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- HP Community
- Desktops
- Desktop Operating Systems and Recovery
- Couldn’t reset laptop

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06-18-2024 12:08 PM
Hi @Sophia_B,
Welcome to HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.
When an HP laptop displays a black screen with only a cursor, it typically indicates an issue with the operating system or the hardware. Since you mentioned you tried to reset it but couldn't, let's try a few troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue.
Hard Reset
- Shut down the laptop completely.
- Disconnect all external devices (USB drives, printers, etc.).
- Remove the battery (if it is removable).
- Unplug the power adapter.
- Hold down the power button for 15-20 seconds.
- Reinsert the battery and plug in the power adapter.
- Turn on the laptop.
Boot into Safe Mode
- Turn off the laptop.
- Turn it on and immediately start pressing the F8 key repeatedly until you see the Advanced Boot Options menu.
- Select "Safe Mode" with the arrow keys and press Enter.
- Log in and see if you can access the desktop.
If Safe Mode works, you can try to troubleshoot further from there, such as running antivirus scans or performing a system restore.
System Restore
- Boot into Safe Mode as described above.
- Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and press Enter.
- Follow the prompts to choose a restore point from a date when your laptop was functioning correctly.
Automatic Repair
- Turn off the laptop.
- Turn it on and immediately start pressing the F11 key repeatedly to access the recovery environment.
- Select "Troubleshoot".
- Choose "Advanced options".
- Select "Startup Repair" and follow the instructions.
HP Support Community Moderator
06-18-2024 12:08 PM
Factory Reset
If the above steps don’t work, you may need to perform a factory reset. Note that this will erase all your data, so ensure you back up any important files if possible.
- Turn off the laptop.
- Turn it on and immediately start pressing the F11 key repeatedly to access the recovery environment.
- Select "Troubleshoot".
- Choose "Reset this PC".
- Follow the on-screen instructions to perform a factory reset.
Using a Windows Installation Media
If none of the above methods work, you may need to use a Windows installation media to repair or reinstall Windows.
- Create a Windows installation media using another working computer. You can download the tool from the Microsoft website.
- Insert the installation media (USB drive or DVD) into your laptop.
- Restart the laptop and boot from the installation media by pressing the appropriate key (F9, F10, Esc, or Del depending on your laptop model).
- Choose "Repair your computer" and follow the on-screen instructions to repair or reinstall Windows.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please click “Accepted 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!
Alden4
HP Support
HP Support Community Moderator