Startup disk error?

[mclarke19]

My computer was running slowly, so I decided to restart. Upon restart, the screen goes blue and asks me to choose my keyboard language/setup. It then takes me to the recovery manager, which I can’t open. I get an error message that says:

Cant open file : X:\sources\recovery\Tools\HP\Rita-tool\

I have tried every option, every menu selection there is. I have gone into BIOS and run fast, quick, and extensive tests, as well as system checks on the hard drive and memory. I also tried every option on the following website:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-10

i am completely at a loss. Someone please help. 

[IT_WinSec]

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@mclarke19 wrote:

I have gone into BIOS and run fast, quick, and extensive tests, as well as system checks on the hard drive and memory. I also tried 

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Hi @mclarke19 

Welcome ! 🙂

Please, provide details/confirmation what were the results of the tests - did they all PASS ?

Your issue may be caused by corrupted Windows (software issues) or hardware problems - please, answer my question and I am going to provide more specific instructions

[mclarke19]

Hi- yes it passed all of the tests

[IT_WinSec]

It's good news to hear that the hardware diagnostics passed. This confirms your issue is related to Windows/software.

Try hard restart/hard reset.

Press the power on-button on your PC and hold it for about 5-10 seconds until your computer powers off completely.

Remove and unplug any external peripherals and accessories.

Press once the power-on button to turn on the PC and wait if it will start now. Wait...

If it still fails to load properly, go ahead with the next steps

Reinstall Windows

If the above steps did not help and if you tried Reset to no success, you will need to reinstall Windows from scratch - the Microsoft way. It is not a difficult task but may be slightly more time consuming.

• Please, check the attached PDF file below with instructions how to do it.

• If you have any important files you may want to keep/archive/backup/extract, make sure you do it before the Windows reinstallation. If you need help with that, do let me know in advance.

Hope this works for you. Let me know how it goes 🙂

[mclarke19]

Thank you for the detailed instructions, I believe that should work. 

I do, however, need to back up some files before I do so. How should I go about that?

thanks,

michelle

[IT_WinSec]

You are welcome,Michelle @mclarke19 

There are 3 options:

• 1 (the most complex one) - Getting the HDD out which may require you to disassemble the device and plug the HDD into another device
• 2 (the easiest one but may not work on your configuration) - using F11 options and using Windows built-in features - you may give it a try >> https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/Windows-10-desktop-screen-not-f...
• 3 (medium complexity) - will most likely work for you - using bootable media from Linux-based operating system, like Ubuntu

Here are the Ubuntu instructions (3) - please, be patient and take your time.

You will need :

- another PC to set this up

- either 1 empty/blank USB thumb drive *at lest 4 GB capacity

- Linux based operating system - free to download - e.g. Ubuntu or Linux Mint

- small program - free - called Rufus

You can directly download Ubuntu Desktop from Ubuntu's web site:

Download the x64 ISO > https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Once ready, you need to write the ISO to make a bootable media (e.g. bootableUSB drive). Here is how:

>> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

When ready with the USB drive:

* Go to the PC BIOS / UEFI using the F10 option

* Ensure Secure Boot is disabled  (if applicable for your model)

* Ensure Legacy mode is enabled (if applicable for your model)

* Save the UEFI/BIOS changes and restart

Details>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03653226
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6IDv7yE3c0

Eventually, please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

Insert (plug in) the Ubuntu USB thumbdrive prepared previously

Power on start the PC.

As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu which may look similar to this one >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSN0qzXayUY

Choose F9 to open Boot options. Select the USB thumb drive as the boot option/boot device.

Follow the on-screen instructions to run/try Ubuntu (not install it but try it).

Ubuntu should load. You can try to see if it will be able to mount your existing HDD.  Use the File Explorer.

If possible, you may be able to browse your files and copy what is necessary to a online Cloud storage service or to another additional USB device.

Hope this helps. Let me know

[mclarke19]

Several days later, I've tried all of the instructions sent and I still can't get my computer to boot up. 

Following the PDF "Clean Windows 10 Installation", I've made it to the top of page two where instructions are: 

"- Press/hit F9 from your keyboard to open Boot device options.

- Select the USB thumb drive as a boot option and wait a while"

After selecting the USB drive as the boot option, my computer goes to a black screen with a blinking white cursor. I've been on this screen 10+ minutes with no progress.
Help? 

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @mclarke19 

Thank you for the update.

* Just a kind reminder than if you want to back up your files, this should be done before the Windows 10 clean (re)installation *

With regards to your USB booting issue,

• Make sure you you created the USB pendrive successfully - the Microsoft Media Creation tool should have confirmed this successfully
• This is not written in the instructions but if you create the USB drive on another device and it has different boot configuration, the Media creation tool might use the other configuration. If you have created the USB device successfully, before booting from it, do the following:

* Go to the PC BIOS / UEFI using the Esc / F10 option

* Ensure Secure Boot is disabled    (if applicable for your model)

* Ensure Legacy mode is enabled   (if applicable for your model)

* Save the UEFI/BIOS changes and restart

Details >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03653226
Video example >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6IDv7yE3c0

Only after that try booting from the USB media you created initially.

Note that you may take pictures from BIOS/UEFI, from USB creation and post them back here - this will help me see your real screen and guide you better, if something is not clear 🙂