How to get Windows 11 license key

[Brian-A]

Yes, same drivers, same problem. 

11th Gen Intel Core I5-1135G7 2.40GHz

I remember this came with Intel Optane. Would that make any difference?

Update: I tried again and this time the install started BUT the progress bar just keeps starting, completing and restarting. Then it finally bluescreens again with stop code:DRIVER_PNP_WATCHDOG. Seems like there are lots of possible causes for that code, so at this point, not sure the next thing to try?

[resistencia]

if you have an intel optane installed you must verify in the BIOS that it is active. and use the folder dchu_3Pinning

[Brian-A]

I suspect that could be the problem as those drivers in that directory are by default not viewable when the option Hide drivers that are incompatible with the hardware is checked. When I unchecked that, I could see the Optane drivers, but it wouldn't let me install them. Checking in the BIOS and don't see anything related to Optane? 

[resistencia]

intel optane is a problem when it fails, it is difficult to recover, read this link to help find the problem.

Error: “Unable to Inject the Driver into Windows Recovery Partition”...

[Brian-A]

Well I found the Optane option under the UEFI HII Configuration and it shows the volumes with the option to Disable. So I take that as confirmation that Optane is enabled. But with Optane enabled, why do you think, when booting to Windows setup, the Optane drivers are hidden, as not compatible? 

[resistencia · Accepted solution]

try to deactivate and then see if windows is installed if it installs then you must activate it again.

[Brian-A]

I disabled Opane and started Windows setup but it doesn't see the hard drive.

I tried the Intel RST VMD Controller 9A0B and the Intel RST VMD Managed Controller 09AB drivers available but they couldn't be installed. So, Optane disabled but back to square one.

UPDATE: I went back into the BIOS again and it looked like Optane was enabled. Maybe I missed something the first time so I went through the steps again to disable Optane, rebooted into Windows setup, successfully loaded the drivers from the F6 folder and now setup SEES THE DRIVE! 

However, I now see "The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, the operating system can only be installed to GPT disks."

I know how to convert it to a GPT disk but before I do that, I displayed a list of the drives using diskpart. And it shows the Disk 1 Online 476GB Free:0
Does this mean there's still data on that disk? I'm ok with losing it but just wondering if I may still be able to repair it? I tried Startup repair but it failed. Tried sfc but apparently it can't see that drive. Any other thoughts on trying to repair?

Decided to just convert the disk and install Windows 11. In progress now.