Cannot log into the PC. Stuck in "choose you keyboard layout" and "Choose an option" screen.

[David373]

When I open my laptop I am met with a "choose your keyboard layout" screen. After I select an option with my mouse I am met with a "choose an option screen" with two options, "Troubleshoot" and "Turn off your PC".

This is how the issue started: After trying to open an app the screen went completely black and the laptop was unresponsive. I waited for 25 minutes and the screen was still black and the laptop still not responding so I decided to make it sleep. After that didn't work I turned off the laptop. When I opened it up again I was faced with the aforementioned issue.

There was also a windows update the previous day however the laptop worked just fine afterwards so I am not sure if it is at all relevant.

I have tried all sorts of things that were suggested in internet forums and videos. I've tried restarting the laptop through "UEFI firmware settings", I've tried uninstalling updates, I've tried "startup repair" nothing I did has worked.

I've also run a "quick test" for hardware issues( in the window you get in when you press " f2" in the dark window after "restart"). It didn't find any hardware issues.

If you want more info I will gladly provide it. Thanks for your help in afvance

[WAWood]

@David373 

That message basically means that the Windows file system has become corrupted to the degree that it needs to be reinstalled.  It will not be able to repair itself in this state.

That most likely happened when it locked up due to that app and you turned off the laptop.

You said you tried uninstalling updates, but how can you do that if you can't get beyond the option you list at the beginning of the thread?

[David373]

.@WAWood

"You said you tried uninstalling updates, but how can you do that if you can't get beyond the option you list at the beginning of the thread?"

That is my bad, I should have explained better. I am able to interact with the "Choose an option" screen however any option I try from there on leads me back to the "choose keyboard layout" screen with the exception of the "return to factory condition" ( which of course I haven't tried). That is why I am "stuck"!

In the "Choose an option" screen I can go to "Troubleshoot" -> "Advanced options" -> "Uninstall Updates". After that I'm met with two options, "Uninstall latest quality update" and "Uninstall latest feature update", neither of which work.

"That most likely happened when it locked up due to that app and you turned off the laptop."

What do you mean by "locked up". What should I have done in that situation? Because clearly what I ended up doing was a huge mistake.

[WAWood]

@David373 

I'm not saying you did anything wrong.  When a PC locks up, the only recourse you generally have is to shut it down cold -- and that nearly always corrupts the file system in the process.

Also, such lockups are usually caused by hardware issues, such as a failing drive, but you said you ran the diagnostics and the drive checks out OK.

Your only recourse at this point would be to do a factory reset using external media. Your ways to accomplish this are the following:
- Factory reset using external HP image you make
- Factory reset using external HP image you buy

Each of these is discussed in some detail below ...

---------- Factory reset using external HP image you make ----------
HP provides a Cloud Recovery tool that you can use, together with a 32GB USB stick, to create your on HP reset media.

Here is the link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

This works the same as the factory reset described above.

---------- Factory reset using external HP image you buy ----------
For those PCs not supported by the Cloud Recovery, in some cases, HP offers Recover Media for sale. This can not be downloaded; instead, it must be ordered from HP.

HP Recovery Media is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities.

In some cases, you may be able to order a USB stick instead of disks.

You can look online for Recovery Media starting with the linked paged: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

Once there, input your Product name or number. On your Software and Drivers Download page, select your Operating System and and Version. Click &quot;Update&quot;.<br><br>If HP Recovery Media is available for your machine, down near the bottom of the page, you will see an entry for Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB. Click the &quot;+&quot; symbol to expand that entry and click on Order Media for details.

Or, if you prefer, you can do the same by contacting HP Customer Support.

HP contact info: https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true

If HP no longer carries the media you need, another site you should check for HP Recovery Media is: http://www.computersurgeons.com/

These work the same as the factory reset described above.

[David373]

Thank you for your reply, I really do appreciate it!

Can you explain to me what could be done to avoid a PC from "locking-up"?

What issues( other than hardware) can cause a lock-up or what factors make it more likely to happen? My own laptop when into lock-up when I tried to open an app( team fortress 2) while there was another app running in the background( popcorn time).