Start up menu options

[JustFlyin]

Hp notebook 15-af112-nr running windows 10. Laptop froze while attempting to log in to spotify. A friend suggested I use power button (?) to turn off (shut down) device then use button again to turn device back on and to do this three times in succession. Upon final start device went into a diagnosing/repairing mode, allowed me to enter password then became “stuck” in a black screen. No error mssg. Attempted to turn device of then on, continue black screen. Shut off then immediately after powering back on pressed “esc” repeatedly which opened the “Startup Menu”. However I do not know which option I am to choose or even “what” each one means/does. I apologize for my ignorance.

[WAWood]

@JustFlyin 

Pressing the Esc key repeatedly is HOW you launch the HP Startup Menu -- so your PC is doing exactly what  you are forcing it to do!

If you don't want that menu, then reboot without pressing the Esc key and if that menu does reappear, it should go away after a few seconds and then bring up a login window.

[JustFlyin]

Hello and Thank you for your assistance. I did however manage to get past (work through?) the dilemma I’d  gotten myself into only to encounter something else. At the moment my touchpad is not working and the cursor is frozen. I’ve been having “issues”, on & off for a week or two and  installed malwarebytes(free?) thinking that might help. However I have no idea “what” I am doing (duh?!) and after the scan & a list of potential threats I again, didn’t know the next strp so I did 0. Now as I said, I’m stuck with a frozen cursor. Can you possibly help asap? Maybe I should just take it in to repair shop and let them do whatever they do??