Infinite Boot Load Up

[lollip0p]

Hello, I have a problem booting up my HP Stream  Notebook PC 13.

Every time I power up the computer, it turns on to a black screen, then shows the HP logo, then goes black screen again.

I’ve tried repeatedly tapping f11, it takes me to troubleshoot, and anything on troubleshoot never seems to work.

I’ve also tried repeatedly tapping the ‘escape’ button, but nothing helps me there either.

I’m not sure what is wrong with my computer, but it’s not working right.

Someone please help me?

[WAWood]

@lollip0p 

Ordinarily, when a laptop no longer boots into Windows, this means that the boot records (known as the BCD) have become corrupted due to a failing drive and running diagnostics confirms this to be the case. Folks then replace the laptop drive, use the HP Cloud Recovery option and a 32GB USB stick to make recovery media, boot their laptop from that media and do a full restore.

With a Stream, this is a much more difficult situation.

First, the Stream does not actually have a laptop hard drive. Instead, it has a memory stick configured to work like a "disk drive" -- so, it has a stick of EMMC memory instead of an HDD. This is very small, usually 32GB, so it is too small to do any major Windows Updates since Windows takes up nearly all of the "drive".

Second, the SSD, unlike the SATA SSDs in other laptops, can not be replaced by the consumer. So, when it fills up, you can't replace it with a larger one. And when it fails, you can't replace it with a new one.

Thus, you can try running diagnostics to test the drive -- but if it fails, you will have to take the Stream to a laptop repair facility to have them replace the SSD. You can not replace it yourself.

To check the drive you have to follow these steps:
1) Press Esc key repeatedly, several times a second, while rebooting the laptop. Do NOT hold the key down, just press it over and over.
2) Eventually, you will see an HP Startup Menu
3) Press the Function key for testing the hard drive (usually F2) and let it run.