Victus Gaming Laptop 15 doesn't boot

[Jaimegu]

A two-year old HP Victus Laptop 15 doesn't boot because it can't find a boot device.

This laptop has all original hardware and was not opened until this failure.

I ran the F2 diagnostics tests and failed for storage. Created a Win11 install USB, didn't find a HD.

I opened the cover and reseated the M.2 disk, it didn't work.

Bought an enclosure : The old disk in enclosure doesn't work, even tested in a different PC.

Bought a 2nd M.2 disk (512GB NVMe Gen3x4 identical specs to original). 

The new disk passed the F2 Storage test and then I proceeded on to install Win11... In the middle of the install, didn't find the wireless adapter, didn't accept the Ethernet cable, then it simply stopped. It said fatal error.

Windows Repair didn't work, so I retried the Install... and now it doesn't detect the M2 disk (not the install and not the F2 diagnostics utility). Seldom times it finds the drive and stops saying SMART has detected an imminent failure.

Does this mainboard have an electrical issue and is burning some components? Is there another cause since the same disk was fine at the beginning and now not anymore.

I'm hesitant on buying yet another M2 drive for it to be burned by this laptop.

Please advise. Thanks

[Jerry_57]

Hi @Jaimegu,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

If your two-year-old HP Victus Gaming Laptop 15 is not booting and is unable to find a boot device, coupled with the failed diagnostics for storage, it seems the issue might be related to the storage device. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem:
 

Check Storage Connection:
 

• Ensure that the M.2 SSD is properly seated in its slot. Despite having reseated it, ensure there's no dust or obstruction in the connectors.

Testing with a Different M.2 Disk:
 

• You’ve mentioned testing the original SSD in an external enclosure on another PC, and it didn't work. This suggests the old SSD might be faulty.
• Since you have already purchased a new M.2 SSD (512GB NVMe), proceed with installing this new SSD into the laptop.

BIOS Settings:
 

• Enter the BIOS setup menu by pressing F10 during boot-up.
• Check if the BIOS detects the new M.2 SSD. If not, ensure that:
  • The correct boot mode is selected (UEFI is typically recommended).
  • SATA Operation or NVMe settings are set correctly for your new SSD.

Boot Order:
 

• Ensure that the boot order in the BIOS is set to prioritize the M.2 SSD or USB containing the Windows 11 installation media.

Reinstalling Windows:
 

• With the Windows 11 USB installation media, boot from the USB drive:
  • Press Esc repeatedly as the laptop starts to access the boot menu.
  • Select the USB drive to boot from.
  • Follow the Windows installation prompts, ensuring to select the new M.2 SSD as the installation destination.
    
    
    I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Jerry_57

HP Support

[Jaimegu]

Thanks Jerry for taking the time to answer back.. I thought these forums were basically dead

However, if you read I did try to reseat the M.2, to reinstall Win11 on the new M.2 drive and it started to fail later.

So I am really concern that the mainboard is killing drives, and maybe other peripherals 

Thus, my question is if these Victus 15  boards are known for it (hardware damages, electrical issues).  I have seen many posts about Victus 15  unable to boot, although the symptoms are not identical

[Jerry_57]

Hi @Jaimegu,

Thank you for your response.

Please help us with the Printer serial number or the product number in a private message for further assistance.
 

Here is the link to find the product serial number: - Click here

Find product and serial numbers for HP PCs, printers, and accessories | undefined

To access your private messages, simply click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile and send a private message to me with the serial number, because we value your privacy.

Jerry_57

HP Support