I have an older Pavilion Slimline 400-034 desktop computer that won't reboot.

[TheOldMan]

I am having trouble with this forum.  I made a reply but it would not post, so I'll try again.

The "system recovery you see says F11 - so that is HP Recovery Manager to restore to factory.

The point of the steps to get into safe mode is to force a startup and then stop it.  Doing so three times in a row will put Windows in a different environment called WinRE.  Then you should see something on the screen.  You may or may not see anything while doing the steps but stop the boot-up before it gets to the blank/black screen.

What are you using to post to this forum, another PC?  If so ,can you see the pictures from the link I posted?

[Alank65]

I am using my HP Envy X360 to post to the forum. I wasn't able to see any pictures from the link you posted.

[Alank65]

Where I seem to be stuck at this point is when I try to put the PC into Windows Recovery Environment (winRE).

1. Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device. DONE
2. Press the power button again to turn on your device. DONE
3. On the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some devices show the manufacturer’s logo when restarting) hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device. THIS IS WHERE I AM STUCK. THERE IS NO SIGN THAT WINDOWS HAS STARTED. I ONLY GET THE BLACK FLASHING SCREEN.

I cannot finish the remaining steps because I never see a sign that WIndows has started.

[TheOldMan]

Ok, at least you are using a full PC to see the posts.  If you open the link

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode

click on the heading "from a blank or black screen"  You will then see the steps I posted earlier and then keep scrolling down, there  will be some pictures of what you should see once you get into the WinRE

If you use a signin - either password or PIN to enter Windows, but do not put it in, then that should be far enough.  That would be the normal screen even though now you cannot see it.  Stop there without putting in the password or PIN.

Continue with the steps to make sure three times have been completed.

If it is going to work, the WinRE screen should not be loading the drivers or whatever you did that caused this and you should then be able to see the screens as shown in the link.

Good Luck!

[Alank65]

I will try and go through those steps again.

I decided this morning to go back into the diagnostics and run the system extensive test. Everything passed with the exception of the Hard Drive Optimized DST Check." I received a failure ID of Q0AD7W-000A33-WPWWXG-61SF03.

[Alank65]

I have tried these steps repeatedly, and I cannot get the monitor to do anything but have a black flashing screen when I get to step 3. There is absolutely no sign of Windows starting up. so I can't get to WinRE. I'm completely frustrated. All I did was install actually iOmegaware product software from a CD, set the compatibility to Windows XP, and restart the PC when it told me to. .

[TheOldMan]

I understand the frustration.  If it will not go into WinRE from the hard drive, the only way I know is to force it to boot from a Windows 10 install, either USB or DVD, which you can make.  I would try that next, since this is being frustrating.

Go here with the working PC and make either

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Scroll down to the "Using the tool to create installation media" and follow the directions.  Then boot this problem PC to that new media. 

Use the Esc trick if you have to, to get to the Boot Menu (F9) and then change it to which ever media you made.  Then when it boots to the new media, pick repair this PC.  You will eventually see the screens shown in the link about getting into safe mode.