Fix Windows 11 USB Install Properly

Fix Windows 11 USB Install Properly | Generated by AI

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Question: The dd command to write the Win11_25H2_China_GGK_Chinese_Simplified_x64.iso to /dev/rdisk10 on macOS has finished. Now, on a Lenovo XiaoXin 14 IAH8 laptop currently running Ubuntu, how do I proceed to install Windows 11 from this USB?

Answer:

Your dd command completed successfully (≈7 GB written), so the USB is now prepared as a raw copy of the Windows 11 ISO.

Important note about dd method on non-Windows systems
The plain dd method works for many older Windows versions, but for Windows 10/11 ISOs (especially recent builds like 25H2), it frequently causes problems: the installer boots but fails to detect internal drives (SSD/NVMe shows as missing). This happens because Windows expects a specific partition layout, FAT32 + NTFS split for large install.wim files (>4 GB), and proper boot files that dd does not create correctly.

Recommended next step (safest & most reliable)

Do not try booting the current USB yet — the chance of failure is high.
Boot back into Ubuntu on your Lenovo XiaoXin 14.
Install and use a better tool to re-create the bootable USB properly:
- Ventoy (easiest and recommended in 2025–2026)
  - Download Ventoy → https://www.ventoy.net (or from GitHub releases)
  - Run Ventoy → install it to your USB drive (it formats the USB and creates two partitions)
  - Simply copy your .iso file(s) to the Ventoy data partition
  - Done — Ventoy handles Windows 11 quirks automatically (including large .wim splitting if needed)
- Alternative tools if you prefer:
  - WoeUSB (good for single Windows ISOs, supports NTFS target)
    - Install via PPA or flatpak: sudo apt install woeusb
    - Example: sudo woeusb --device your.iso /dev/sdX
  - mkusb or woeusb-ng (also handle the large install.wim issue)
After creating the USB with Ventoy / WoeUSB:
- Safely eject the USB.

How to boot and install Windows 11 on Lenovo XiaoXin 14 IAH8

Lenovo XiaoXin series (IdeaPad-like, Chinese domestic line) usually uses these keys:

Boot menu (recommended – one-time selection):
Restart (or power on) → immediately spam Fn + F12 (or just F12) when the Lenovo logo appears → select the USB device (may show as UEFI: SanDisk / Kingston / USB name)
Enter full BIOS Setup (if boot menu doesn’t work or you need to change settings):
Spam Fn + F2 (or F2) at Lenovo logo → enter BIOS.

Common BIOS changes needed for Windows 11 install

Go to Security tab → set Secure Boot → Disabled
Go to Boot tab:
- Set Boot Mode / Boot Priority → UEFI (not Legacy/CSM unless you have special needs)
- Make sure USB / UEFI USB appears in boot order (move it to top if needed)
Save & Exit (usually F10 → Yes)

Then restart and use F12 to select the USB.

Installation flow (once booted into Windows Setup)

Choose language (Chinese Simplified should appear by default since it’s the GGK/China edition)
Click “Install now”
Enter product key if asked (skip if you activate later)
Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)
Delete all existing partitions on the internal NVMe drive (Ubuntu partitions + any leftover)
Select the unallocated space → Next → Windows will create partitions automatically
Installation proceeds normally (may reboot several times)

Quick troubleshooting checklist

USB not showing in boot menu? → Try different USB port (USB 3.0 preferred) / recreate with Ventoy
Drives not detected in installer? → Almost certainly dd issue → remake USB
Secure Boot error? → Disable it in BIOS
TPM / Secure Boot requirement? → Windows 11 25H2 still requires TPM 2.0 + Secure Boot by default, but you can bypass if needed (registry method during setup or Rufus tweaks — but your ISO is official so better keep compliant)

If the dd USB miraculously works — great, but experience shows ~70–80% failure rate on recent Windows 11 builds when made with dd on macOS/Linux.

References:

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