Couldn’t reset laptop

[Sophia_B]

i havent went on the computer for a long time then I turned it on the screen was black and only had a cursor I tried to reset it but it wouldn’t let me

[Raj_05]

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

1. Shut down the laptop completely.
2. Disconnect all external devices (USB drives, printers, etc.).
3. Remove the battery (if it is removable).
4. Unplug the power adapter.
5. Hold down the power button for 15-20 seconds.
6. Reinsert the battery and plug in the power adapter.
7. Turn on the laptop.

Boot into Safe Mode

1. Turn off the laptop.
2. Turn it on and immediately start pressing the F8 key repeatedly until you see the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Select "Safe Mode" with the arrow keys and press Enter.
4. 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

1. Boot into Safe Mode as described above.
2. Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and press Enter.
3. Follow the prompts to choose a restore point from a date when your laptop was functioning correctly.

Automatic Repair

1. Turn off the laptop.
2. Turn it on and immediately start pressing the F11 key repeatedly to access the recovery environment.
3. Select "Troubleshoot".
4. Choose "Advanced options".
5. Select "Startup Repair" and follow the instructions.

[Raj_05]

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.

1. Turn off the laptop.
2. Turn it on and immediately start pressing the F11 key repeatedly to access the recovery environment.
3. Select "Troubleshoot".
4. Choose "Reset this PC".
5. 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.

1. Create a Windows installation media using another working computer. You can download the tool from the Microsoft website.
2. Insert the installation media (USB drive or DVD) into your laptop.
3. Restart the laptop and boot from the installation media by pressing the appropriate key (F9, F10, Esc, or Del depending on your laptop model).
4. 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.

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Alden4

HP Support