Driver PNP Watchdog Error During Windows Setup

[Khat17]

Good morning everyone. Hopefully someone has seen this and can possibly point me in the right direction.

So below you can see the error. This happens when using a USB device with Windows 10 or 11 to boot the system. Booting to the setup media (ISO) is done using RUFUS/VENTOY/E2B. Each one fails.

Setup Error

There is an existing OS on the SSD, but the drive is failing so a new one is being installed. Would like to set up a fresh Windows but that doesn't seem possible. System will boot using other WinPE tools but just not the Windows installation media. 

Initially I thought there may be some BIOS issue - so I booted using a WinPE and did the BIOS update to the latest version. Same issue in the picture above. Checks on the problem all point to some HDD configuration in the BIOS - maybe IDE/RAID/AHCI - but all things seem to refer to an existing installation that may have the issue. Nothing about a fresh install.

I've included photos of the actual BIOS settings from the device to show what the options are. There's nothing related to the drive configuration. Any assistance would be appreciated. I'd rather do a fresh install than having to clone the existing drive - the fact that it was failing may carry over some problems that I'd rather not deal with.

I noticed something in the BIOS - which you can see in the edited picture - the product name says "14-fq0xxx" instead of the correct "14-fq0057nr" - is it a generic thing? Or is there something wrong with the system? 

Thanks for your time - waiting (im)patiently - lol.

Bios Menu - 1Bios Menu - 2Bios Menu - 3Bios Menu - 4

[ub6424]

Hello @Khat17 

---

@Khat17 wrote:

...

So below you can see the error. This happens when using a USB device with Windows 10 or 11 to boot the system. Booting to the setup media (ISO) is done using RUFUS/VENTOY/E2B. Each one fails.

Sorry to hear that you are having problems ... 

Does the same error happen when the Microsoft Media/Setup Creation Tool creates a bootable USB stick and you use it ?

Please report your results

best regards

---

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[Khat17]

Good day @Ub6424 - I didn't try that as yet as the other tools have historically worked. I'll test that and post back the results.

[Khat17]

Good evening @Ub6424. I tried that and it didn't work. Same error after sitting there for a while. No different from when I used the other tools. Any other suggestion?

[ub6424]

Hello @Khat17 

I checked your bios screenshot, you are not using the latest bios version.

( Or the revision is not displayed, I don't know ... )

(1) Update BIOS

HP Notebook System BIOS Update (AMD Processors)

F.61 Rev.A

22.0 MB

Apr 6, 2022

Download

Why should you install the update ?

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4123786-2338478-16

Quote: "

Updating the BIOS is recommended as standard maintenance of the computer. It can also help resolve the following issues:

• An available BIOS update resolves a specific issue or improves computer performance.
• The current BIOS does not support a hardware component or a Windows upgrade.
• HP Support recommends installing a specific BIOS update.

"

(2) Enter BIOS > menu [ Exit ] > [ Load Setup Defaults ]

then:

[ Save Changes and Exit ]

(3) Reboot and test again ...

Please report your results

best regards

---

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make it easier for other people to find this type of solution by marking the reply ▶️ [ Accept as Solution ] ◀️

Do this on the post I wrote that helped solve it.

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[Khat17]

Hi @Ub6424. 

The BIOS is the latest version. It's just not showing the revision. I'll find the update file that I used and send the details. 

I tried to start the OS load in another system then transferred the drive after files were copied. Same watchdog error. 

Going to now clone the drive and attempt the recovery from the partition if it's there and intact. 

If I can think of anything else I'll post it. If I find a solution otherwise I'll post. 

May try slipstream the drivers to the ISO and try again. But it's weird that the official Windows ISO fails to boot. I'd expect something like no keyboard or mouse and I'd have to use an external, but this is just weird. And no option to disable UEFI to make attempts at anything. 

*EDIT*

Confirming that it's SP139500. Was run from within a WinPE that starts. Hmm....Let me check something...

[Khat17]

Good day @Ub6424. Would you believe I cloned the drive and now the new drive won't boot? It sits there with the loading circle and the HP logo (EFI boot). 

I have licenses for various tools used for drive copying. And there's also some free tools available. Going to attempt another tool to copy and the move to Linux and use tools there if all else fails. But that's interesting. 

Moving from an ORTIAL 256GB M.2 SATA SSD to a KINGSTON 240GB M.2 SATA SSD. While the drive is smaller, that shouldn't prevent it from booting when cloned. Even if the size is different so the starting sector for the recovery is different - and that may cause issues with "finding" the recovery environment - the system should still boot. It's a direct clone of the original.

I'm hoping it's not a compatibility issue. I really only know of Apple pervasively doing something like that. While I have seen it periodically on PC platforms, it's been very rare.

I feel there may be some settings for the BIOS that are not visible - or just can't be changed - that's preventing this from going through. I've seen nothing to disable any additional security, no additional boot or drive options. Nothing. 

May move to checking for drivers and slipstreaming the ISO before creating the USB. Only other thing I can think of at this point.

Could you also check the setup on your side as well? This is what I get when I run it. And the actual recovery says F.61 - nothing about Revision A. I can do a CRC/MD5 check and let you know as well - if required - just so we're sure I have the right file.

*EDIT*

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

The cloud recovery tool links don't seem to work. Attempting to get it from MS.

https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/hp-cloud-recovery-tool/9MTKS9PR7R3N?hl=en-au&gl=AU

Will try that and see how it goes. Somewhat confused at this point. Neither the original drive nor the cloned one seems to boot now. Just sits there spinning forever...

[Khat17]

Using the cloud recovery tool from the Microsoft store works. I've created the bootable USB. I've confirmed it works in another laptop quite fine. In the device in question - same driver PNP watchdog error...

Any other suggestions @Ub6424? Anyone else have any other things that could be tried?

I'm about at the end of my available options now. Nothing else I can think of...

Did I mention that I used a tool from within the WinPE that boots and tried to deploy the image to the drive? And that also failed? I mean - it deployed. But it just won't boot. It sits there spinning - no error - just spinning. I haven't left it for more than 10-15 minutes thereafter, but I guess I could leave it to see what happens. 

My major concern now is that even the recovery USB created from the HP tool fails to load. So...

Help? LoL.

[Khat17]

So - decided to try adding drivers (slipstream) to the Win 11 ISO - turns out there's nothing really needed.

So I'm at a loss. Does anyone else have a similar device? Can you try booting from USB and let me know what happens? I'm beginning to think this one may be defective - bad board or something. 

BIOS is already up to date. No storage drivers really required - just card readers really. So I'm stumped now.

[ub6424]

>Could you also check the setup on your side as well? This is what I get when I run it. And the actual recovery says F.61 - nothing about Revision A. 

I checked. Only the major version is shown, so it's ok.

(1) Disconnect all drives !

(2) Load Bios setup defaults, save and exit

(3) boot up with usb flash drive linux distro

(4) let it run for some time, check <system monitor>

(5) stable or not ?