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- Unable to install Windows on Laptop - screen says Media test...

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05-26-2023 12:58 PM
System crashed. Took out the 750 GB HDD and did a reformat on external enclosure. Tried to install Win 10 64 bits via USB Flash drive. Ended up in endless loop (chasing circle) win Win logo. Put HDD back in enclosure and checked it out. Works just fine. So, not a HDD or memory (I checked) problem. Then, when interrupting this endless cycle (unplugging flash drive), I get a message (abbreviated) as follows:
Realtek PCIe Family Controller PXE-E61 Media test failure - check cable (see attached jpg for full details).
Any idea how to fix this on this 2012 Laptop that worked fine until this failure. Appreciate any help/suggestions. Thanks.
Peter
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Accepted Solutions
05-30-2023 01:20 PM
Hi @PFZ,
Welcome to HP Support Community.
This could be a hardware issue with the unit and may need repair.
I suggest that you contact HP Service Center in your location from this weblink: https://support.hp.com/us-en/help/service-center
Note: Select your country from the dropdown, enter the city or postal code, select the product, change the radius, and click on search to locate the nearest HP Service center near your location.
Hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!
05-29-2023 09:46 PM
Also purchased a new internal HDD with same result. Unable to install Win 10 via USB Flash Drive. Took it to Best Buy and they said they will not be able to help since it's an antique Laptop (11 years old). Anyway, they opened up the back and took out the HDD and air cleaned the HDD as well as the cable connectors. Cable does not seem to be broken, so, the problem is probably the PCIe Controller on the MoBo that is fried.
So now, I have a beautiful door stopper. Any ideas/suggestions on a possible fix or is it now just a door stopper (junk).
05-30-2023 01:20 PM
Hi @PFZ,
Welcome to HP Support Community.
This could be a hardware issue with the unit and may need repair.
I suggest that you contact HP Service Center in your location from this weblink: https://support.hp.com/us-en/help/service-center
Note: Select your country from the dropdown, enter the city or postal code, select the product, change the radius, and click on search to locate the nearest HP Service center near your location.
Hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!
06-02-2023 09:47 PM
Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, since this Laptop is a dinosaur, the link you provided, at least for our metro area of Denver, did not come up with any helpful locations other than BestBuy here, there and everywhere. Well, we already know what BB had to say about this laptop. So, now, my last shot is to check with some local PC repair shops to see if they have any suggestions not costing an arm and a leg. I doubt that this old Laptop can be saved for a reasonable cost so, it will make a nice doorstopper.
Again, thanks your help.
Peter