Yeah this is common. Oh, that's a frustrating one, and you're definitely not alone with that error. A good first step is to try creating a Windows 10 or 11 installation USB on another computer, boot from it, and choose "Repair your computer" to run startup repair. That often fixes boot issues without touching your personal files.
Let me know if you need a hand walking through those steps or if that doesn't do the trick! Hope that helps.
Has anyone else had boot issues after trying to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11? My PC completed the install but now it just gets stuck on a black screen with a spinning circle. Sometimes it flashes a quick error, something like "INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE," before restarting and looping. I can't even get to safe mode. Any ideas on how to fix this without losing my files?
Yeah, that's a common one. Try disconnecting any extra USB drives or external hard drives before the boot, as they can sometimes confuse the installer.
+1 You could also try running the Windows Startup Repair tool from a recovery drive. Another option is checking if your BIOS needs an update, as outdated firmware can sometimes cause that error.
This happened to me. After the upgrade, I got that exact black screen and error loop. I had to use a USB installer to get into recovery and run a system restore.
Agreed. You could also try booting into safe mode and rolling back the driver for your storage controller. Another option is checking if your BIOS has a setting for the SATA operation mode that needs to be switched.
Can confirm. You could also run the Windows Startup Repair tool from a USB installation drive. Another option is checking if your motherboard has a BIOS update available that improves Windows 11 compatibility.