Pavilion Laptop won’t boot up.

[Rodney2024]

My Pavilion laptop is giving me the error “Config_Initialization_Failed” on a blue screen. I don’t have the startup disk since I’ve moved recently. How can I fix this problem? 

[Max3Aj]

@Rodney2024, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 

The CONFIG_INITIALIZATION_FAILED Blue Screen error (BSOD) in Windows usually indicates a problem with the system's registry configuration or boot files. Here's how to try fixing it, even without a startup disk:
 

Try Booting into Safe Mode

If you can access Safe Mode, you might be able to fix the issue from there:

1. Turn off your laptop.
2. Turn it back on and immediately start pressing F8 (or Shift + F8 for some systems) repeatedly until the recovery menu appears.
3. If successful, choose:

• Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart
• Then press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode

If Safe Mode works:

Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run:

• sfc /scannow

Then also run:

• chkdsk /f /r

Use Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

If Safe Mode doesn't load, try triggering recovery mode manually:

1. Force-shut down the laptop 3 times during the boot process (hold the power button when Windows is loading).
2. On the third attempt, Windows should launch Automatic Repair.
3. Choose:

• Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options
• Try Startup Repair first.

If Startup Repair fails:

Go back to Advanced Options and choose Command Prompt, then try:

• bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /scanos bootrec /rebuildbcd

Create a Windows Installation USB (if above fails)

Since you don’t have a startup disk:

1. Use another PC to download the Windows 10 or 11 Media Creation Tool.
2. Use a 16GB or larger USB drive to create bootable media.
3. Plug it into your Pavilion laptop, then:

• Power it on and press Esc or F9 (depending on model) to access Boot Menu.
• Choose the USB drive.

Once booted from USB:

Click Repair your computer (not Install).

Use the Troubleshoot > Advanced Options menu to run:

• Startup Repair
• System Restore (if restore points exist)
• Command Prompt for sfc /scannow, chkdsk, and bootrec commands

If Nothing Works

You may need to reset Windows:

• Boot from USB > Repair > Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
• Choose to keep your files (if available) or remove everything.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support 

[Rodney2024]

Where do I find the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool? It wasn’t in the link you sent me. Thank you!

[Rodney2024]

I went ahead and elected to reinstall Windows with the option to keep my files from the Trouble Shoot/Advanced Options Menu. Since I don’t have the reinstall disc myself it installed from the cloud. The laptop seemed as though everything installed properly but then it displayed the HP logo and the little circle showing it was thinking. Then the screen went black and it did nothing after that. If I hold the power button down to restart it, it will boot up and show the HP logo then go black again doing nothing. What do I do now not having any disc? 

Thank you

[Max3Aj]

@Rodney2024, Thanks for the detailed update, you're doing all the right things so far. What you're experiencing now where the HP logo appears and then the screen goes black with no response after a cloud-based reinstall usually indicates a failed or incomplete installation, driver conflicts, or boot corruption, especially after a reset. Here’s how to proceed:

Try Booting into Safe Mode Again

This is to check if it's a graphics driver or boot issue.

1. Turn off the laptop completely.
2. Power it on, and the moment you see the HP logo, press the power button and hold it down to force a shutdown.
3. Repeat this 3 times until it boots into Automatic Repair / Recovery Mode.
4. Once there:

• Go to: Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart
• On the next screen, press 4 (or F4) to boot into Safe Mode

If it boots into Safe Mode:

The issue is likely with the display driver or startup service.

In Safe Mode:

• Open Device Manager
• Uninstall the Display Adapter (GPU) driver (right-click > uninstall device)
• Reboot normally.

Use a Bootable USB Drive to Reinstall Windows Cleanly

Since the cloud reinstall left your system in a broken state, the safest fix now is a clean install from USB.

You’ll need access to another PC and an 16GB+ USB drive.

Steps:

• On another computer, go to the official Windows Media Creation Tool or Windows 11 version.
• Download the tool and create a bootable USB installer.
• Plug the USB into your Pavilion laptop.
• Turn it on and immediately press Esc repeatedly to get to the Startup Menu, then press F9 to open the Boot Menu.
• Choose the USB drive.

When the installer loads:

• Select Install Now
• Choose Custom (Advanced) install.
• Select the partition where Windows was previously installed (usually the largest), and delete all system-related partitions (not your file partitions if you want to save them).
• Install Windows on the unallocated space.

(Optional) Access Files Before Wiping

If you want to back up files before a clean install, plug in a second USB and:

• Use the Command Prompt from Recovery Mode:
  notepad
• Go to File > Open and use it as a file explorer to copy files to the USB.

You may refer to this document - HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Support
 

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Yes” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support