Can't reset my PC at all, fails at every attempt

[pentaqua]

Good evening,

I need technical assistance for my computer.

My HP Pavilion All-in-one Desktop 27 does not start properly, in the sense that it does not even reach the initial screen where you sign in with the password (if set previously, which I did).

I am not afraid of losing my personal files on the PC, since I carry out my things mainly online on the Cloud, and I am also willing to do a complete reset of the PC and a clean installation of Windows 11 so I can start over. But here the second problem comes into play: when I am in the middle of the PC reset phase (typically at 50-60%), the process suddenly halts, cancels, and I am redirected to the miserable blue screen (not a BSOD) of the Windows Recovery from before.

I must add that connecting my PC to the internet — or at least using it in the screens that do not let me sign in and access my PC — is out of the question. I also tried using our WiFi connection in the options screen for a total reset, but nothing, it won't let me.

I need to use my PC soon for an assignment, but if I can't even use a browser because my PC won't start normally in the first place, I'd be in some trouble.

Things I have tried:

- resetting PC, keeping files

- resetting PC, deleting all files

- continue to Windows 11 option in the Windows recovery page

- automatic restore on startup, which fails as I'm given a BSOD Bad System Config Info

- system restore from a restore point in the Windows recovery page, but it says that I haven't created a restore point, and I have to do it online

Things I have done right before this happened:

- update my drivers

- shut down my PC the day before

[Bill_To]

Greetings @pentaqua 

Welcome to the HP Forum.

Windows is really messed up if you can't reset the OS or do a system restore.

A Bad_System_Config_Info error usually suggests registry corruption. Registry corruption would only occur if you edited the registry or if an application or service corrupted the registry.

Fixing a corrupted registry is above my paygrade. Never had this issue, never had to learn how to do this. Plus you would need a registry backup file to recover the registry.

So, I am thinking you may have: a system disk or a memory problem if you did not edit the registry. 

Check your PC's hardware using HP Diagnostics as follows:

Start the PC. Repeatedly tap the "ESC" key.

Select "F2". Run system and component tests to confirm: a drive problem, a memory problem, or other component problem. Run extensive tests.

Let the Forum know how it goes.

You may have to replace hardware if indicated and/or do a HP Cloud Recovery.

You might be able to recover data on the, possibly failing, system drive by connecting it: internally to a different PC, or use a SATA or M.2 to USB 3.0 adapter. 

You're working in the cloud. Hopefully most of your local data is backed up in the cloud.

Regards

[pentaqua]

Here are the results of the tests that I have done:

- Component Tests>Fan = passed

- Component Tests>Processor = passed

- Component Tests>Memory(extensive) = passed for both 1st and 2nd phases

- Component Tests>Storage>Advanced>Extensive Test = all passed

- Component Tests>System Board>System Board Test = all passed

- System Tests>Fast Test = passed for both 1st and 2nd phases

- System Tests>Extensive Test = all passed

- Symptoms Test>2(Hard disk/SSD drive issue)  = passed for both 1st and 2nd phases

- Symptoms Test>1(Boot related issue) = passed

- Symptoms Test>3(Blue screen with errors) = passed

Version 8.5.0.0

[Bill_To]

Greetings @pentaqua 

Thanks for the additional info.

All hardware tests look good. This suggests you may have Windows registry corruption.

It looks like you may need to do a HP Cloud Recovery per my previous response. And try to back up data before doing a recovery.

Or check the Internet for some way to fix the registry. My understanding is Microsoft stopped scheduling routine registry backups in Windows 11.

I have avoided having to reinstall Windows from scratch by doing periodic system backups to external media. I can restore a good system image in about 5 minutes if Windows freaks out.

I have been doing system image backups using Norton Ghost since the late 1990s. I now use other backup software since Ghost is gone.

I also store all data on a second internal drive and I backup this data to external media. The only items on my system drive are: Windows and program installations.

Regards

[pentaqua]

Many google sources suggest that I execute the "Repair on Startup" in WinRE, but it still doesn't work, as I'm redirected back to WinRE. Other sources suggest that I reinstall Windows 11, but I don't know how to do this, as they all require me to do it in the Windows environment, place that I specifically can't access because my PC won't boot up normally.

[Bill_To]

Greetings @pentaqua 

You are between a rock and a hard place.

You have previously tried many OS recovery options using WinRE with no success. This is why I use disk imaging software to avoid this scenario.

I suggest doing the HP Cloud Recovery. Read all instructions at this Site. 

A cloud recovery will install the HP factory operating system image. This is not an in place upgrade, it is performed outside of the operating system.

All data on the system disk will be lost unless you take steps to backup data as suggested in my previous response.

You will need a second PC with Internet access and you will need a 32 GB or greater USB flash drive.

Or you could do a clean W11 install using the media creation tool available at this Site. You will need a minimum 8 GB USB flash drive.

Regards