Computer hangs during boot sequence

[MartyDopps]

New issue with my desktop arose today.  In the boot sequence it goes as follows:

- HP splash screen

- RAID option ROM Version 3.2 screen

- Realtek PCI-E Gigabit Ehernet Boot Agent screen

these are the same three screens that have always sequenced during boot up.  

However, instead of going to the Windows start screen I'm getting a Windows "Preparing Automatic Repair" screen, which then brings up a screen telling me to "Choose your keyboard layout."  The first keyboard layout option is "US" followed by a number of country/language options in alphabetical order.  

The problem I'm experiencing is that nothing I enter on my keyboard is registering on the desktop.  It doesn't matter if I use the "Enter" key or any of the arrows or tab keys - absolutely nothing happens. 

I don't know if this is of any help, but I had a similar issue arise late last week.  I thought my keyboard was dead (given it was about 7 years old) so I ordered a replacement Logitec on Amazon.  Something dawned on me after ordering the new device, so I disconnected the USB dongle for the keyboard/mouse combo BEFORE restarting the computer.  I'd read before that occassionally USB devices foul up the start sequence.  It worked, and for several days the computer was functioning just right.  New keyboard arrived on Sunday, plugged it all in, Windows was happy with the drivers and I moved onward - for the past 48 hours.  When I went to use the computer an hour or so ago, that's when I noticed the "Choose your keyboard layout" screen.....

I've performed a number of diagnostics on the motherboard, memory, HD, etc., and everything passes as 100% clean.  Anyone have any suggestions?  Thank you.

[KrazyToad]

@MartyDopps

Welcome to HP Forums, I'd like to help.

I understand that you are facing an ongoing recurring issue with the computer not booting up and going to the " Preparing Automatic Repair "

Since all the Hardware test passed, this seems to be an issue with the OS.

We can try a System Restore to an earlier date before all these issues started.

Please shut down the computer and unplug all external devices except for the Keyboard, Mouse & Monitor ( Replug them in different USB ports if needed ).

- Turn on the computer and repeatedly press the F11 key, about once every second, until you see the Windows loading screen.
- If a language selection screen opens, select the language you want to use to continue.
- On the Choose your keyboard layout screen, select the keyboard layout that matches your keyboard type.
- On the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.
- On the Troubleshoot screen, click Advanced Options.
- On the Advanced options screen, click System Restore.
- Click Windows 10 as the target operating system.
- The System Restore window opens. Click Next.
- Click the restore point that you want to use, and then click Next.
- The Confirm Restore Point window opens.
-Click Finish to restore your computer to a previous point.
- Do not interrupt System Restore when it starts. Doing so can corrupt your hard drive and create more problems. Click Yes on the warning that appears.
- System Restore returns the computer configuration to a previous point in time and restarts.
 

Hope this works. Let me know how it goes. 🙂

Thank you.

Cheers....

[MartyDopps]

Turns out there wasn't a system restore point on the computer, which I thought was really bizarre given how old the system was, and that it had worked perfectly for so many years.  I had already explored that option before posting my message (should probably have mentioned that in my write-up...sorry)  

This may not be a popular thing to say, but I ended up taking the PC to the Best Buy Geek Squad, where they were able to copy all the data files over to a new HD which I then loaded onto this laptop.  

[A4Apollo]

Hi! @MartyDopps, I am the Mr.Robot. It looks like you were interacting with @MR.Robot, but he is out of the office today, so I'll take over from here.

I appriciate your efforts for trying out the steps.

As you mentioned the issue still persists after trying out the steps.

Try the steps recommended below to restore BIOS to default.

1.    Turn off the computer and wait five seconds.
2.    Press the Power button to start the computer and repeatedly press the F10 key to enter the BIOS setup menu.
3.    On the BIOS Setup screen, press F9 to select and load the BIOS Setup Default settings.
4.    Press F10 to Save and Exit.
5.    Use the arrow keys to select Yes, then press Enter when asked Exit Saving Changes?
6.    Follow the prompts to restart your computer.
 

Also, I would suggest you enable Fast Start-Up on the system and check if it helps. To do this, follow the steps below.
1. Open Control Panel and go to Power Options.
2. Click/tap on the Choose what the power buttons do link on the left side.
3. Click/tap on the Change settings that are currently unavailable link at the top.
4. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes. 
5. Ensure that Turn on Fast Startup is checked.
6. Restart the computer.

Try updating the BIOS and chipset driver on your PC and check if it helps.

You can try updating the drivers on your PC using HP support assistant.

Refer this article to know more information about using HP support assistant.

If the issue still persists after trying out the steps try the steps recommended below.

In Windows, search for Command Prompt. In the search results, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Then click Yes.
In Command Prompt, type sfc /scannow. Make sure to include the space between sfc and the /.
Press Enter and wait while System File Checker scans for corrupted files.
When scanning is complete, the results are displayed on the screen.
If the file checker found and replaced any corrupted files, restart the computer and check the performance.
If the file checker did not find any corrupted files or found corrupted files but could not replace them, go to the next step.
If System File Checker finds corrupted files but cannot replace them, use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. DISM checks the corrupted files; then downloads and replaces the files using Windows Update.
In Windows, open a web browser.
   NOTE:
You need to be connected to the Internet to use DISM.
In Windows, search for Command Prompt. In the search results, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Then click Yes.
In Command Prompt, type dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth. Make sure to include the space before each / in the command line.
Press Enter and wait while DISM works. This might take several minutes.
If DISM finds corrupted files, it replaces them using Windows Update. If this occurs, after DISM is finished, restart your computer and see if the performance has improved.

Refer this article to further troubleshoot lock up or freezing issues with PC.

If the issue still persists try running a system diagnostics test on your PC and check if the hardware on your laptop is functioning correctly.

Refer this article to know more information about running system diagnostics on your PC.

If the solution provided worked for you, please mark accepted solution for this post.

Hope this helps!

Have a great day! 🙂

Please click "Accept as Solution" if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the "Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say "Thanks" for helping!

[MartyDopps]

Wow, this would have truly been useful information had I received it prior to taking my computer to the big box store.  But they had already wiped the HD and reinstalled the OS by the time I received this, so I'll never know if this would have worked for me.  Bummer.

On a side topic, though, I ordered a new HP desktop (HP ENVY Desktop - 750-624 ) right after Thanksgiving and it's scheduled to be delivered on Tuesday!  Is there a recommended article or other literature on preventive maintenance that I should plan on performing over the next several years on my new machine?  I had the previous Envy for at least five (maybe longer) years, and don't recall seeing any maintenance happen automatically with it, other than Windows updates.  It would be good to know if there's something I should do every year to give it a "good health checkup."  

Thanks very much.  

[sandytechy20]

@MartyDopps

I see that you were interacting with @MrRobot. I'd like to help.

Thanks for the reply.

I appreciate your time and effort.

Good to know that issue is resolved.

Click here and try the steps mentioned under "Manage applications and system features to increase performance" in the HP article for doing maintenance on the computer.

Let me know if that helps.

Cheers.