Deleted everything - now cannot install Windows 11 from fresh and cannot upgrade the old BIOS (F.20)

[needhelpurgentl]

Hi. I have a serious problem with my HP Omen Desktop 25L PC:

1. I bought it, but it constantly came up with BSOD ("Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart") after trying to reset and it was impossible to do a factory reset, because it always ended up with this BSOD - many, many times no matter what I did.
2. Furthemore at some point it wrote: "Stop code: SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION".
3. I finally ended up deleting everything on the harddrive and attempting a fresh installation, because this has always worked me earlier with other PC manufacturers.
4. However, I found out I cannot use a downloaded Windows from the official MS website, because when I try to use either the normal Windows 10/11 ISO written to a USB, the installer stops because: "A media driver your computer needs is missing. This could be a DVD, USB or Hard disk driver..." - and then it gives me the option to "Browse" or "OK" or "Cancel". No matter what I do, I cannot get past this point, because I don't have any extra drivers and don't know which driver it wants...
5. I then found out I can use the "HP Cloud Recovery" tool to make a bootable USB and try to install Windows from that. This however ALSO results in BSOD although it looks like the installer almost completely finishes and it also reboots from the harddrive, before it fails really bad with a dialogue "Recovery Manager" saying the recovery/reinstallation failed. At this point there are 3 buttons: "Save logfile", "Details" or "Try again" - but I've tried this step many times and it always fails here and won't alow me to get past this point so I can boot into Windows.
6. I've tried to reset the BIOS to factory defaults and repeat everything - still the same problem.
7. I've found out that I think the BIOS is pretty old - version F.20 - but I need a working Windows-version in order to upgrade this and I cannot get a working Windows-version, because of BSOD.
8. I think perhaps I could install Windows 10 if I had access to the HP Windows 10 ISO-file, unfortunately however the HP Cloud recovery tool only allows downloading Windows 11, not Windows 10. I suspect maybe Windows 11 needs a newer BIOS.
9. I tried running different diagnostics - nothing...

Please help, right now I have a HP Omen computer and can't even re-install Windows due to these BSOD-errors! I've tried to look in the forum, but didn't found any solution. If I don't get this solved, this is the last time I'm buying a HP PC. Thanks for your time and I hope one/some of you can and will help, thanks!

[Bill_To · Accepted solution]

Hi @needhelpurgentl 

Welcome to the HP Forum.

Opinions or troubleshooting suggestions in this response are provided independently. I am not employed by: HP, Inc. or the HP Forum.

A SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION usually points to a bad driver, device, or possible memory problem.

If possible, I would check your PC's hardware as follows:

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

Select "F2". Run system and component tests.

Seeing you can't do any kind of operating system recovery adds weight to a bad device like the system disk or memory, but it could be any component connected to the MB. It could also be a buggy peripheral connected to the PC.

So disconnect unnecessary peripherals.

I can't help with the BIOS update: there are two possible MB SSIDs for your PC (8703, 8704). I don't know what you have. There should only be one BIOS update for each unique MB.

HP BIOS update 8703 Link.

HP BIOS update 8704 Link.

Both MBs have an F.20 BIOS version in the BIOS revision history.

Regards

[needhelpurgentl]

UPDATE: I now ran all the diagnostic tests (F2 BIOS) including the long tests - and I think you're right as it turned out one of the 2 8GB RAM blocks failed - first with both 2x8 GB RAM inserted. Next with the failed RAM-block removed. Next only with the failed RAM-block inserted. All 3 tests are consistent so I'm going to order new 8 GB RAM blocks. I think the problem has now been identified and I've therefore marked your answer as solution, thanks a lot @Bill_To  !!!

UPDATE #2: Now installed Windows 10 via the HP cloud restoration method... Annoying that I have to go through a gazillion upgrades to get Windows 11, but at least it works without the corrupt memory module, thanks!

[Bill_To]

Hi @needhelpurgentl 

My pleasure.

Good to see you found a RAM problem and can install Windows when the bad RAM is removed from the MB..

Regards