Laptop Turns Off During Factory Image Restore

[wharles62]

I want to completely reset my laptop to factory settings so I did the following:

Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore > Recovery system settings on your computer > Advanced recovery methods > Return your computer to factory condition > Skip (to backup files) > Restart

Fast forward... I got to the Factory image restore loading screen and once it got to around 20-30% progress, it shuts off automatically as if it ran out of battery. I charged my laptop fully right before my reset, and have plugged in the ac adapter throughout, so that shouldn't be the problem.

I turned on my computer and got a BOOTMGR is missing Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart screen, so I pressed ctrl+alt+del and it lands me to the same error. What seems to be the problem?

Note: my cd/dvd drive is yanked out and broken but I have an external dvd-rw drive to use. The only related discs I have are 'System Recovery DVD' (3 discs) and 'Application and Driver Recovery DVD'.

I am obviously not good with tech. Please help!

[WAWood]

@wharles62 

Somehow, the Factory Reset has taken on the value of an Urban Legend that is a Miracle Cure for any ailing PC. Not only does it rarely fix the PC, if there is an underlying hardware issue with the PC, it will make matters WORSE by leaving the PC in an unusable state.

Even if there is NOT an underlying hardware issue, the reset puts Windows back to where it was weeks or months ago -- and this will then automatically launch hours or days of Windows Udpates that will bring your PC to a grinding halt, driving the processor up to 100% and the disk utilization to 100% as well. Both of these do NOTHING to speed up the PC.

The HP Factory Reset function relies critically on the contents of the Recovery partition being intact. If those contents get corrupted, which can happen either due to hard drive failing or due to Win10 Upgrade from an older OS, the reset simply will not work -- and will TRASH the PC in the process.

So, you go from having a SLOW PC, to having NO PC. That's not an improvement.

To check for hard drive failing, if your PC is new enough to support UEFI, you can use these steps to test the hard drive: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00439024

If not, you have to follow these steps:
1) Press Esc key repeatedly, several times a second, while rebooting the laptop. Do NOT hold the key down, just press it over and over.
2) Eventually, you will see an HP Startup Menu
3) press the Function key for testing the hard drive (usually F2) and let it run

[ieee488]

Sounds like the recovery DVDs are not useable.

Even if you manage to return your laptop to from-the-factory condition, you may run into the problem where Windows 7 updates will not run or if ut runs, your laptop will be spending hours downloading and installing all the Windows 7 updates.

If it was me and the Windows 7 key is viewable, I would do a clean installation of Windows 10 and use the Windows 7 key to activate.

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[wharles62]

Thank you for your input. I was running the Hard Disk Test and around 5% it shuts off automatically. The battery was charged and power cord plugged in during. Is this due to overheating?

[wharles62]

I see...

How would I install Windows 10 without being able to log in? The farthest it will go is to the 'BOOTMGR is missing' screen. My original purchase didn't come with the recovery cd/dvd and the disk tray of the optical drive is pulled out. I still have usb ports and external dvd-rw drive to use though.

[wharles62]

I just noticed that it auto shuts off after a couple mins in the startup menu. That's why I couldn't perform the hard disk test and other tests (e.g. memory test, etc.) that requires a longer amount of time. The battery test took only 1-2 mins so I was able to complete it successfully--which btw passed. How would I fix this?

Note: the cooling fan gets hot (but not overheating feel) by itself, but cool to touch when I overhang it on the edge of the table with a stand fan on, so maybe overheating might not be the problem.

[ieee488]

It is not necessary to "log in" to install Windows.

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[WAWood]

@wharles62 

If the hard disk test shuts off prematurely, that means the hard disk is probably failing or already failed -- and if that is the case, you are NOT going to be able to reinstall Windows to that disk.

You need to consider replacing the hard disk before you do anything else.

And, as @ieee488 indicated, you do not "log in" to install Windows; instead, you boot from the install media and run the setup program.

[wharles62]

It auto shuts off during other tests too (ex. memory test) or just leaving it on and not doing anything to it. Basically, I turn the laptop on and shuts off after 2-3 mins.

Is this for certain a hard disk problem? Because I don't have the budget to buy a few replacement parts to test and see.

[ieee488]

Shut off the laptop.

Disconnect AC adapter.

Remove the battery.

Reconnect AC adapter.

Turn on laptop.

If it is unable to start, it is very likely your laptop requires motherboard replacement.

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