You try a diff usb port (not 3.0)? Id hazard a guess, its installing the USB controller drivers and it disconnects then it gets mad.
Yep, tried that, doesn't make a diff. Just downloaded another win11 usb image on another USB thumb drive I have here & the install is working fine again.
All this after double checking storage drive integrity as well (NVME ssd)
Thanks for your help though.
Meanwhile, some time later with the OS installed & up to date...
What's the story with non recognition of USB thumb drives in windows explorer, the drive is seen in disk management & device manager but not shown in explorer??
This is a new 64GB Kingston 3.1 USB drive. Chipset drivers are all up to date as well...