Critical Process Died Victus Laptop

[PJ03]

On my 8-month-old HP Victus laptop I received a blue screen error, Critical Process Died.  Laptop will boot to System Recovery but each and every option tried fails to accomplish ANYTHING. 

Prior to error. . .

I did a System Restore due to problems with PaintShop Pro causing thumbnails of .psp (layered images)  to not display as previously had with no problems.     When that didn't correct the problem I then uninstalled PaintShop Pro, with intentions of reinstalling, and then rebooted and did a Windows update since the System Restore removed recent updates.  I then  attempted to reboot again but received the "critical process died" blue screen error. 

I have tried everything in the System Recovery mode, including trying to reboot in safe mode, but nothing is working.  It won't allow me to boot in safe mode nor try System Restore again.  

I opened CMD in the System Recovery and ran scannow; it said it found corrupted files and corrected them and would apply fix upon reboot, but that accomplished nothing since it said the fix would be applied upon reboot and it won't reboot.   Boots only to blue error screen or into System Recovery.

I also did a chkdsk /f /r /x, but that found no problems to repair.  I do not want to try allowing System Restore to reinstall Windows and then have to reinstall EVERYTHING else UNLESS that is my ONLY option. 

I ran HP diagnosis and it found no problems.  

Does anyone have any  suggestions, please? 

[BeemerBiker]

See if you can get into windows safe mode. 

Click here to see how to start your system in safe mode.

Once in safe mode you can try the "System Restore".  Pick a restore point using a date from before the problem arose

If no restore points (that can happen) bring up the device manager and look for errors.  Try to fix the errors by either rolling back the driver or downloading the driver from here

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/victus-by-hp-15.6-inch-gaming-laptop-15-fa0000/2101092095

Lemme know if a problem getting into safe mode.

[PJ03]

Clicking to enter safe mode (while in the System Recovery as that is my only option) causes a reboot, and like I previously said it will boot to the blue screen error 2 times and then go into System Recovery.   And, nothing in System Recovery works. 

Examples: 

It will not let me uninstall recent updates.   And when I click to try a System Restore, drive C is listed but it will not let me place a checkmark beside it to select it.  Clicking to correct startup up problems does not work. I have tried every option to change the way Windows starts, such as the various ways to enter safe mode, but none of those work.  

[BeemerBiker]

You will have to do a "repair install".  This will install 10 or 11 but during the install you request that your personal data be saved.

Basically you download the latest window 10 (should work for 11), create a USB boot drive, boot up the USB version of Windows, do the install, but select the option that preserves all your data.  You will need to know if using Windows Home, Pro or some other version.



Using another system go here and download the windows installation media.  Specify the 16gb flash and be sure to check the 'Create installation media (USB)' and uncheck the 'Use the recommended options for this PC'


Insert the USB in to the system you need to repair and turn it on. Press ESC or DEL or F12 so that you can get into the bios and change the boot device. For example, the one with the dark bar highlight.


After the USB boots up select the language and agree to the fine print, if any.

Once you agree the option to either install or repair will be shown. Since the repair did not work then chose install.

You must then pick the OS that was licensed. If there is no option for the correct OS you forgot to uncheck the 'Use the recommended options' earlier.

The next screen will ask if you want to upgrade and preserve files or do a clean install and lose all your stuff.

[PJ03]

Thank you so much  for your detailed information,  BeemerBiker.  Do you know if everything on my hard drive might still be accessed if I remove the hard drive and, using a cable, attach it to another older computer via USB port?  And if so, would you know the specific type of cable I need?  For my older HP laptop I used a USB 3.0 to SATA III Hard Drive (Link) but that won't work for my Victus. 

Thank you again for your kindness and professional advice.

 

[BeemerBiker]

To transfer files you will need an NVME adapter like this 

makes sure it is "M+B" and do not spend more than 20 USD

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=usb3+to+m.2+nvme&crid=1G4I0LXUGQVO4&sprefix=usb3+to+m.2+nvme%2Caps%2C103&...

[PJ03]

Thank you so much for sharing the details of the device I would need, BeemerBiker.  I ordered the exact device and it was delivered today, but it appeared to have been previously opened as there was no thermal pad included nor the small silicone screw, and the small end of the device that pops off was missing too.  And, it was not Windows plug and play.  I am going to return it, request a replacement.  If you've used this before, was yours plug and play?  If not, perhaps I just need to ask for a refund and choose a different device as it states on Amazon (where I ordered it) that no support for the device is offered. 

[BeemerBiker]

The one I have did not use a screw, the m.2 locked under a plastic tab and there was no need for the thermal pad as I used it only for cloning the old m.2 to the new one.

After  cloned my old m.2 to the new larger one I pressed the tab and the m.2 popped out and I put the new m.2 in the system where the old one was. 

It is plug and play in the sense that the m.2 will show up a a USB disk when attached to the computer but to do a clone you will need to download and run any of the free cloning software.

when you put the m.2 in the adapter and plugged the adapter in the drive should have shown up in windows file manager.  if it did not then it is not recognized due to missing or corrupted files.  If you put a new m.2 in it then you need to run windows "create and format disk partitions" which will ask to initialize a new m.2 chip.  Do not bother initializing it if you intend to install a clean copy of windows on a new m.2

What have you done with it?  Did you put your old m.2 in it and then use another laptop to obtain personal files from the chip?  This should have worked unless the files system was corrupted.

[PJ03]

 BeemerBiker, the vendor sent a replacement device and the new box was sealed unlike the first so it included all parts.  However, it's not Windows plug and play.  Windows recognizes it as something  being plugged into a USB port but Windows is unable to install a driver for it, thus the device does not show up in File Explorer and in Device Manager it shows errors as unidentifiable.  I've tried over and over in doing Windows updates in hope it will be able to properly detect the device but nothing is working.  I received a message from the vendor as he was making sure I had received the replacement.  I replied and shared that it's not Windows plug and play and I am awaiting his response.  I plan to go ahead and look for another device on Amazon since I feel this one simply will not work with my Windows 10 laptop. 

[BeemerBiker]

I am not sure what the problem is.  Basically the device is not any different from USB flash memory once you put the M.2 memory stick into it.

If you put a 128gb m.2 memory stick into it and plug it into any desktop or laptop the file manager will show a 128gb flash drive.  This assume the m..2 memory stick is not defective.