HP Pavilion (W2X34EA#ABD) stuck in boot loop – USB boot fails – Windows 10

[WM_TSH]

Hi everyone,

I’m having a serious issue with my HP Pavilion laptop, product number W2X34EA#ABD.
The device is stuck in a boot loop – the HP logo flashes briefly, then the system restarts. This cycle repeats indefinitely and never loads Windows.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

• Booting from USB (Windows 10 installation media): Same issue – system restarts before reaching the Windows setup screen.

• System diagnostics via F2 (Startup Menu): All hardware tests (memory, hard drive, CPU) return “Passed”.

• BIOS reset to defaults: I disabled Secure Boot, no change.

It seems like this may not be a software or drive issue, but possibly something firmware-related, maybe even the motherboard or BIOS itself.

Has anyone encountered a similar problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,

Willi

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @WM_TSH,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

Since your HP Pavilion Notebook - 15-ab120ng (W2X34EA#ABD) is stuck in a boot loop and you've already tried USB boot, diagnostics, and BIOS reset, you're dealing with a deep firmware or motherboard-level issue. Here's a structured approach to move forward:

1. Perform a Hard Reset (if not already done)

• Turn off the laptop.
• Disconnect all external devices and power.
• Press and hold the power button for 15–20 seconds.
• Reconnect the power and try booting again.

🔗 HP PCs - Computer does not turn on, start, or boot | HP® Support

2. Try BIOS Recovery

If the BIOS is corrupted, the system may fail to boot. HP laptops often support BIOS recovery:

• Turn off the laptop.
• Press and hold Windows + B, then press and hold the Power button for 2–3 seconds.
• Release the power button but keep holding Windows + B for another 10 seconds.
• If successful, the BIOS recovery screen should appear.

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

[WM_TSH]

Hi everyone,
I’m working through a persistent issue with my HP Pavilion laptop (Product No. W2X34EA#ABD).
After being stuck in a boot loop, I followed the helpful advice from @VikramTheGreat and successfully performed a BIOS Recovery.
The good news:
• The boot loop is gone
• The system now powers on and attempts to boot
The bad news:
• I now receive a Blue Screen (BSOD) with the message:
ACPI BIOS ERROR
when trying to boot Windows 10 (both in UEFI and Legacy modes)
Important context:
• This exact BIOS version worked fine for years with Windows 10
• No hardware changes have been made
• MS-DOS boots fine from USB
• Linux Mint also boots and runs without issue from USB
• HP diagnostics (F2) all pass
This strongly suggests that:
• The BIOS recovery may have flashed incorrectly, or
• ACPI tables are corrupted, or
• A setting in the recovered BIOS is now triggering Windows ACPI errors
My questions:
• Is it possible to reflash or repair ACPI tables in this BIOS?
• Could there be a hidden setting (like ACPI mode, Windows 8/10 support toggle, or similar) that needs adjustment?
• Has anyone experienced ACPI BIOS ERROR after a recovery, and resolved it?
Thanks again to @VikramTheGreat – your input already helped a lot, and I’m now one step away from getting this fixed.
Any guidance would be appreciated!
Best regards,

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @WM_TSH,

Thank you for the detailed update, and I’m pleased to hear the BIOS Recovery resolved your initial boot loop.

Now that you're facing an ACPI BIOS ERROR (BSOD) while booting into Windows 10, even though MS-DOS and Linux boot fine, it's clear the issue lies in the interaction between Windows ACPI expectations and your system firmware.

Your HP Pavilion (Product No. W2X34EA#ABD) is classified as an end-of-life (EOL) / legacy product, and as such:

• Official driver support and firmware updates have been discontinued
• HP no longer provides active development or certified Windows 10 drivers for this model

Steps you can try:
1. Reset BIOS Settings to Default & Configure for Windows 10

1. Press F10 on startup to enter BIOS Setup
2. Press F9 to load Factory Defaults
3. Make sure the following settings are applied:
   • UEFI Boot Mode: Enabled
   • Legacy Boot / CSM: Disabled
   • Secure Boot: Enabled
   • TPM/Intel VT: Enabled (if applicable)

Some legacy models also have a “Windows 8/10 Features” toggle. If visible, enable it.

2. Clean Install of Windows 10 (UEFI Mode)

If the ACPI error persists, a clean reinstall of Windows 10 in native UEFI mode (not legacy/CSM) can resolve compatibility issues.

📎 Guide:
🔗 HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Support

Be sure to:

• Boot the USB installer in UEFI mode
• Delete all existing partitions (backup first)
• Let the installer recreate partitions with the GPT format
   

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

[WM_TSH · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone,

After several attempts to get Windows 10 running again following a BIOS Recovery – including booting from USB, clean installs, UEFI/Legacy switching, and diagnostic tests – I’ve decided to give up on Windows and move forward with Linux.

Strangely enough, Linux Mint boots and runs flawlessly, while Windows 10 installation media throws a BSOD with “ACPI BIOS ERROR”, regardless of configuration. The BIOS Recovery completed without visible issues, but ever since then, Windows no longer functions – despite having worked fine on this hardware for years.

Adding to the frustration, my notebook is not eligible for HP Cloud Recovery, so that route is closed as well.

At this point, it seems like support for older hardware has quietly ended with Windows 10, and running Windows 11 isn’t an option on this device either.

So: I’ll install Linux and continue using the notebook that way – it still works perfectly for office, web, and media tasks.

Thanks again to @VikramTheGreat and others who helped along the way. Your time and advice were much appreciated.

Best regards,

Willi

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @WM_TSH,

Thank you for your response,

Is there anything else that I can help you with today?

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue; it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Take care and have a great day ahead!

VikramTheGreat

HP Support