HP boot issues after window Update Upo

[VideoGameWarior]

Windows did its update nothing unusual but when my laptop restarted it went into a diagnostic mode fixing issues then it would instantly error showing ( IRQ not equal or less than) i would get BSoD saying something about OOK something or other, I tried doing a system restore it worked but overnight the pc froze and went back to this issue after trying to boot from a USB the only thing it would let me do is reinstall windows 11 I had 25H2  before and now im afraid to update from 22H2 to 25H2 Im suspecting a hard drive since i ran sfc /scannow and it said issues fixed reboot  i reboot and the same error comes right back im buying a new hard drive and hdd cloning system and hopefully this fixes the issue im suspecting bad sectors

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @VideoGameWarior,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

That sounds incredibly frustrating, especially when the system restore gave you hope and then the freeze brought you back to square one. The “IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL” BSOD usually points to driver conflicts or memory issues, but your suspicion about the hard drive is valid, given the recurring corruption after fixes.

Here’s a structured approach:

1. Confirm Hardware Health Before Spending

Before buying a new drive, run HP UEFI Diagnostics:

• Power on → press Esc, then F2.
• Run Storage Test (Quick + Extensive). If it flags bad sectors or SMART errors, replacing the drive is the right move.

2. Why It Keeps Coming Back

• Bad sectors can cause Windows files to corrupt repeatedly.
• Even after sfc /scannow repairs, reboot writes to damaged areas → BSOD returns.
• Freezing overnight suggests disk I/O stalls.

3. HDD vs SSD Upgrade

If replacing, consider an SSD instead of an HDD:

• Faster boot, fewer mechanical failures.
• HP laptops usually support SATA or NVMe SSD, depending on the model.

4. Cloning vs Fresh Install

• Cloning works only if the source disk is stable enough to read.
• If sectors are failing badly, cloning may fail or copy corruption.
• Safer route: fresh Windows install on new drive + restore files from backup.

5. About Windows 25H2 Update

Your fear is understandable. If hardware is failing, any update will stress the disk and trigger errors.

• After replacing the drive, updating to 25H2, it’s stable on healthy hardware.
• Keep drivers updated via HP Support Assistant.

6. Extra Check: Memory

Run the Memory Test in HP Diagnostics too. IRQL errors can also come from RAM issues.

HP Official Guide for Storage Diagnostics: HP PC Hardware Diagnostics | HP® Support

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

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Regards,

VikramTheGreat