Multiple attempts may be required to successfully boot up

[GeoJC]

This message concerns a HP ZBook 17 G6 Mobile Workstation with 64-bit Windows 10 Pro operating system. Having problems booting up. Normal boot sequence appears on the display as the "Protected by HP Sure Start" message followed by  a spinning wheel of dots then the login screen. The failed boot shows the 'Sure Start' message, the spinning wheel of dots does not appear, screen goes blank (totally black), and a steady (not blinking) cursor appears in the upper left corner. This is a dual drive device where the boot drive is a SSD (and the OS resides there) and the second (larger capacity drive) is a HDD. The second drive can be heard spinning up both when it does boot and does not boot. Pressing the on button a second time shuts the device down and another press results in a normal boot - so far. This issue started a month or so and did not occur very often. Since then, however, the boot issue has increased in frequency and now happens nearly every time I turn the computer on. Operating system is up to date, BIOS is up to date, other HP-sourced updates are current, and the machine 'passes' all of the HP diagnostics. I have not noticed any peculiar behavior after a successful start. Thanks in advance for any guidance on how to resolve this issue before the PC doesn't boot at all.

[ub6424]

Hello @GeoJC 

Sorry to hear that you are having problems ... I would like to help you.

(1) Test your hardware Using the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI)

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_2854458-2733239-16 ( link corrected )

See how it works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14GKIpGPNRM

(2) Please report your results ( error messages, take pictures )

[GeoJC]

Will follow up on UEFI. Included link points to a version for Windows 8 (and a different notebook line) - looking for another version that fits my specs better.

[ub6424]

Hello @GeoJC 

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_2854458-2733239-16 ( link corrected )

See section

<Running System Tests in Windows>

and

<Running HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI (tests when Windows doesn't start)>

Please report your results

[GeoJC]

Downloaded and installed latest UEFI diagnostics software from HP site yesterday (25Aug2022). Followed the recommended procedure and ran Symptom Test, System Test (including boot-related issues option), Component Tests, and System Fast Test (2 passes). All of these either Passed or ran without without any issues reported. Also ran a BIOS check and discovered that it was not  current (this surprised me because I always update when the HP Support Assistant recommends an update). Updated BIOS to R92 Version 01.20.01. The boot up issue continues.

All the procedures noted above were conducted with the computer disconnected from the HP Thunderbolt Dock. I rebooted a couple of times in this configuration without any issues. First boot up after reconnecting to the Thunderbolt Dock resulted in the boot up error. Could the docking station possibly be responsible for this behavior?

[ub6424]

Hello @GeoJC 

Let HP Support Assistant <update> all drivers, please. Reboot and test again.

If it still does not work please contact HP Support -> HP technican should fix it.

Kind regards

[GeoJC]

All drivers are up to date ... HP Assistant agrees.  I want to explore the 'boot ups when docked vs boot ups when undocked' behavior noted previously before I contact HP Support. Thank you for hanging with me and dispensing actionable advice.

Take care,

GeoJC

[ub6424]

You're welcome

Good luck