Laptop will not start after Windows updates

[Kids041]

So, today my computer told me to reboot to install updates. After that it will not boot. I get "choose keyboard layout" and then I get several restart /recovery options.
None of them work. I can't find my recovery disks, none of the boot options work. The repair startup fails, the boot into windows revert doesn't work either. There doesn't seem to be any restore points.

At this point I am trying to create a backup file for my data.
I have spent hours on this and I am frustrated!
I did not think that windows update would cause so much problems. I have always been able to get it to start in the past.
If this fails I am at a loss as to what to do next...

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @Kids041

Welcome to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.

This is happening because Windows cannot start/boot .It may be caused due to simple Windows hung, hardware problem (e.g. your HDD) or it may be caused by faulty Windows Update, some other faulty update/driver, corrupted bootloader / Boot Configuration Data in Windows etc....

It's important to understand what update was installed - was it the recently released feature upgrade 1803 or just some other update. Do you remember seeing any message ?

If it was not build 1803, the below steps may help - try them:

1. Try hard restart/hard reset.

Press the power on-button on your PC and hold it for about 5-10 seconds until your computer powers off completely.

Remove and unplug any external periferals and accessories.

Press once the power-on button to turn on the PC and wait if it will start now. Wait...

If it still fails to load properly, go ahead with the next steps

2. Perform some basic hardware checks to rule out hardware problem

- Please, shutdown the computer using the power button (pressed and hold for a few seconds until PC powers off)

- Power the computer back on.

As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap) before any logo appears. This should open a HP Startup Menu

- Choose F2 to open System Diagnostics. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform System Test >> Quick test.

This will check major hardware componets for issue (do it just in case) . Here is more info >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03467259#AbT1

If there are no system checks/no quick tests, perform HDD (hard disk drive) and RAM check (memory check).

Let me know the test results. If the tests pass without issues, continue. If not, please, let me know

3. Repeat steps 1-2 above but when HP Startup menu opens, please choose F11 for System Recovery options.

The computer should boot from it's recovery partition to open you various recovery options. Note, that F11 option will only work if the recovery partition is there (not deleted) and intact. From there, you have prenty of options to choose from. Every HP computer comes with recovery partition present to assist in tough moments.

Please, perform "System Restore" first in an attempt to fix the issue. Please, restore back to previous days (restore point) where the issue was not present. Here is more info:

>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03327545#AbT5

>> https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4588-system-restore-windows-10-a.html

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes. Provide your feedback/reply/update.

[raymondlbarnes]

Hi kids041 and IT Winsec,
I had the same issue and so did my friend.
We tried all the above. I have made a HP recovery usb drive in thr past and that helped me backup my files. But i still dont want to so the recovery and wipe out my laptop just yet.
I can do the Boot to another windows 10 option, which appears to work but there is no desktop or Apps so it is not my real Windows 10.
We used the DOS window option and the d drive is empty. I dont know if there was ever anything there because when I got the laptop HP said the method had changed and it was important to make the usb one which I did. But it still makes both of us mad that a windows 10 update would make our computers unbootable. To restore will take time to get it all back. I'm mad. We will do restore eventually if we have to, but I'm still looking for answers too. Ray

[raymondlbarnes]

Do you also use Avast? I just found this. I need to get an 8GB thumb drive and try it. Seems like it will take some time.
http://www.thecomputercellar.com/windows-10-1803-upgrade-issues-the-black-desktop-of-death-and-how-t...

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @raymondlbarnes @Kids041

The above suggestion with regards to checking the hardware will only let you/me/us know if the hardware is ok. If it's not OK, there is no point going on withe software troubleshooting.

As you probably know there are basically 2 types of Windows 10 updates :

- ongoing security and product updates - considered kind of minor updates

- feature updates - considered big updates and also operating system upgrade. This is what used to be in the past like moving from Windows 7 to Windows 8

System Restore usually helps fixing issues caued by the ongoing smaller updates because it restores registry condition and system files to what they were before the changes/updates.

System Restore, though, cannot restore previous operating system.

So, if the update which was applied is a feature upgrade like the recently released 1803 Spring Creators update , your options are:

- return to previous build

- reinstall Windows

- restore OS to factory default or use system image

Feature upgrades (builds) can fail to install and leave you with NO usable operating system due to the follwing reasons:

- hardware issues (faulty memory/HDD)

- software issues such as buggy code from Microsoft (somewhat more often in the past years than what it used to be years ago), incompatible 3rd party drivers (hardware drivers), incompatible software drivers (like antivirus/firewall/dlp drivers), faulty download (less likely)....

I strongly recommend anybody to use Windows System Image creation functions:

>> https://www.windowscentral.com/how-make-full-backup-windows-10

The system image is basically 100% copy of your hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD), basically 100% identical copy of all the information you have on your storage device (everything like data, operating system, apps, etc... everything). You can restore the HDD condition to what it was on the date/time. This feature is built-into some versions of Windows Vista and all versions of Windows 7/8/8.1 and Windows 10 and is free to use. 3rd party good apps are also available for such functions such as CloneZilla. All you need is an external hard disk drive to store the copies on (preferred) or multiple DVDs (not recommended).

Now, with regards to your problem, I'd recommend you boot to recovery (F11) or from recovery media and go to Troubleshoot options -> Advanced and try to restore to previous build.  If this is not the case, I am afraid you will need to reinstall Windows 10 from your image or clean Windows installation >> https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/Impossible-to-update-operating-...

I also recommend anybody who must use Windows 10, to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro edition. Windows 10 Pro allows you to disable automatic updates, to install updates at a time you are ready, not at a time Microsoft wants you to do and also you can postpone small updates for a month and most important postpone feature upgrades (the big updates) for up to 1 year (365 days) so that you and all the vendors prepare for the new versions and all bugs are cleared out from Microsoft.

Hope this helps ! Let me know how it goes.

[raymondlbarnes]

The computercellar procedure referenced in my post worked, with all my apps reappearing and no data lost. Whew! Now that I'm working, I'm going to do the System Image that you suggested. I usually do backups but this is better. Thanks to you and especially computercellar.com!

[khushi12]

First you have to learn how and where are saved passwords in microsoft edge  after thatyou can solve it easily without facing any issue.

[PeteU]

Hi, welcome to the club. I have a very similar problem with a Windows 7 HP desktop. None of the suggestions you see here helped. It's actually BS to ask for the Windows update that caused the problem because it is never shown BEFORE the update takes place. I created a boot disk from my Laptop - also Windows 7 - works on the Laptop, but not on the desktop. Bought a w7 boot disk on eBay - no success. Checked the HW (F2 key) everything is fine. I have given up to repair the SW - and IT IS a SW problem. Next I'll connect the hard disk via SATA to USB cable to my Laptop and try to get my files over there. Pretty straight forward in my case - accessing the hard disk of a laptop is a different animal. In the future I will not let MS update my PC "automatically" as recommended, but install them at my convenience (knowing the Updates ahead of installation) and running a backup BEFORE any further installation of updates. Sorry, this is not of any help for you, but I think you should not waste any more time to look for a solution. Since I tried everything in the book I don't think there is one.

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @PeteU 

Thank you for your comments.

Yes, sometimes the operating system is severely corrupted and standard recovery measures do not help.

Just to add that Windows 7 will not be supported by Microsoft as of January 2020 >> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-windows-7-support

Microsoft will not release updates for the mass public after January and your options will be Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 if you want to have a supported OS. Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise/Education (but not Home) are the only ones which you have some control when the updates get installed but you still cannot select what exactly to install and what to skip.