Notebook does not boot with SSD installed

[BigMarioss]

Hi, I installed an SSD (samsung EVO) last year (so I have two disks, the M2 as default system and the SSD), but after I upgraded the BIOS to F23 version the computer does not power on and the CAPS LOCK button blink 5 times slowly (with black screen).

A note: I have the disks set to GPT scheme because I need to use the BIOS UEFI mode (+ secure boot option enabled) and I do not want to change it for any reason, also I have installed Windows inside the M2.

I did many attempts to solve the problem and I discovered many things:

1. If I enable BIOS legacy mode (and disable secure boot option) the problem disappears
2. If I disconnect the SSD (and leave the M2 connected) the problem disappears
3. If I reset the CMOS (holding down windows button + V on power on) the notebook boot up successfully, BUT if I reboot the machine the problem returns (and I should repeat the CMOS reset to turn on the NB).
4. I updated Windows to the last patch and I updated alle the NB drivers with HP support assistant
5. I did a quick diagnostic and there is an error on the NB battery (I don't know if this could be the cause of the problem)
6. I tried to use another SSD but the problem is the same.
7. I tried to do the BIOS recovery (with USB stick and with .exe file download by the HP website for my NB model) but there is the error 0502
8. I tried to do the BIOS rollback to the F22 version (with USB stick and with .exe file download by the HP website for my NB model) but it fails: the system says that the signature file is missing and that the version is not compatible with the notebook.
9. LAST attempt: I usually install Windows inside the M2, so I tried to install Windows inside the SSD. The result? Incredible, the notebook power on and boot successfully.

This last attempt is an absurd thing. Anyone has the idea to how to solve the problem? And why I cannot recovery the BIOS or do the downgrade?

Thank you in advance.

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@BigMarioss 

It's ironic -- but I ran into nearly the same issue a couple of days ago.  I was messing around with installing and upgrading Windows 10 Insider on a couple of different SSDs and when I went to reboot the PC, it froze!  I found this strange because I was booting from my production SSD, not one of the Insider SSDs.

So, I disconnected both Insider SSDs and the PC booted OK.

Then I reconnected each SSD and ran disk check on it.  Both disks checked out OK -- but when I went to boot from one of the SSDs, I got the dreaded "Automatic Repair infinite loop".  And when that SSD was connected to the desktop, it would no longer boot.  So, it looked like the corrupted file system on that SSD was preventing the PC from booting, even though I was booting from a different SSD.

This could be the same for you.  Folks think SSDs, because they have no moving parts, never fail -- but I have seen such failures over and over again.

If your PC boots OK with the SSD disconnected, you might have to find a way to connect the other SSD after the PC is running and then to a disk check on it.

[BigMarioss]

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@WAWood wrote:

@BigMarioss 

It's ironic -- but I ran into nearly the same issue a couple of days ago.  I was messing around with installing and upgrading Windows 10 Insider on a couple of different SSDs and when I went to reboot the PC, it froze!  I found this strange because I was booting from my production SSD, not one of the Insider SSDs.

So, I disconnected both Insider SSDs and the PC booted OK.

Then I reconnected each SSD and ran disk check on it.  Both disks checked out OK -- but when I went to boot from one of the SSDs, I got the dreaded "Automatic Repair infinite loop".  And when that SSD was connected to the desktop, it would no longer boot.  So, it looked like the corrupted file system on that SSD was preventing the PC from booting, even though I was booting from a different SSD.

This could be the same for you.  Folks think SSDs, because they have no moving parts, never fail -- but I have seen such failures over and over again.

If your PC boots OK with the SSD disconnected, you might have to find a way to connect the other SSD after the PC is running and then to a disk check on it.

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I run the HP diagnostic test (all components, including ssd) and the test was OK. I even run the windows "Error checking" and the SSD is ok... And what about the attempt 9?

[WAWood]

@BigMarioss 

I don't know what you mean by installing Windows "inside the SSD".

[BigMarioss]

@WAWood

I usually boot Windows from the M2, but i tried to boot Windows from the SSD (so I installed the OS on the SSD)  and the nb power on.