Laptop stuck on automatic repair fail/loop - Critical Process Died

[stejones999]

 

 

Hi,

Im having problems with my laptop.

it all started when I was prompted to install an update to my graphics card, which resulted in the screen going black. I therefore connected the laptop to the TV via HDMI to get to the desktop and followed some online guidance to try to roll back to a previous version. Still the screen was blank.

i therefore followed the online guide to try automatic repair and safe mode etc and now I’m stuck in an endless cycle of failure/restart and I’m getting a Critical Process Died error message.

[Garp_senchau]

@stejones999, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Boot into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE):

Turn off your laptop completely (hold the power button for a few seconds if necessary).

Turn it back on, and immediately start pressing the F8 key. This should take you to the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

If you can get into WinRE, you’ll see options like Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, etc.

Try Startup Repair

Once in WinRE:

Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.

Let it run and see if it can fix any startup problems. If it doesn’t, you’ll see a message saying the repair was unsuccessful.

Run System File Checker (SFC)

If Startup Repair fails:

From the Advanced Options menu, choose Command Prompt.

In the Command Prompt window, type: sfc /scannow

Then press Enter. This will scan your system for corrupt files and attempt to repair them. If there’s a file system issue, this might help.

System Restore (if available)

If you had System Restore enabled before the issue occurred, you can roll your system back to a previous state before the update:

Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.

Select a restore point before the graphics update, and follow the prompts to restore your system.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

[stejones999]

Hi.

Thanks for coming back to me.

Tried the Sfc/scannow process and it states ‘Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service’

System Restore - no restore points

Do I need to reset this PC?

I’ve got pictures of the kids on the hard drive. Do you think I can get to them by using an external Hard rice reader if I’ve got the bitlocker key?

Thanks

[Garp_senchau]

Hey @stejones999,

Thank you for your response

Thanks for the update — I know how stressful it can be when your laptop goes into a boot loop, especially with important files at risk like pictures of your kids. Let’s walk through your options carefully to both recover your files and restore the system.

Yes, you can recover your data using an external drive reader — as long as you have the BitLocker key.

Now, regarding fixing your laptop:

Since sfc /scannow failed to run due to repair service issues, and there’s no restore point, and you're facing a "Critical Process Died" loop — your Windows system files are most likely corrupted beyond repair.

Once your data is safe, here’s what you can do:

Create a Windows 11 bootable USB:

On another working PC, download the Windows Media Creation Tool.

Use it to create a bootable USB stick (at least 8 GB).

Insert it into the problematic laptop.

Boot into BIOS.

Set the USB as the primary boot device or select it from the boot menu (F9 on HPs).

Choose “Repair your computer” at the bottom-left.

Try Startup Repair again.

If still stuck, go to Command Prompt and try  chkdsk C: /f /r

Then restart.

If repair fails, choose Reset this PC from the recovery screen.

You can choose “Keep my files” if you're still hoping to preserve anything (though backup is safest before this step).

If BitLocker is on, you'll need the key to proceed.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,