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HP Recommended
Hp Spectre XT TouchSmart 1540
Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)

Hi. Im usually pretty good at solving these kind of issue by googling, but I'm stumped with this. So first a little bit of background. Some ADware got installed on my laptop- no idea how- and I installed malware remover to uninstall. After restarting, laptop would not boot any longer. I went into Windows Recovery (F11) and did the Automatic repair. It said the HDD needed repair before starting the repair so I continued. After the system restarted, I was stuck in the Automatic Repair boot loop. I tried Windows Recovery once again but I can no longer boot into recovery. Get an error message "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart...error DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (iaStorA.sys)" 

 

By this point I didnt care about losing all my files I just wanted to get my laptop running. I downloaded the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and made a USB Recovery Drive. I went into BIOS (F10) and changed to the boot order to boot into the USB thumbdrive first. When I power on the laptop, I just get the hp logo and the loading circle beneath it for a few seconds- then restarts and does it all over again. I have tried all the above several times with the same outcome. I did a Hardware Diagnostics (F2) "Start up Test" and the "Run in test"  and everything checks out OK- "PASSED"

 

I don't know what else I can do. Ive tried Youtube but cant find my exact problem. Most vids tell you to go into recovery but even that doesnt work for me. Right now Im downloading an ISO to burn a Recovery Disc to see if this will work but Im not too hopeful. Any advice on what to do next will be greatly appreciated.

 

EDIT: I burned the recovery disc and used an external Drive to load. This time, I do get a message saying "press any key to boot from CD or DVD..." After pressing a key the disc seems to be spinning and all I get is the hp logo with no loading circle but then it restarts and asks to press any key again. This was the last idea I had but now Im just waiting to see if any of you know what I should try next.

 

EDIT 2: I figured it out. I was trying to recover to Windows 10 thats why the USB or DVD Boot didnt work. Since my sytem came with Windows 8 I downloaded the 8.1 Recovery and that booted right away. On my way to installing Windows 10 now.

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
HP Recommended

I figured it out. I was trying to recover to Windows 10 thats why the USB or DVD Boot didnt work. Since my sytem came with Windows 8 I downloaded the 8.1 Recovery and that booted right away. On my way to installing Windows 10 now.

View solution in original post

4 REPLIES 4
HP Recommended

 

If you press Esc key immediately after powering on it should halt boot. A menu with F9 Boot option should be a choice. Tap F9 and check for the usb installer.

**Click Accept as Solution on a Reply that solves your issue**
***Click the "YES" button if you think this response was helpful.***

HP Recommended

Thanks for the reply. I have done what you said but I still get a loop. It nevers loads the USB just restarts the system after about 15 seconds.

HP Recommended

I figured it out. I was trying to recover to Windows 10 thats why the USB or DVD Boot didnt work. Since my sytem came with Windows 8 I downloaded the 8.1 Recovery and that booted right away. On my way to installing Windows 10 now.

HP Recommended

System recovery does not work, F11 does not work, originaldesktop does not work

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