Remove Windows 11 Insider version and now computer won't start

[PinoyJim]

I created a Windows Installation on USB drive. It boots into the Windows setup but does not go through saying no device drivers are found. Some posts recommend using another USB port to get around the problem but I have only one USB port on my HP Spectre. HELP!!! How can I recover? Booting up from the hard drive takes forever and comes up with an error.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Since your notebook has an Intel 11th gen core processor, there is a special process needed to clean install W10/W11 on notebooks with the Intel 11th gen core processors...

See the info at the link below.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-15-f2000-laptop-pc-series/35900344/model/35900346/document/c...

Here is the link to the driver you need...

This package contains the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver for the supported notebook models and operating systems. The Intel Rapid Storage Technology is designed to provide functionality for the Intel Storage Controllers. The driver improves Serial ATA (SATA) disk performance with Native Command Queuing.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp135501-136000/sp135979.exe 

There is an error in that document, and that is where HP tells you to right click on the Intel driver file and select Extract to

When I ran through the steps, I don't get an Extract to option when I right click on the file.

You will probably have the same issue.  Download and install the free 7-zip file utility from the link below.

The 1st file at the top of the page is for 64 bit.

7-Zip (7-zip.org)

Then you can right click on the exe file, select 7-Zip from the menu, and select Extract to:  and let it extract the file into its folder name (sp135979), and copy that folder to your USB flash drive, and continue with the instructions.

You should be able to copy the driver folder to the installation flash drive you are using as well if you only have one USB port.

Then you can install the drivers and available software from the support page.

Another thing you can do is since your notebook is supported by the HP cloud recovery tool, use that on another Windows PC running W7 64 bit or newer and a 32 GB USB flash drive to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility...

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 10, 7) | HP® Customer Support

[PinoyJim]

Hi, Paul. Thanks for the quick response. I created the Cloud Recovery Tool on USB. I inserted it in the HP Spectre after selecting the USB drive to boot from. Does it really take a long time to come up with the first screen prompt?I just get the HP logo and the rotating dots but nothing seems to be happening after several minutes. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes at most to get to the screen where you begin the recovery process.

Why that is happening, unfortunately that I do not know.

[PinoyJim]

It eventually fails with a stop code of DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG error. Any ideas on how to get around this problem?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, I do not.

The process is supposed to be totally automated so if something fails, I don't know how one goes in to troubleshoot since you have no options to do so.

I recommend you try installing the storage controller drivers during the clean installation of W10.

[PinoyJim]

Hi, Paul. I created a Windows 11 Media Installation on USB and copied the SP135979 folder extracted. I selected one of the drivers and it was able to get to the Collecting Information screen with the driver I selected highlighted. It is staying at thgat screen, though with the loading bar animation. Is it supposed to take that long on that screen or am I missing a step?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

After you loaded the driver and clicked Next, W10 should have found the SSD and started installing.

[PinoyJim]

It seems to be stuck at the Select Driver to Install screen with the driver highlighted and the progress bar moving but nothing seems to happen after that.

Actually, I let it run long enough and it got the BSOD error with the stop code of DRIVER PNP WATCHDOG.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, I don't have any other suggestions for you to try.