Windows 11 total meltdown

Iron Contributor

Mar 24, 2022

If you have a problem with drivers not installing, it could be your bootloader, not just the driver packages (open the command prompt and try this.)

BCDEDIT /SET {current} BOOTMENUPOLICY LEGACY
BCDEDIT /SET {current} MAXPROC TRUE
BCDEDIT /SET {current} FORCELEGACYPLATFORM TRUE
BCDEDIT /SET {current} NX OPTOUT
BCDEDIT /SET {current} PAE DEFAULT
BCDEDIT /SET {current} DISABLEELAMDRIVERS TRUE

"Boot Parameters to Configure DEP and PAE" -> https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/boot-parameters-to-configure-dep-and-pae
"BCDEdit Options Reference" -> https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/bcd-boot-options-reference
"Boot Settings" -> https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/bcdedit--set#boot-settings

Most things will install easily after you change the bootloader settings (forcelegacyplatform is the big one, and "elamdrivers" obviously refers to early launch anti-malware, basically Windows Defender. At this point you can configure the registry keys and disable the service if it's a problem, though that's not entry level.)

# COPY the ACL from one key to another (make sure to select a user-created key / service)
Get-Acl -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\dnscrypt-proxy" | Set-Acl -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend";

Of course you would still have to change the service configuration and then reboot...

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend]
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000000
"LaunchProtected"=dword:00000000
"Start"=dword:00000004

Which would probably look like this...

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend" -Name "ErrorControl" -Value "00000000";
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend" -Name "LaunchProtected" -Value "00000000";
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend" -Name "Start" -Value "00000004";

NOTE: If this does not work, then you have to go into WinPE and temporarily move these files / folders (this only works in conjunction with disabling early launch anti-malware.) It is safe to say that most people do not use Windows Defender, as the definitions are terrible compared to most AV tools.

"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender"
"%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows Defender"
"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Defender"
"%ProgramFiles%\Windows Security"
"%SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers\wd"
"%SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers\wdfilter.sys"
"%SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers\WdBoot.sys"
"%SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers\WdDevFlt.sys"
"%SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers\WdNisDrv.sys"

If you can't find the drivers easily, which the auto-update tool is not useful for most things, then you have to use these websites:

1.) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/overview.html

2.) https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/search/featurefilter.html

3.) https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/card-reader-solutions-card-reader-controllers-software

4.) https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/network-interface-controllers-10-100-1000m-gigabit-ethernet-pci-express-software

5.) https://www.realtek.com/en/component/zoo/category/pc-audio-codecs-high-definition-audio-codecs-software

6.) Realtek Audio Control -> https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9P2B8MCSVPLN

7.) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/18293/intel-network-adapter-driver-for-windows-10.html

8.) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/19351/windows-10-and-windows-11-wi-fi-drivers-for-intel-wireless-adapters.html

9.) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/18231/intel-proset-wireless-software-and-drivers-for-it-admins.html

10.) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/18649/intel-wireless-bluetooth-for-windows-10-and-windows-11.html

11.) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/16807/intel-wireless-bluetooth-for-it-administrators.html

12.) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000017246/wireless.html

13.) https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005773/wireless.html

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