Failed WIN 11 upgrade in need of recovery assist

[FreeRangeFinch]

I have 3 HP Laptops, my newest is a Model 14-dq0005cl SN:[edit] came loaded with Windows 10. It has failed trying to upgrade to Windows 11 and I need help in recovering it to a usable state. The Windows 11 upgrade process became hung in an endless loop asking me to "Please Insert the External Media ..." or words to that effect. The 64GB USB device in use had somehow been destroyed in the upgrade process, it now is locked as unidentifiable device of 0 size. So I tried a power off, power on reboot and the laptop returned to the "Please Insert External Media" screen again and again. Another post here explained that by using the ESC key during power on, I could get to the BIOS and series of recovery screens, which I did. The advice in the helpful post said 1st attempt a System Restore from a previously saved Restore Point. I tried that but the process informed me that there was No Restore Point. While I still have access to the menus in the light blue series of recovery screens, I'm not sure what to try next. All suggestions and guidance are appreciated.

[zoey7886 · Accepted solution]

@FreeRangeFinch, Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding failed windows 11 upgrade!  
We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

It sounds like your HP laptop is stuck in a failed Windows 11 upgrade loop, with the USB drive corrupted and no restore point available. Here’s a step-by-step guide to recovering your system:

Check BIOS Boot Order

1. Power on your laptop and press ESC repeatedly until the startup menu appears.
2. Select F10 (BIOS Setup).
3. Navigate to Boot Options and check if the boot order is set to the internal SSD/HDD first.
4. If the USB is set as the first boot device, change it to the internal storage.
5. Save and exit (F10), then reboot.

Attempt Automatic Repair

1. Power on the laptop and press ESC, then select F11 (System Recovery).
2. Choose Advanced Options > Startup Repair and let Windows attempt to fix the boot issue.
3. If Startup Repair fails, move to the next step.

Reset Windows While Keeping Files

1. Go to F11 > Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
2. Choose Keep My Files and follow the prompts.
3. If this fails, try Remove Everything (this will erase your data).

Create a New Bootable USB (If Reset Fails)

Since your USB got corrupted, you’ll need a new bootable Windows 10/11 USB.

1. Use another PC to download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft website.
2. Insert a new USB (at least 8GB) and create a bootable drive using the tool.
3. Insert the USB into your HP laptop and boot from it (use F9 during startup to select the USB).
4. Choose Repair your computer > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
5. If repair doesn’t work, reinstall Windows 10.

Let me know if it helps!

Take care, and have an amazing day! 
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going! 

Regards, 

[FreeRangeFinch]

Perfect, clear answer, Got it done with help, THANKS!

[zoey7886]

@FreeRangeFinch, You're very welcome! 😊 I'm glad you got it sorted out with some help. If you ever run into another issue, feel free to reach out—I'm always happy to assist!

Regards,