Unable to logon to laptop, memory fast check failed

[CaptainCranky]

My laptop will not let me logon and when I did a fast check it came back with a Memory fast check failed error code PUQJ33-8R0980-MFPURG-404303 Product Id 2DS88UA#ABA. Now everytime I power off or shutdown and start up I go into preparing automatic repair and no options work for repairing. Wondering if getting new memory would fix it? Any and all help appreciated.  Thanks,

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Enter the code in the box at the link below to see if you can get more details about the error code.

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

The product specs for your notebook indicate that it comes with 12 GB of memory.

If your notebook is under warranty, you can contact HP and submit a support case under the warranty to get the defective memory module replaced free of charge.

If it is no longer under warranty, remove one of the modules and run the notebook.

If the notebook won't run, remove that module and try the first one you removed.

If the notebook works, then you have isolated the bad memory module and you can buy a replacement one with the same specs.

[CaptainCranky]

Thank you for information. I was able to open up the laptop and yes it had a 4gb and 8gb memory sticks.  I tried pulling one and booting up after each but it went Preparing automatic repair each time.  I even tried each one in the different slot as well but the same results. Is is possible for both to go bad at the same time? Do you have any other suggestions that might not include a full system restore?  Thanks,

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I think you are going to have to do the full system restore, because I doubt both memory modules are bad.

One of them probably is but you'll have to get the notebook up and running again.

Before you do that, there is one thing you can try. 

Make the W10 installation media using the media creation tool at the link below, using another Windows PC.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

The tool will allow you to create a bootable USB flash drive.  You will need an 8 GB flash drive for this.

When you boot from the installation media, and you get to the installation screen, on the lower left side of that window, there is a Repair your computer option.  You can try one of the options under that menu.

If the repair options don't work, and you have important files you don't want to lose (which may be why you don't want to do the factory reset), you can proceed and clean install W10 over the existing windows installation if you do not delete any partitions or format the drive.

It will create a Windows.old folder.  After W10 installs, you can explore your old user profile in the Windows.old folder and copy the folders in your old user profile to the new one.