreciate your patience and hard work. This is a complex process and my next set of instructions need to be perfect otherwise they won't work. Currently in my testing I am at the x:\sources prompt and all the instructions flow from that. I am not sure why you get x:\windows\system32 and whether or not that makes a difference. I want to make sure I don't inadvertently sever the thread we are hanging by.

I might be done for the rest of today (picking up my wife at the airport) but please do this.

At the command prompt type notepad then hit Enter
Click File, then open
Double click on the USB drive letter (let me know the drive letter)
If there is a sources folder there double click on it, under Files of type: click the down arrow, select All Files then let me know if there is an install.wim or install.esd file

Secondly, at the diskpart prompt run list disk and hit Enter. Provide that information as well

beckylousiana · Jul 16, 2025

Sorry, trying to upload Pic from my phone and out keeps asking me for the url of the photo. ?? Pasted a previous response that I just deleted....

beckylousiana · Jul 16, 2025

I had inserted another usb drive for possibility of backup so there are 2 drives showing instead of 1.

Oh My! · Jul 17, 2025

I feel bad taking so long but there is a lot of investigation and testing to do.

I am not sure your Windows 11 Installation USB is what we need. Please create another one using this site. Follow the Create Windows 11 Installation Media instructions. Let me know once that is created and we will carry on.

beckylousiana · Jul 17, 2025

GOT IT! Put it on a CLEAN usb flash drive

beckylousiana · Jul 17, 2025

I appreciate everything you are doing to help!! I sincerely appreciate you and all of the people on Major Geeks. I have used them over the years. I haven't needed to ask for specific help in a while but only because I learn a lot from MG and I am pretty good at trying to figure things out. (My husband thinks I was an IT person in my previous life LOL) Mainly because I have the patience and very determined.... I am so upset that maybe it was something I did to mess his computer up. All I did was run Tweaking.com in safe mode, as preventative maintenance. The problems started immediately, computer slow down, freeze, until it would not boot at all. It has been a progressive problem.

beckylousiana · Jul 17, 2025

I think I misunderstood, so I have downloaded the file to my desktop and ran it as administrator from there, creating a "Windows Installation" on the usb.

Oh My! · Jul 17, 2025

First, at this point I am leaning more toward a Windows Update hiccup but it may be Tweaking tweaked a wrong file. Regardless, it is not your fault and we need to try to overcome this if we can.

Yes, it sounds like you created the Windows 11 USB perfectly.

Hopefully the steps I am posting below, which are listed as I saw them, will be the same thing you see. If there is only a minor adjustment necessary give it a try. This is only part of our steps but we need to successfully get this far otherwise we will need to make some adjustments.

Please attempt this.

Boot to the Windows 11 USB

If you get a screen saying It looks like you started an upgrade... click No

Next to Select language settings confirm English is selected for both then click Next twice

On the Select setup option select Repair my PC then click Next

On the Choose your keyboard layout select US

Under Choose an option click Troubleshoot

Under Advanced options click Command Prompt

Confirm you are at the X:\sources prompt

Type Notepad then hit Enter

Click File, then Open

Click This PC

Double click on C: and confirm there is a Windows folder (if not C: try another drive letter, i.e. D:)

Take note of and report the drive letter for the USB drive

Double click on the USB drive letter

Double click on the sources folder and confirm you see both install.swm and install2.swm

===================================================

Things I would like to see in your next reply. Please be sure to copy and paste any requested log information unless you are asked to attach it.

Get through the steps? If not, where did you stop

Windows folder on C: drive or?

USB drive letter

Locate install.swm and install2.swm files

beckylousiana · Jul 17, 2025

There is only 2 drives in notepad/This PC:
WINDOWS is on X:
The usb is listed as ESD-USB (C > SOURCES with a bunch of folders but could not find any install.swm or install2.swm

wait, i forgot to click all files--- found them! I will try to run them!

I cannot figure it out. I tried to open but it says "the file is too large for notepad. use another file editor to edit file"

Oh My! · Jul 17, 2025

I was not notified of your reply, just FYI.

Please hold off on trying anything until I provide specific instructions. You can't run those files that way.

This doesn't sound right. So you are saying your normal C: drive on the hard drive (not the USB) is not showing up?

beckylousiana · Jul 17, 2025

Here are pics of the screen

I thought you meant to locate and install the 2 files. I wasn't sure so I should not have assumed. Sorry!

Oh My! · Jul 17, 2025

Thanks for the screen shots. I will reply tomorrow after reviewing things.

Oh My! · Jul 18, 2025

I'm afraid I am going to have to ask you to repeat the creation of the Windows 11 installation media. Although it may not be the problem, the USB assigned the drive letter C: is a problem. I suspect (hope) this drive letter is preventing the recognition of your actual C: drive on the hard drive.

Please follow these steps to create the Windows 11 installation media.

Insert the USB into a working computer

Type cmd then select Run as administrator

Type diskpart and hit Enter

Type list vol and hit Enter

Note the Volume number for the USB (in this case I will use 0 since that is what was last reported. Modify as may be needed)

Type select volume 0 then hit Enter

Type assign letter=H then hit Enter

If it opens, close the Windows Explorer window

At the diskpart prompt type list disk, (note the Disk number for the USB) then hit Enter

Type select disk * (* = noted Disk number) then hit Enter

Type clean then then hit Enter

Type create partition primary then hit Enter

Type format fs=exfat quick then hit Enter

Allow the process to complete

Once completed, repeat the steps to create a Windows 11 installation media

Let me know if this goes well.

beckylousiana · Jul 18, 2025

We are traveling today so I will do that as soon as we get to our destination this afternoon. Thanx!

Oh My! · Jul 18, 2025

No problem at all. Safe travels.

beckylousiana · Jul 18, 2025

I am creating another, I unchecked "include suggestions for this pc" - it never asks me if I need to create it for another pc. :/

Oh My! · Jul 18, 2025

Follow the Create Windows 11 Installation Media instructions from here.

beckylousiana · Jul 20, 2025

I have followed the directions each time from the link.
Not sure if you need them, but i took some pictures of the process to help me remember what i did, and if it was correct.... See attachmments.

beckylousiana · Jul 20, 2025

I started all over because the usb i was using was gave error message, not useable... got a new disk and now in the process of the last step, format fs=fat32 and it is taking a while. We are traveling in our camper with another couple and I have little time to myself so I am sorry if I am slow to respond and get confused.

As I understand, after this format fs=fat32 is completed I will create another Windows Installation from the link you gave me, then wait for your instruction. ?

See current status attached.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE!!!

Oh My! · Jul 20, 2025

You are doing it perfectly.

Yes, create a new Windows 11 Installation Media and whenever you are ready we will continue on. Enjoy your time away.

beckylousiana · Jul 20, 2025

It was in process,d last I looked it was at 50% completed, but then I walked over here and saw these Results

DISKPART> format fs=fat32
0 percent completed
Virtual Disk Service error:
The volume size is too big.
DISKPART>

beckylousiana · Jul 20, 2025

Now when I tried to look at what was on the USB I get this message.
"You need to format the disk H before you can use it. Do you want to format it? Choices are 1. Format 2 Cancel "
Same thing happened with the other usb. When I tried to format it it told me it couldn't format it. It was unusable.
So I am waiting for your instruction on this one. :/

Oh My! · Jul 20, 2025

The error occurred because the USB is 32GB. I modified the instructions and changed the format command to format fs=exfat quick. See if that works.

beckylousiana · Jul 20, 2025

Oh My! said: ↑

The error occurred because the USB is 32GB. I modified the instructions and changed the format command to format fs=exfat quick. See if that works.
Click to expand...

The USB I am using is 64g ?? Both of them have been labled 64gb

Should I continue with the new instructions?

Oh My! · Jul 20, 2025

Sorry, I should have been more specific. FAT32 won't work on a USB device 32GB or above.

beckylousiana · Jul 20, 2025

See error message:
I will start over completely

UPDATE! It seems to be working, still downloading the windows media creation tool

DISKPART> list vol
Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
Volume 0 H exFAT Removable 58 GB Healthy
Volume 1 C Windows-SSD NTFS Partition 951 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 2 SYSTEM_DRV FAT32 Partition 260 MB Healthy System
Volume 3 WINRE_DRV NTFS Partition 2000 MB Healthy Hidden
DISKPART> select vol 0
Volume 0 is the selected volume.
DISKPART> assign letter=H
DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount point.
DISKPART> list disk
Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
-------- ------------- ------- ------- --- ---
* Disk 0 Online 58 GB 0 B
Disk 1 Online 953 GB 0 B *
DISKPART> select disk 0
Disk 0 is now the selected disk.
DISKPART> clean
DiskPart has encountered an error: Access is denied.
See the System Event Log for more information.
DISKPART>

