Windows 10: How to fix new upgrade to Windows 11 that keeps crashing except in Safe Mode

My 'spare device' Surface Pro 7 model 1866 had Windows 10 Pro from new. Windows Update offered me the upgrade to Windows 11 which I eventually accepted a few days ago. It completed the install and accepted updates, and ran well for a few days of occasional use, just me setting up User Accounts etc and a little browsing but no 3rd party apps or data added. It then announced some new updates which I allowed after which it immediately began crashing, by which I mean stopping about 10 seconds after start, with no BSOD or error message. I tried the basic WinRE repairs including CHKDSK and full

:)

 

Windows 11 Safe Mode PIN Failure

I've a new Asus ProArt Studiobook and need to put the laptop into SafeMode to fix Windows Defender issue (thread here if of interest). I'm running the latest version of Windows 11 (23H2). I was attempting to boot into safe mode. At the login screen, I receive the following error "Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your PIN again."

Troubleshooting steps so far

1. I've repeated this with the laptop LAN connected, WiFi connected, Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Network. still unable to login to my laptop via safe mode.
   
2. I've also reinstalled Windows 11 using this guide, following the Reinstall Windows 11 using installation media Keep Everything steps... I didn't fancy reinstalling all my apps. still unable to login to my laptop via safe mode.
   

Other than sending my laptop back under RMA or do a fresh rebuild, I'm out of options. Any ideas?

 

app crashes but not in safe mode

Hello Mahmoud,

When an app is working in safe mode and it crashes when your PC is in normal mode, it means that there's a software conflict or problem that's causing it to crash. To better assist you, kindly answer the following:

• Have you recently installed a new app? We suggest that you uninstall the new app, and check if it helps resolve your concern.
• Do you have any other antivirus software installed on your PC? We suggest that you turn off any antivirus software installed on your PC, and see if you were able to run the app without any issues.
  
• Does it happen to a specific app only (the app mentioned above)? We suggest that you contact the software developer, or post in their forum for better assistance.
  

Please let us know if the issue is resolved or you need any further assistance.

 

​Everytime I Try To Run Windows 11 In Safe Mode, It Crashes.

I don't have the issue anymore where I crash restarting into safe mode in Windows 11 Pro. I'm also not sure what fixed it.

I reset my group policy through command prompt and ppdated the computer from Windows update, from there I was able to get back into safe mode.

So no more crashes into safe mode and I was able to once again fully disable Windows Defender. Also, that's the whole reason I wanted to get into safe mode, was to re-disable Windows Defender as it came back on in an update lol

Don't worry the general user and/ or non-production computer might need antivirus software running, but I don't. Thanks again for sharing those links for a step process.