My HP desktop is stuck at "Choose your keyboard layout"

[Juan07]

Hi friends,
My HP desktop gets stuck on "Choose your keyboard layout". I can not do anything because the keyboard and the mouse do not respond. The usb ports or the cd  do not work either.
Can you help with this problem?  

Juan

[WAWood]

@Juan07 

Given the date of your post, I would have expected someone to respond to it before this -- but since that has not happened, I will take a shot at it ...

This message generally means that your Windows file system has become corrupted to the point that the core files for Windows are not intact anymore, so it thinks you are trying to reinstall it and is going through initial setup -- again.

Since you can't use the keyboard or mouse, that also implies that the needed drivers have become corrupted.

You would have to run diagnostics to check this out, but to do that, you have to be able to use a keyboard. Since the drive has probably failed, your only realistic solution would be to replace the drive and do a factory reset to get your PC back to working condition.  That involves a lot of work -- but if you want information about that, I can provide it.

[Juan07]

Hello Mr. Wood,

Thanks for responding to my post!  

I wanted to be able to save my kids pictures but It sounds like this process will make it impossible  right?
In any case, yes, please provide me with the information you'll like to share to reset the drive.

Juan

[WAWood]

@Juan07 

OK, let's discuss the two different issues.

1) Data recovery -- if you reuse this drive, you will erase and possibly destroy the data on it.  So, if you want to recover data, even if the drive still works, you need to replace it.  I've provided detail info on data recovery below ...

2) Restoring the PC -- you need to do a factory reset using a new drive to restore the PC.  This is involved and there are different options, so I've provided details on that below, as well.

----------------------- Data Recovery  ------------------------------

All you will be able to recover at best from the drive is personal data. You will not be able to recover settings, website information (including user accounts and passwords) or applications.

You will also need another drive large enough to hold the files and folders you want to recover because you can't recover them to the old drive.

Your best bet for recovering data now is to do the following:
1) Download and install this utility on a working PC http://www.majorgeeks.com/news/story/recover_data_in_3_steps_with_minitool_power_data_recovery_free_...
2) Connect the old drive, the one with the files and folders you want to recover, to the working PC
3) Connect something to that PC to hold the recovered files
4) Run the data recovery utility to see what can be retrieved from the old drive.

If that tool does not find what you need, an alternative is Recuva http://www.piriform.com/recuva

And, if that does not work well, the best tool out there is this one, but only the demo version is free https://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm

----------------------- Factory Reset -------------------------------

Here are the following ways to accomplish a factory reset:
1) Factory reset using internal HP image
2) Factory reset using external HP image you make
3) Factory reset using external HP image you buy

Each of these is discussed in some detail below ...

---------- Factory reset using internal HP image ----------
HP preloads most PCs with a compressed Windows Image that can be used to completely restore the PC to its original condition. This image is contained in the Recovery partition, and if it is intact, it will generally work well.

To do this, you press the Esc key repeatedly while rebooting and when the HP Startup Menu appears, you select the option to do the reset -- usually F11. This will take a couple of hours or more to complete and when done, your PC will start over with initial setup screens. That means that EVERYTHING previously on your PC will have been erased: accounts, settings, personal data, applications, drivers.

NOTE that the disk drive has to be in excellent condition or this will fail. So, BEFORE you do this, instead of pressing F11 as above, press F2 to run diagnostics. If the disk test passes, you should be able to run the reset.

---------- Factory reset using external HP image you make ----------
HP provides a Cloud Recovery tool that you can use, together with a 32GB USB stick, to create your on HP reset media.

Here is the link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

This works the same as the factory reset described above.

---------- Factory reset using external HP image you buy ----------
For those PCs not supported by the Cloud Recovery, in some cases, HP offers Recover Media for sale. This can not be downloaded; instead, it must be ordered from HP.

HP Recovery Media is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities.

In some cases, you may be able to order a USB stick instead of disks.

You can look online for Recovery Media starting with the linked paged: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

Once there, input your Product name or number. On your Software and Drivers Download page, select your Operating System and and Version. Click &quot;Update&quot;.<br><br>If HP Recovery Media is available for your machine, down near the bottom of the page, you will see an entry for Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB. Click the &quot;+&quot; symbol to expand that entry and click on Order Media for details.

Or, if you prefer, you can do the same by contacting HP Customer Support.

HP contact info: https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true

If HP no longer carries the media you need, another site you should check for HP Recovery Media is: http://www.computersurgeons.com/

These work the same as the factory reset described above.

[Juan07]

Hello,
Thank you for all this info, I will try these options next Saturday.
I will let you know the results.
Juan

[savvy2]

NO PC told

and when did w10-32 bit last run perfectly, last week never or bought this PC used, and is like this.

are you installing windows 10?

IS PC a desktop

power on hammer F2 see if the BIOS like the USB keyboard wired USB> not wireless.

then see F2 page information see what model PC this is and product ID# ???????

post what you saw for model or  ID or both, for 10x better help. we can not guess PCs, and is why no answers yet.

sorry .

if the keyboard has wires the battery in it is dead. or use wired keyboard, for quick fix.

my best answer lacking what PC desktop this is,

W10 does that if you have no keyboard present, or is dead, or battery dead, or some odd duck alien keyboard not told.

[savvy2]

NO PC told

answers will be wrong, even mine, NO PC TOLD

no keyboard told , maker and model  on the bottom

nor told if keyboard is wired USB or wireless . (if no wires the batteries are dead)

do not say impossible,  for sure everyone guessing what you have and WE DO NOT NOT KNOW yet

even post a photo of your PC, show and tell.

photos are magical ,even worth 1000 words we hear..

power on hammer F2 at the splash screen, and tell what PC you have.

and if wireless keyboard it needs new batteries, you did post to Desktops and those have 2 kinds of keyboard.

USB wired

and USB wireless, and  bingo bad batteries,  dollar store $1 fix.  wow. why assume doomed  with any $1 battery.

all we know is some PC is not dead, fully.  and w10 is upset. about keyboard. nothing more.....

[Juan07]

Hello Savvy2, this  pc is a desktop and it is a HP Pavilion Slimline. Bought it new back in 2014, more less, The keyboard is wired.
I did try another keyboard just to make sure that was not the problem, It did not work. It was a Windows 7 originally but had upgraded to Windows 10 two years ago. The pc was working fine prior to this problem.
 Now, I just want to save my kids pictures and I am thinking of removing the hard drive and use my laptop to save them.
Do you guys know the process to save pictures from a broken pc?

Thank you

Juan