diff --git a/studio/backend/core/training/worker.py b/studio/backend/core/training/worker.py
index 4e9ac4ff83..75f9d56fa4 100644
--- a/studio/backend/core/training/worker.py
+++ b/studio/backend/core/training/worker.py
@@ -1248,7 +1248,13 @@ def run_training_process(
 
     sys.meta_path.append(_StubSubpackageFinder())
 
-    if sys.platform == "win32":
+    # Only stub torchao on Windows ROCm hosts -- on Windows CUDA (NVIDIA) torchao
+    # is real and shadowing it breaks torchao-based quantization paths.
+    # HIP_PATH / ROCM_PATH are set by the AMD HIP SDK installer on ROCm machines.
+    _is_win32_rocm = sys.platform == "win32" and bool(
+        os.environ.get("HIP_PATH") or os.environ.get("ROCM_PATH")
+    )
+    if _is_win32_rocm:
         # Seed torchao top-level + key submodules; the finder handles the rest.
         for _tao_name in (
             "torchao",
diff --git a/studio/backend/main.py b/studio/backend/main.py
index 85e79069ed..b61e192cfc 100644
--- a/studio/backend/main.py
+++ b/studio/backend/main.py
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ if sys.platform == "win32":
     # this the server process crashes with "Configured ROCm binary not found".
     # Detect the available DLL, fall back to "72", and set BNB_ROCM_VERSION
     # before any import that pulls in bitsandbytes (mirrors worker.py logic).
-    if "BNB_ROCM_VERSION" not in os.environ:
+    # Guard: only set on ROCm hosts (HIP_PATH/ROCM_PATH present) -- setting
+    # BNB_ROCM_VERSION on a Windows CUDA machine makes bitsandbytes look for a
+    # ROCm DLL that doesn't exist and fail to initialise the CUDA backend.
+    _is_rocm_host = bool(os.environ.get("HIP_PATH") or os.environ.get("ROCM_PATH"))
+    if _is_rocm_host and "BNB_ROCM_VERSION" not in os.environ:
         import glob as _glob
 
         _bnb_rocm_ver = None
diff --git a/studio/install_python_stack.py b/studio/install_python_stack.py
index bd6589dd20..6929e5eab7 100644
--- a/studio/install_python_stack.py
+++ b/studio/install_python_stack.py
@@ -228,10 +228,24 @@ def _detect_rocm_version() -> tuple[int, int] | None:
 
 
 def _detect_windows_gfx_arch() -> str | None:
-    """Return the gcnArchName from hipinfo on Windows (e.g. 'gfx1200'), or None."""
+    """Return the gcnArchName from hipinfo on Windows (e.g. 'gfx1200'), or None.
+
+    Resolves hipinfo via PATH first, then HIP_PATH\\bin and ROCM_PATH\\bin as
+    fallbacks -- the AMD HIP SDK installer sets these env vars but does not
+    always add the bin dir to the system PATH.
+    """
     import re
 
     hipinfo = shutil.which("hipinfo")
+    if not hipinfo:
+        # Fallback: AMD HIP SDK sets HIP_PATH / ROCM_PATH even when bin isn't on PATH
+        for _env_var in ("HIP_PATH", "ROCM_PATH"):
+            _root = os.environ.get(_env_var)
+            if _root:
+                _candidate = os.path.join(_root, "bin", "hipinfo.exe")
+                if os.path.isfile(_candidate):
+                    hipinfo = _candidate
+                    break
     if not hipinfo:
         return None
     try: