Cannot get new laptop to boot up

[hsh101]

Hi!  I bought a HP laptop just over two years ago, and am finally trying to set it up.  (Don't ask - life has gotten in the way and I limped along with an old one for quite a while).

When I try to boot it up, I just get a blue screen.  My efforts so far:

  1) I was able to get into the BIOS and saw that the date and time were not accurate, so I updated them. 

  2) I let it plug in overnight in an attempt to charge the battery but it didn't make a difference. 

  3) I've tried a hard reset but no luck. 

  4) I've tried the HP recovery manager, but no luck either (it was stuck on the "please wait" screen for a long time).

  5) I've tried running component tests as well as a fast system test but all immediately return me to the previous menu.  Nothing shows up in the logs as having run a test.

  6) I've also created a Windows 11 USB installation drive and got to  the point where I could try to clear the partitions and reinstall Windows but I couldn't delete the existing partitions.

Online info suggests that maybe it's an issue with the SSD but wanted to get some expert insight before I start heading down that path. 

Any thoughts?  TIA!

[BeemerBiker]

Click here for HP's official list of hardware tests.

UEFI warranty test: Check to see if there is a hardware problem: Watch this video.

Tap the ESC key after powering on. Tap it once a second after you see the LEDs on the keyboard flash. When you see the startup menu, press F2 to run diagnostics.

If a component fails during the UEFI test then Click here to check warranty

If the component is not tested then possibly it is in the updated version of UEFI diagnostics
Expand Spoiler if update needed

Spoiler

HP releases newer UEFI diagnostics periodically.
When you select F2 during boot you are requesting UEFI diagnostics.
There is an updated diagnostics package Click Here
Look for the phrase 'issues outside the OS',
Click the DOWNLOAD button.
The version of the UEFI diagnostics is shown at the left of that DOWNLOAD button.
When you press F2 to run diagnostics please ensure the version is the new one.

If no failure then windows drivers or file corruption could be the problem.

Go into the BIOS and make sure all menus are set to default.

HP is removing cloud recovery for system over 5 years old. The actual wording is a limited time after the warranty expires. You may want to get a copy of the cloud recovery before it is too late.

Cloud recovery provides all the custom HP drivers.
Go here and enter your product ID including the 3 characters after the # character. If you have cloud recovery you can restore your system using a 64gb flash.
It may take an hour or more to create the recovery USB. Alternately, download from the MS windows store. Click here for instructions.

Many commercial or "business" laptops have an alternate recovery tool different from that cloud.

Please let me know what you find out.