Pavillion Gaming PC won't boot to upgraded NVMe

[ejluvsrush]

Hello!  New to HP Gaming laptops, but very familiar with upgrading /building desktops.  I have a factory refurbished HP Pavilion Gaming 15-ec1020ca that I purchased from Micro Center in Cambridge (Boston) MA but it is a Canadian model, oddly enough.

It came with a 512 GB NVMe in it with no secondary HDD or SDD. and 8 GB of RAM.  I installed a 2TB Samsung 870 QVO SSD as secondary storage (completely empty at the time), upgraded the 512 GB NVMe to a Sabrient Rocket Q 1TB NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 as the boot drive, which I also intend to have some apps on, and upgraded the RAM to 20 GB.  I performed an “HP Recovery” which was essentially downloading Windows 10, creating an ISO file and installing from an external USB HDD. 

Once I did this, the Sabrent NVMe would not boot up.  I would get a black screen, and then after 2-5 minutes, a blue error box telling me there is no bootable device detected.  After a google search didn't produce anything that helped resolve the issue I contacted Micro Center who told me to unplug the charger, press the power key and hold it for 20 seconds, which I did. I believe this was a hard (power) reset.  After I did this that the NVMe booted up.  Until I turned the laptop off.  Then it would not boot again.  I then searched the internet and discovered instructions on how to clone the original NVMe in a "fool proof" way which I did using Macrium Reflect.  I made an image, then installed that from a USB flash drive.  Still the booting issue persisted. 

I have run system tests and individual hardware tests multiple times and they all pass without any issues at all.  I am not sure how, I think it may have been the imaging, but I also think after the imaging I did the reset again (I can’t recall), but as it stands now the computer will boot up the NVMe, but only from a cold start.  if I do anything that requires restarting the computer like say a Windows update, updating software, or even using HP support tools or Microsoft tools to reset the computer or upgrade to Windows 11 the NVMe won’t boot.  It just hangs until I get the blue screen telling me there is no bootable drive.   I have to manually start the computer, sometimes utilizing the boot menu, sometimes not, which has caused a re-install and an upgrade to Windows 11 both to fail.

I have seen on the internet many reports of the same boot issue after upgrading the NVMe, along with references to disabling secure boot, which I tried, and enabling the legacy menu, which I cannot find any way to do in my Bios.  I can’t even find any reference to legacy boot in it. (AMI Bios Version F.25 8/18/21)

I have contacted HP who, even though this laptop is under warranty, will not help me even though I had previously been told this type of issue would be covered (Told this when I was considering getting a Care Pack).  Instead they direct me to their Smart Friend service, without any mention of the fact that there is a fee of $15.00 a month (in a contract I am sure) or a one-time fee of $99.00, either of which I will not pay.  When I tell them I am within the product warranty their only response is that they are not equipped to handle my request.

I am going out of my mind trying to correct this and need some assistance.

Thank you all very much!  Sorry for the length of my tome

EJ

[ejluvsrush]

Hello everyone, 

I have a legitimate concern I need assistance with which I have posted, but you wouldn't know it because someone reported it and it was marked it as spam.   Twice.  It is not Spam.  My gaming laptop won't boot to the NVMe I installed.

Someone please help me.

[ejluvsrush]

Here is the original post.

Hello!  New to HP Gaming laptops, but very familiar with upgrading /building desktops.  I have a factory refurbished HP Pavilion Gaming 15-ec1020ca that I purchased from Micro Center in Cambridge (Boston) MA but it is a Canadian model, oddly enough.

It came with a 512 GB NVMe in it with no secondary HDD or SDD. and 8 GB of RAM.  I installed a 2TB Samsung 870 QVO SSD as secondary storage (completely empty at the time), upgraded the 512 GB NVMe to a Sabrient Rocket Q 1TB NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 as the boot drive (which I intend to keep a small number of other apps installed on), and upgraded the RAM to 20 GB.  I performed an “HP Recovery” which was essentially downloading Windows 10, creating an ISO file and installing from an external USB HDD. 

Once I did this, the Sabrent NVMe would not boot up.  I would get a black screen, and then after a minute or three, a blue error box telling me there is no bootable device detected.  When an internet search didn't turn up anything that corrected the issue I contacted Micro Center who told me to unplug the charger, press the power key and hold it for 20 seconds, which I did.  I believe this was a hard (power) reset.  After I did this the NVMe booted up.  Until I turned the laptop off.  Then it would not boot again.  I searched the internet again and discovered instructions on how to clone the original NVMe which I did using Macrium Reflect.  I made an image, then installed that from a USB flash drive.  Still the booting issue persisted.  I have run system tests and individual hardware tests multiple times and they all pass without any issues at all.  I am not sure how, I think it may have been the imaging, but I also think after the imaging I held did the reset again (I can’t recall), but as it stands now the computer will boot up the NVMe, but only from a cold start.  if I do anything that requires restarting the computer like say a Windows update, updating software, or even using HP support tools or Microsoft tools to reset the computer or upgrade to Windows 11 the NVMe won’t boot.  It just hangs until I get the blue screen.  I have to manually start the computer, sometimes utilizing the boot menu, sometimes not, which has caused a re-install and an upgrade to Windows 11 both to fail.

I have seen on the internet many reports of the same boot issue after upgrading the NVMe, along with references to disabling secure boot, which I tried, and enabling the legacy menu, which I cannot find any way to do in my Bios.  I can’t even find any reference to legacy boot in it. (AMI Bios Version F.25 8/18/21). I'm not even sure that would solve my issue, since the results on the net seem hit or miss.

I have contacted HP who, even though this laptop is under warranty, and I have even purchased a 1 year extension to said warranty, will not help me. (side note, because the device is Canadian and the Care Pack extension I purchased via a pop up from the laptop is American and there is a difference apparently, said care pack did not register to the laptop as it should have and I am currently in the middle of getting that corrected. I mention this because the kind rep helping me with that assured me my issue would be covered under the existing warranty and therefore also the extension I purchased) They direct me to their Smart Friend service, without any mention of the fact that it there is a fee of $15.00 a month (in a contract I am sure) or a one-time fee of $99.00 either of which I will not pay.  When I tell them I am within the product warranty and have in fact purchased a 1 year extension as well their only response is that they are not equipped to handle my request.

I am going out of my mind trying to correct this and need some assistance.

Thank you all very much!  My apologies for the length of my tome.

EJ

[pbroussard]

It sounds like a bios issue. Have you updated the bios lately? Here's the link for your model- https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-pavilion-gaming-15-ec1000-laptop-pc-series/32612... 

[ejluvsrush]

Hello and thank you!  I  know I checked the Bios for an update, but somehow I missed that there is one.  I will install now and let you know.  Does my bios allow for "legacy" boot options? Because I can't figure out how to get to them.

[ejluvsrush]

updated the Bios.  Still have the same behavior.😫

[pbroussard]

I am unsure with your model. HP doesn't provide much adjustment in bios, presumably to keep those pesky users from hosing their machines.

[pbroussard]

All I can suggest is to do a hard reset to clear cmos. You've already done one of the clear cmos procedures, but if it were mine, I'd unplug the AC adapter and battery, then do a hard reset.

[pbroussard]

And one final thing. Don't install your storage drive until you get the OS drive up and running. I've seen some reports that indicate this is the preferred method. You let the bios know the one installed drive is the OS drive, once you have it setup and running right, then install the storage drive.

[ejluvsrush]

Thank you for all your assistance.  I will do as you suggest tomorrow.  You ya 1 am here and I should get some sleep before work.  

thanks again and I will keep you updated!

EJ