HP Spectre 360 stuck in reboot loop after July 2025 Windows Update

[Joe_14]

Hello!  My Laptop is stuck in windows reboot after latest Windows update.  I have it set to automatically update, so I'm assuming it's whatever Windows 11 version was just released in July 2025.  With the HP logo, sometimes at says "Preparing Automatic Repair" and sometimes just the clocking circle.  I can't get it to go into safe mode - f8 doesn't seem to trigger anything, and I've rebooted MANY times.  Eventually, I get BSOD and "PNP_Watchdog" error message which I think means some of the plug and play interfaces are causing a problem, but I can't get into windows safe mode to change any drivers.   I CAN get into the BIOS by pressing ESC multiple times.  I ran diagnostic tests and the hardware seems to be working fine.  I checked the HP website and noticed I was running Bios F24 version and the latest update was in May 2025 with F36, so I downloaded and updated the BIOS on the laptop, but still having the same problem of an infinite boot loop. 

I also have a local external hard drive backup of the computer through iDrive, so I created a bootable recovery USB for that.  Unfortunately, when I boot up from the iDrive WinRE recovery USB, the program opens up and recognizes my external hard drive and backup file, but can't seem to find the local internal hard drive as a drive available to restore the backup file to.  I called iDrive tech support and they said that I needed to change the SATA controller to AHCI in the BIOS for it to recognize the internal hard drive, but I couldn't find any settings in the BIOS to do that, no "storage" menu option or "SATA" anywhere in the BIOS setup.  Somewhere I read that the laptop probably is using a NVMe controller and there would be no option for SATA, but not sure what that means.  So now I'm stuck with a backup that I can't reinstall... Next steps are probably to create a windows clean install USB, but wanted to check to see if anyone had ideas about how to boot into safe model and just uninstall the latest Windows update, and if not, how I can switch to AHCI in the BIOS so I can get the backup recovered onto the internal hard drive.  Barring all those options, I'll have to try to do a clean install of windows and then manually add all programs, etc. one by one, which I'm trying to avoid.  Thanks for any help you can provide!🙂🙂‌  update:, tried a clean windows 11 install from bootable USB but it won't do any repairs or a clean install as it can't find the drive to install it on, which is confusing since when I run the diagnostics from bios, the Intel SSD is running fine (SSD SMART and short DST checks both passed).  So then I thought maybe it's drivers or firmware.  I found an update for firmware version HPS2 vs HPS1 currently) for the Intel storage on HP website for my laptop model, but am currently trying to figure out how to install it from the Intel website using Intel SSD firmware update tool...am I on the right track, or could this be an entirely different issue?

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Joe_14,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

Thank you for the incredibly detailed summary — it’s clear you’ve done all the right things and explored the right tools. I know how frustrating it is when your HP Spectre x360 Convertible Laptop PC 14t-ea000 CTO won’t boot, especially after a Windows update and when safe mode, system restore, and even clean install options aren’t working. Let’s work through this together — as your HP Support Team, we’ll help get you back up and running.
 

Step 1: Confirm Drive is Detected in BIOS (UEFI)

You've already done this via ESC → F2 diagnostics, and the Intel NVMe SSD is present and healthy, which rules out hardware failure.

There’s no SATA/AHCI option in the HP Spectre x360 BIOS because your system uses NVMe PCIe storage, not SATA, so the AHCI toggle isn’t relevant.

Step 2: Extensive Test -

1. Hold the power button for at least five seconds to turn off the computer. 

2. Turn on the computer and immediately press Esc repeatedly, about once every second. When the menu appears, press the F2 key. 

3. On the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) main menu, click System Tests. 

4. Click Extensive Test.

Run the test and let us know if it passes or if you get any failure message. Based on that, we can run more steps in solving the issue.

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

[Joe_14]

Hi Vikram, thanks for the help!

Yes, I have already run the extensive diagnostic tests, and everything passed, all systems.  On the hard drive specifically, the SSD SMART drive and the Short DST check both passed.  What's next?

Kind regards,

Joe

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Joe_14,

Thank you for letting me know. Could you please let me know after performing those steps, are you able to get back to the Pc and able to use the device or still having the same error?

Let me know

Regards,

VikramTheGreat

[Joe_14]

Yes, same problem.  No change.

Thanks.

Joe

[Joe_14]

Still can't get into the PC...

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Joe_14,

Thank you for letting me know. Please help me with the Pc details in a private message.

Please help us with your HP unit serial number or the product number in a private message for further assistance.
 

Here is the link to find the product Serial number: - Click here

To access your private messages, simply click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile and send a private message to me with the serial number because we value your privacy.

VikramTheGreat

HP Support

[Joe_14]

Hi Vikram,

I clicked the link you provided to the private message but get this message: "You do not have sufficient privileges for this resource or its parent to perform this action.  Click your browser's Back button to continue."  Also, I don't seem to have an icons in the upper right next to my profile that would indicate send a private message -, just notifications (Bell), My profile with dropdown (My Profile, My settings, My Posts, Subscriptions), and another Notifications in the bar below my profile (Megaphone icon).    Am I missing something?  Or do I need to get different privileges?  This is the first time I'm posting, so not sure if I missed something during setup...  Thanks for your help!