Hp boot loop, local reinstall keep files, installing windows 88% for 22 hours

[mghh172]

Hp envy bought brand new in sept2021, will normally restart randomly however never experienced any issues afterwards. it restarted without me being present at my desk and died resulting in a boot loop. My hard drive passed the checks and is not affected, system restore and system repair both loaded to 100% successful but went back into a bootloop. 
i have not backed up my documents so I need to try and save those so I decided to try and reset by keeping my files and local reinstall, it has now been 22 hours where ‘installing windows 88%’ has not changed. I am scared that I will lose my documents, I have created a usb with windows 10 on a usb using the media creation tool however I am scared that escaping the restart at 88% will destroy everything and make me lose my documents. I am unsure whether to leave it going for a bit longer or restart and try and boot windows 10 from the usb even though I may risk all my files which are my main concern.

i have no option in bios for legacy support so I am unsure if booting my usb will work as there is no legacy support option. 

[Sneha_01 · Accepted solution]

Hi @mghh172,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

Given the situation with your HP Envy, it's crucial to prioritize the safety of your documents while trying to resolve the boot loop and installation issues. Here are the steps you can take:

Step 1: Access and Backup Your Files

1. Use a Live Linux USB:
   • Download a Linux Distribution: Download a lightweight Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Linux Mint.
   • Create a Bootable USB: Use a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB with the Linux ISO file.
   • Boot from the USB: Insert the USB into your HP Envy and boot from it. Since you mentioned there's no legacy support option, ensure the USB is created with UEFI support.
   • Access Your Files: Once booted into Linux, you can access your hard drive and back up your important files to an external drive or another USB.

Step 2: Address the Windows Installation Issue

Abort the Stuck Installation:

• It's been 22 hours at 88%, indicating the process is likely stuck. You'll need to restart the machine, despite the risks.
• Hard Restart: Hold down the power button until the computer shuts down, then restart it.

Try Booting from the Windows 10 USB:

• Insert the Windows 10 USB: After restarting, insert the Windows 10 installation USB you created.
• Boot Menu: Press the appropriate key (usually F9, F12, or Esc) immediately after powering on to access the boot menu. Select the USB drive from the list.
• UEFI Boot: Ensure the USB drive is set up for UEFI boot if your BIOS does not support legacy mode.

Step 3: Repair Windows or Perform a Clean Installation

Attempt Startup Repair:

• When the Windows Setup screen appears, select "Repair your computer" instead of "Install now."
• Go to "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Repair" and let Windows attempt to fix the boot issues.

Perform a System Restore:

• If Startup Repair doesn't work, try "System Restore" from the same Advanced options menu to revert to a previous state before the boot loop started.

Reinstall Windows:

• If the above steps fail and you have backed up your files using Linux, you can proceed with a clean installation of Windows.
• Clean Install: From the Windows Setup screen, choose "Install now" and follow the prompts to install a fresh copy of Windows. Make sure to format only the partition where Windows is installed, leaving other partitions intact if you want to preserve additional data not yet backed up.

Step 4: After Reinstallation

1. Restore Your Files:
   • Once Windows is reinstalled, you can restore your backed-up files from the external drive or USB.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support