Question AARrrgghh...I really f'ed up...Question RESOLVED...

[JWMiddleton]

Well, I think I got it working, at least outside the case. I had made a Win11 install USB last week and have been using it for this project. I was getting stuck once I was in setup as it wanted to connect to my network, but it never showed any SSIDs as the example below shows. I then disabled WiFi in BIOS and put in a USB WiFi dongle and started over. Still no luck. I figured out how to enter the console and install the driver (. inf file.) But, the WiFi stuff still didn't show up after a pnp rescan. Well, maybe the LAN port will work?!?!

I connected with wired LAN setup, but it still got stuck on the network screen. I know that Win10 allows you to bypass the network stuff and complete your install. So, I put in the Win10 install USB and it did allow me to continue by clicking something like "I ain't got no friggin' network." So, I thought to search on How to Bypass Network on Win11 install. Well, there is way! You can see how below. I finally got Win11 install, then downloaded drivers from ASUS on another computer and install the LAN driver via a USB flash drive. IT WORKED!!

How in the world does the average Joe Blow do this????

 

[Tech Junky]

How in the world does the average Joe Blow do this????

I used to tell them to buy an apple or find a kid that can follow directions.

 

[Shmee]

You could also do a secure erase under a live Linux environment. But it sounds like maybe there is just something wrong with the drive? IDK, but was it working before?

 

[JWMiddleton]

You could also do a secure erase under a live Linux environment. But it sounds like maybe there is just something wrong with the drive? IDK, but was it working before?

I deleted the partition with Linux, then was able to install Win10 on the drive. So, it is working now with the new MB.

 

[JWMiddleton]

I'm going to consider this solved/resolved! I got it in the case this morning, but really took my time. I removed a bunch of wires that connected to the included FAN/RGB controller and connected fans directly to the MB. I also went into the BIOS and reduced the max Thermal Throttle Limit from 95 to 80. As you can see from Cinebench/HWInfo64 it is actually a little faster.

I think the original problem came from tightening the AIO Pump Head too much which cause the CPU not to make proper contact. JayzTwoCents had a video about it. Go to half way mark, if you don't want to watch it all....Watch here if interested.

Thanks for all you help! John

 

[Brainonska511]

Well, I think I got it working, at least outside the case. I had made a Win11 install USB last week and have been using it for this project. I was getting stuck once I was in setup as it wanted to connect to my network, but it never showed any SSIDs as the example below shows. I then disabled WiFi in BIOS and put in a USB WiFi dongle and started over. Still no luck. I figured out how to enter the console and install the driver (. inf file.) But, the WiFi stuff still didn't show up after a pnp rescan. Well, maybe the LAN port will work?!?!

The last few times I've installed Windows 11, I haven't been near enough to a router to hardwire, so I just do an offline installation:

Shift+F10 when you hit the SSID select screen, then type "OOBE\BYPASSNRO" into the command prompt without the quotes and hit enter. It'll reboot and you'll go back through the out-of-box experience setup, but when you hit the networking page again, it will have a "setup without internet" option. I then install the drivers on my offline account, and then connect it to my actual Microsoft account, if only because I have my registration keys attached to it (and after I've adjusted all the privacy settings).

 

[JWMiddleton]

The last few times I've installed Windows 11, I haven't been near enough to a router to hardwire, so I just do an offline installation:

Shift+F10 when you hit the SSID select screen, then type "OOBE\BYPASSNRO" into the command prompt without the quotes and hit enter. It'll reboot and you'll go back through the out-of-box experience setup, but when you hit the networking page again, it will have a "setup without internet" option. I then install the drivers on my offline account, and then connect it to my actual Microsoft account, if only because I have my registration keys attached to it (and after I've adjusted all the privacy settings).

Yep, that is what I ended up doing. But, it is not intuitive, which I suspect is what Microsoft wanted. This is the first time I've tried installing Win 11 directly. Either I've been installing Windows on systems that can't run version 11, or I've installed 10 and updated to 11. Anyway, it is working!