HP ZBook x2 G4 USB Port and random restarts

[nickisghosty]

Hello, how's it going?

For me not so good. I was using a USB - UART device and when I hooked it up, my computer screen went black and rebooted. Then my USB stopped working and I kept getting BSOD trying to start the machine. I ended up having to change some bios settings for it to boot windows. I had to disable I believe it was deep sleep and extended power states.The BSOD error was unexpected kernel mode trap.

Now every time I plug in or unplug my charger the machine BSODs or sometimes no BSOD just reboots.  Sometimes just randomly seemingly for no reason at all.. I am still under warranty but IDK if this would be covered.

I've done the HP diagnostics and tested everything there is to test and have had no fails except the USB port. I tried unplugging the ribbon connector to the USB to see if it was a fault with the daughter board but it acts the same either way. I haven't tried to see if the HDMI port on that daughter board works or not, I'd assume probably not since the USB right next to it doesn't. I've tried removing a stick of ram and swapping them and it didn't help. I'm hoping it's not a CPU or system board issue, but if it were wouldn't the diagnostics catch it? I let the memory test run a couple days, and no fail. I haven't tried to see if it randomly reboots when in Linux, but it doesn't when in BIOS/UEFI or the diagnostics tools, only when in Windows.

Any idea what the problem is or if this issue would be covered under warranty?

Thanks a lot.

[ub6424]

Hello @nickisghosty 

I strongly advise you to go back to Windows 10 as your notebook model

HP ZBook x2 G4

is not fully tested and certified by HP for Windows 11.

(1) Backup <all> personal data (documents/pictures/videos etc...) to external USB hard drive

(2) Downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10

https://www.techadvisor.com/article/744263/how-to-downgrade-from-windows-11-to-windows-10.html

(3) if downgrade fails ...

--->>> Please reinstall your operating system !

You need another (stable) computer to prepare bootable <USB flash drive>

--- Solution ---  A)

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4511095-4511141-16

( All Software and drivers from HP are already included )

---

--- Solution ---  B)

Use the official Microsoft method:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

 After installation is done, download and install HP drivers

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

---

(4) If the system is still unstable, there is a technical error ! -> Contact HP Support for service repair !

(5) Please report your results

[nickisghosty]

 Ive had no problems with windows 11 this far... I just reinstalled last night and it's still BSODing unrelated to windows 11. I've had windows 11 installed for months. And the BSODs just started when I connected the USB to uart serial device..

I did get a different error on the BSOD however. It said clock watchdog timeout.

When googled says there's a problem with the CPU...  Is this true?

[ub6424]

Hello @nickisghosty 

We need the check CPU and GPU temperatures ...

(1) CPU

Download, install and start <Open Hardware Monitor>

https://openhardwaremonitor.org/

--->>> take screenshot after a few minutes <idle>

(2) GPU

Download, install and start <GPU-Z>

https://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

- click tab [sensors]

- Remember to select the right graphics chip/card on bottom

--->>> take screenshot after a few minutes <idle>

(3) Please report your results