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 12:16 AM

SWEET SUCCESSSS!!! I will wait for your instructions before I try to do anything with it! YAAAAY!!!

iskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition.
DISKPART> format fs=exfat quick
100 percent completed
DiskPart successfully formatted the volume.
DISKPART>

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 7:28 AM

I see I was a I was so excited I forgot to mention that I created the windows Media Installation media onto the USB

Oh My! · Jul 21, 2025 at 9:25 AM

Whew!

Good job Pudnah

Now this.

Insert the USB into the target computer and boot to it

Navigate to the X:\sources command prompt as you did before

Type Notepad then hit Enter

Click This PC

Double click on the C: drive and verify there is a Windows folder

Verify and report if the USB drive letter is still H:

Double click on the USB drive, double click on the sources folder and determine if there are install.swm and install2.swm files inside

===================================================

Things I would like to see in your next reply.

Is there a C:\Windows folder?

Is the USB drive letter still H:?

Are there install.swm and install2.swm files inside the H:\sources folder?

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 10:14 AM

There are only 2 drives listed

The USB is NOT still named H, it is showing - ESD-USB (C: ) - which has a sources folder and the 2 files are in there
( install.swm & install2.swm)

Boot (X: ) also has a Windows Folder
SEE PICS

Oh My! · Jul 21, 2025 at 10:34 AM

Can you remove the USB and attempt to boot by booting the computer, hard shutdown after 5-10 seconds, doing this twice, then the 3rd time let it run to see if you get into the Recovery Environment off of the computer itself rather than the USB?

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 10:47 AM

I have tried that several times before, it just keeps asking me for my recovery code and returns to same options. But I will try it again right now and let you know exactly how it goes.

It will do nothing except go into "BitLocker Recovery - Enter Recovery key for this device"
I enter code
"BitLocker Enter - Recovery key to get going again"
I enter code
Diagnosing
Automatic Repair- Your PC did not start correctly - Press Restart to restart you PC which can sometimes fix the problem. You can also press Advanced Options to try other options to repair your PC

Oh My! · Jul 21, 2025 at 10:44 AM

Please give it one more shot.

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 10:49 AM

It will do nothing except go into "BitLocker Recovery - Enter Recovery key for this device"
I enter code
"BitLocker - Enter Recovery key to get going again"
I enter code
"Diagnosing"
"Automatic Repair- Your PC did not start correctly - Press Restart to restart you PC which can sometimes fix the problem. You can also press Advanced Options to try other options to repair your PC"

Oh My! · Jul 21, 2025 at 10:51 AM

Thank you.

I ran windows tweaking as I have done many times before.
He reported that the screen would freeze.
Click to expand...

Does this mean after running Tweaking the computer was bootable but experiencing degraded performance issues until it quit altogether?

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM

Oh My! said: ↑

Thank you.

Does this mean after running Tweaking the computer was bootable but experiencing degraded performance issues until it quit altogether?
Click to expand...

YES!

Oh My! · Jul 21, 2025 at 10:59 AM

I am headed out to watch my granddaughters for a few hours.

I think the USB changing drive letters from H: to C: is an indication your hard drive C: drive is not being recognized at all so by default the installation media is being reassigned as the C: drive while attached.

I need to think through our options.

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM

Lucky You that you are able to be a part of their life! Grandchildren are such a blessing!

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 11:45 AM

I just went into Command Prompt and did Diskpart then notepad.
See results attached

Oh My! · Jul 21, 2025 at 3:03 PM

Did you run that on a working computer?

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 4:10 PM

Oh My! said: ↑

Did you run that on a working computer?
Click to expand...

Nope! That is on the broken one! Booted without the USB

Oh My! · Jul 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM

The screen shots show us back at the X:\windows\system32 prompt and not the x:\sources one. Did you boot from the USB?

beckylousiana · Jul 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM

Oh My! said: ↑

The screen shots show us back at the X:\windows\system32 prompt and not the x:\sources one. Did you boot from the USB?
Click to expand...

No, this was just after you had me boot without the usb, #88-#91

Windows 11 Home Not Working After Windows Tweaking

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