HP PC Hardware Diagnostics run at each start

[AchillePim]

After each start, I get an invitation to run HP Hardware Diagnostics Windows. I did it once and it did not detect any problem. There is no way to stop it in the Task scheduler or in HP Support Assistant.I have to close the windows manually. I decided to fully unistall HP PC Hardware Recovery Diagnostics Windows and UEFI to no avail.

The Boot setup has no "Diagnostics" option I could disable (I run version F16). The F2 key just runs HP Hardware Diagnostics Windows even after I uninstalled the Hardware Diagnostics software. The problem came up recently and may be linked to Windows updates but I don't understand which one (I run Windows11). 

Does anybody what it is and what to do? Thank you. 

[VikramTheGreat · Accepted solution]

Hi @AchillePim,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

It sounds like your system is stuck in a loop where HP Hardware Diagnostics for Windows or UEFI launches every time you start your HP laptop, even after uninstalling the software. This is a known issue that can happen due to a boot configuration glitch, often triggered by a Windows update or a corrupted UEFI partition.

Fix: HP Hardware Diagnostics Launches at Every Startup

1. Disable Diagnostics Boot from BIOS/UEFI

Even if the software is uninstalled, the UEFI tool may still be stored in a hidden partition and set to auto-launch.

1. Restart your laptop and press Esc repeatedly at startup.
2. From the Startup Menu, press F10 to enter BIOS Setup.
3. Look for a tab like Boot Options, Advanced, or Diagnostics Configuration.
4. If you see “Diagnostics Boot”, “POST Diagnostics”, or “HP Hardware Diagnostics”, disable it.
5. Press F10 to save and exit.

If you don’t see this option, proceed to the next step.

2. Remove UEFI Diagnostics from EFI Partition (Advanced)

If the UEFI tool is stored in the HP_TOOLS or EFI System Partition, it may still auto-load.

⚠️ This step is for advanced users. If you're not comfortable, I can guide you through it live.

1. Press Windows + X → choose Disk Management.
2. Look for a small partition labelled EFI System Partition or HP_TOOLS.
3. Use DiskPart or a third-party tool like MiniTool Partition Wizard to mount the partition.
4. Navigate to the EFI > HP > Diagnostics folder and delete the .efi files.

3. Reset Boot Order

1. Go back into BIOS Setup (F10).
2. Under Boot Order, make sure your main hard drive/SSD is listed first.
3. Move any Diagnostics or USB entries below the OS drive.
4. Save and exit.

4. Optional: Reinstall and Cleanly Remove HP Diagnostics

Sometimes reinstalling the tool and then uninstalling it properly can clear residual triggers.

• Download from: HP PC Hardware Diagnostics | HP® Support
• Install it, then uninstall it again via Control Panel > Programs.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing 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,

VikramTheGreat

[AchillePim]

Thank you VikramTheGreat. The "Great" in your name is not too much. You could put "Fantastic".

This reply is to give a feedback to other users. 

Step 1: Did not work. I have Boot Options but no "Diagnostics" options to disable. 

Step 2: Success! I've used Diskpart with the online command "List Volume" to get the volume number x of the EFI partition. Then "Select volume x" and "Assign letter=M". At this point I could see a disk M in explorer but I could NOT open it in explorer, though I used an administrator account. So I had open use a cmd command line (with administrator privileges) to open disk M, then navigate to M:\EFI\HP\SystemDiags where I could delete the .efi files. 

Step 3: I checked the Boot order but I had nothing to do. After reboot in my usuel user account (no admin privileges), the annoying HP PC Windows Diagnostics did not start again. And everything is back to normal. I'm happy. 

Step 4: No need of this one in my case. 

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @AchillePim,

That’s fantastic, thank you so much for taking the time to share that detailed feedback and your solution! 🙌

It’s great to hear that Step 2 worked perfectly for you and that you managed to stop the Diagnostics from launching on every boot. Your additional notes about assigning the EFI volume and using the command line to remove the .efi files will be extremely helpful for other users running into the same issue.

You handled it like a true pro, clear, methodical, and patient. I’ll make sure your feedback is highlighted so others can benefit from your experience.

And thank you for the kind words, “FantasticTheGreat” has a nice ring to it 😄

If you need any assistance in the future, please do keep us posted.

Take care and have an amazing 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,

VikramTheGreat