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Windows 11 in DSL hard drive

Rodney Rodgers 0 Reputation points
2025-12-11T06:15:31.1266667+00:00

So I had a major problem with my PC, with it being corrupt and whatnot. I have had enough of it, so I downloaded Windows 11 on a 1 TB drive for my PC and installed it. I made a YouTube channel (Dr.Skuller25 if you want to check it out) and made a couple of videos about my PC. A lot of people had ideas, and I tried their steps to figure out if I could solve it, and I would post updates on what's happening. One comment said I wasn't in Legacy mode, and I was actually in UFEI mode. So I switched it from that to Legacy mode, hit boot override on my hardrive and let it reboot. Once it rebooted, I was met with DSL (Damn Small Linux, for short FYI) and had no idea what the heck to do. So I hit F2 and F3 for boot options, and it took me to video options. If I hit enter, it would take me to video options. If I were to type one of those options in, it would immediately shut my keyboard and mouse off, making me unable to type. Another option was to hit space or wait 30 seconds, so I did; that also shut off my keyboard and mouse. So I began to do some research, and I came across this link (https://networkjutsu.com/damn-small-linux/). It told me how to do the steps, and so I followed the first step, which told me to type in boot (dsl 2), so I did and hit enter. It told me I passed a series of undefined numbers, not even taking me to the next steps; it gave me two options. Look at the video options or wait 30 seconds/ press space. Both of which ofc turn off both my keyboard and mouse. So now I'm stuck and have no idea what to do. The link I have is the steps of what DSL would do. If you guys have any idea, please let me know. I would love to get this working again.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-11T06:16:49.99+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It seems like you're experiencing issues with booting into Windows 11 after switching from UEFI mode to Legacy mode. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the problem:

    1. Revert to UEFI Mode: Since Windows 11 is designed to work with UEFI, you should switch back to UEFI mode in your BIOS settings. This may resolve the boot issues you're facing.
    2. Check Boot Order: Ensure that your hard drive with Windows 11 installed is set as the primary boot device in the BIOS. This can often be done in the boot menu or boot priority settings.
    3. Repair Windows Installation: If you have a Windows 11 installation USB, you can boot from it and select the repair option. This can help fix any boot configuration issues.
      • Boot from the USB and select Repair your computer.
      • Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.
    4. Use Command Prompt: If the repair option does not work, you can access the Command Prompt from the recovery environment and try the following commands:
      • bootrec /fixmbr
      • bootrec /fixboot
      • bootrec /scanos
      • bootrec /rebuildbcd
    5. Check for Hardware Issues: If you continue to have problems, ensure that your hard drive is functioning correctly and that there are no hardware issues affecting the boot process.
    6. Reinstall Windows: As a last resort, if nothing else works, you might consider reinstalling Windows 11. Make sure to back up any important data before proceeding with a clean installation.

    These steps should help you get back into Windows 11. If you encounter further issues, providing specific error messages or behaviors can help in diagnosing the problem more accurately.

    References:

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  2. Aron 7,035 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-11T14:29:13.6633333+00:00

    Hey, I get how confusing that was after the BIOS change.

    What’s going on is you switched from UEFI to Legacy/CSM, so the PC stopped using Windows’ EFI boot and latched onto an old legacy boot sector that loads DSL; because DSL is ancient, it doesn’t have proper USB drivers, so your keyboard and mouse cut out.

    Let’s bring it back to Windows: go into BIOS and set Boot Mode back to UEFI (disable Legacy/CSM), enable Secure Boot if it was on before, and set your 1 TB Windows drive as the first boot device.

    If it still won’t boot, use a Windows 11 USB: Repair your computer go to Troubleshoot then click Advanced options and then Command Prompt, then run bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /scanos, and bootrec /rebuildbcd; if needed, bcdboot C:\Windows /f UEFI (replace C: if Windows is on another letter).

    If you just want a clean slate, you can reinstall Windows 11 in UEFI with the USB and delete all partitions on that drive during setup.

    A couple of quick checks: was Windows originally installed in UEFI mode, and is your keyboard plugged into a USB 2.0 port on the back panel (not a hub)?

    Also, what motherboard model are you using so I can point you to the exact BIOS menu names?

    Regards,
    Aron

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