inaccessible boot device loop, also not starting from USB, no prompt or whatever

Dini Bouwhuis 20 Reputation points
2026-09-28T15:20:14.0433333+00:00

After reinstallation Windows 11 the laptop runs in a loop with the above message. I cannot reached, a prompt or menu or the repair menu (after on/of 3 times) The loop cannot be stopped and it repeats time after time. F8 works but I cannot use any key to make a change in the boot menu, it shuts off .

I'm trying already a lot of hours to get it solved and I didn't find a solution for this unbreakable loop. I'm very nervous now as it is the laptop of a friend and not mine. Hope you can help, Dini

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Recovery and backup
Answer accepted by question author
David-M 127.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-10-02T16:25:27.3266667+00:00

That's good news.

To answer your question first: Yes, you can safely remove the USB drive now. All the installation files have already been copied to the internal drive, so unplugging it will not interrupt the setup.

To get past the network screen right now without downloading drivers yet, you can bypass the internet requirement:

  1. On the network setup screen, press "Shift + F10" (or "Fn + Shift + F10") to open a black Command Prompt window; (I hope the shortcut works. If it doesn't, let me know)
  2. Type OOBE\BYPASSNRO and press Enter;
  3. The laptop will automatically restart and return to the setup screen;
  4. This time, when you reach the network screen, you will see a new option: "I don't have internet". Click it, then choose "Continue with limited setup".

This allows you to create your local user account and reach the Windows Desktop immediately.

(Let me know if you spot any discrepancies. Microsoft recently updated the ISO, and I haven't had the chance to perform a clean install to see if anything has changed.)

Once you are on the Desktop:

You can plug your USB drive into another PC, download the Wi-Fi driver (The "Wireless LAN Driver(AX201)" or "Wireless LAN Driver(MT7920)" driver listed on Acer's page), copy it to the USB, plug it into the laptop, and run the setup file to get Wi-Fi working.

Please let me know how it goes.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

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Answer accepted by question author
David-M 127.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-09-28T15:58:04.5133333+00:00

Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

To be able to assist you better, please clarify the following:

  • How was Windows reinstalled? Did you use the built-in "Reset this PC" option inside Windows, or did you do a clean install from a USB flash drive?
  • If it was a clean install, how was the boot USB created? Did you use Microsoft's official Media Creation Tool or a third-party tool?
  • Is there data stored on the internal drive that needs to be preserved?
  • What is the exact manufacturer and model of the laptop?

Looking forward to your reply.

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6 additional answers

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  1. Dini Bouwhuis 20 Reputation points
    2026-09-28T21:35:43.07+00:00

    Main menu tab Ctrl+S is not werking see picture for screen

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  2. David-M 127.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-28T19:46:15.6066667+00:00

    Thanks for the clarifications.

    Since there are no files to lose, doing a fresh install after tweaking a couple of hidden settings on that Acer should fix this.

    I read that on Acer Aspire laptops, this boot loop and the issue where it shuts off when pressing keys usually come down to built-in Intel VMD storage settings getting confused, along with static buildup on the board.

    I suggest doing the following:

    1 = Electrical power reset:

    • Unplug the charger and any USB devices;
    • Hold down the power button for 40 to 60 seconds;
    • Plug the charger back in. This clears residual static on the motherboard so the laptop stops shutting down when hitting keys.

    2 = Adjust BIOS and storage settings as instructed below:

    (The names and menus mentioned are what I found online. They may vary slightly. If you encounter any discrepancies, please share a photo of where you got stuck.)

    • Turn the laptop on and immediately tap "F2" repeatedly to open BIOS;
    • Go to the "Main" tab using the arrow keys;
    • Press "Ctrl + S" on your keyboard while on the "Main" tab. This reveals hidden settings on Acer laptops;
    • Look for "VMD Controller" and set it to "Disabled" (or change "SATA Mode" from "RAID" to "AHCI" if VMD is not listed);
    • Ensure "F12 Boot Menu" is set to "Enabled";
    • Press "F10" to save and exit.

    3 = Now, perform a new Clean Install from the USB:

    • Plug in the Windows 11 USB drive;
    • Turn on the laptop and tap "F12" repeatedly to open the boot menu, then select the USB;
    • When you reach the screen asking where to install Windows, click on each partition and select "Delete" until only "Drive 0 Unallocated Space" is left;
    • Select the unallocated space and click "Next" so Windows creates fresh partitions automatically.

    Give this a try and let me know if you run into any issues along the way.

    Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-09-28T15:20:33.6766667+00:00
    1. Restart the PC once more first. On Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, Quick Machine Recovery can automatically detect repeated boot failures and try a fix from Windows Update.
    2. If BitLocker is enabled, have the recovery key ready. Most WinRE recovery options require it.
    3. Use Windows installation media from another working PC. Since the built-in recovery loop is not opening, start the laptop from Windows installation media for the installed version of Windows, then select: Next > Repair your computer > Next > Command Prompt
    4. In WinRE, verify the disk is detected. At Command Prompt: 
         diskpart
   list disk
      • The internal OS disk should appear.
      • If the OS disk is not listed, the issue points to the laptop storage path or firmware side. The documented guidance is to engage the OEM or virtualization manufacturer.
    5. If the disk is listed, check volumes. In diskpart, run: 
         list vol
      This helps confirm the Windows and system partitions are present.
    6. Check the boot configuration. At Command Prompt, run: 
         bcdedit
      Verify in {bootmgr} and {default} that device, path, osdevice, and systemroot point to the correct partition and Windows folder.
    7. Back up BCD before changing it. If entries are wrong or missing: 
         bcdedit /export C:\temp\bcdbackup
      Then correct entries with: 
         bcdedit /set {default} device partition=C:
      Use the correct partition letter found in WinRE.
    8. If BCD is badly damaged, rebuild it. 
         bootrec /rebuildbcd
    9. If boot files are missing, recreate them. Example: 
         bcdboot D:\windows /s R: /f ALL
      Replace D: with the Windows partition and R: with the system partition identified in WinRE.
    10. If this started after setup or update activity, revert pending actions.
    Dism /Image:C:\ /Get-packages
Dism /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RevertPendingActions

    Replace C: with the actual OS partition letter in WinRE.

    1. If the laptop still cannot boot from USB reliably, check firmware-related causes. The documented causes for INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE include:
    • recent hardware changes
    • changed UEFI/BIOS storage controller settings, such as legacy/AHCI changes
    • outdated UEFI/BIOS or storage controller firmware
    • storage device compatibility problems
    1. If recovery still fails, use the USB again to access recovery or perform a clean install. If needed first, files can be copied from WinRE by opening notepad.exe, then using File > Open as a mini file browser.

    Important: Registry editing and formatting steps exist for advanced 0x7B recovery, but they are high risk and can make the system unbootable if done incorrectly. Use BCD and DISM checks first.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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