Screen goes black after POST when trying to boot to disc (external and internal) or USB

[Amorris94]

I'm a computer technician, and I cannot figure this issue out. Windows tries to boot and gives the error: Unmountable Boot Device. My first thought would be to boot using a live disc to back up data and attempt repair. When I try to boot to a disc or USB, I get the HP splash screen and the spinning dots, indicating that it's loading, then the screen goes black, and nothing happens after that point. I've tried reseating and replacing the RAM, but this helped none. I'm at a complete loss at this point, and any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[KrazyToad]

@Amorris94

Welcome to HP Community

May I know where did you get the boot disc from? Are you using the HP Recovery Media?

At this point I suggest you run a Hard drive Test to confirm the Hardware Functionality

- Hold the power button for at least five seconds to turn off the computer.
- Turn on the computer and immediately press Esc repeatedly, about once every second. 
- When the menu appears, press the F2 key.
- On the main menu, click Component Tests and Hard drive

Keep me posted 😊

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the "Solution Accepted" on this Post and it will also help other community members with similar issue.
 

[Amorris94]

The boot discs I've used are ISOs that I've downloaded and burned, which include Hiren Boot CD, Windows 10 Installation disc, and Ubuntu 18.04 live disc/installation disc.

[Amorris94]

The HDD did fail the Short DST test, but that shouldn't interfere with the ability to boot to a disc or USB, right?

[KrazyToad]

@Amorris94

If the HDD test failed, then I suggest you contact HP Support for Service Options and you can also order the Recovery Media from HP to reload the OS if you wish

Click on this link - https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true and select your Country to get the Contact details for HP Support

Thank you

[CherylG · Accepted solution]

@Amorris94 

I have occasionally seen a bad hdd prevent booting from anything. This is assuming you are using Esc at power on to open the startup menu, then F9 Boot Option to select the bootable cd/usb?

You could always unhook the drive and then test booting with your bootable usb/cd. If it boots then it would pretty much rule out other problems. Maintenance and Service Guide shows how to access hdd:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-15-f300-notebook-pc-series-touch/8961458/model/10098384/manu...

[Amorris94]

That solved my issue, though I've never seen a bad HDD affect booting to an external device across the hundreds of machines I've worked on. Could this be a problem with the UEFI firmware? 

[CherylG]

I don't really suspect a problem with the UEFI firmware although anything is possible. I have seen a bad hdd prevent booting from external source on at least a couple of machines over the years. I have even seen a bad battery cause it on several occasions. Most notable, a few years ago when my brother drove 150 miles to have me look at his laptop which he/I suspected needed a new hdd. On impulse I removed the battery and it booted right up.