SQL Server 2019/2022 Database Engine Crashes on Startup (sqlservr.exe 0xc0000005) - HP OmniBook X Fl

[Marvel05]

I am experiencing a reproducible issue on my HP OmniBook X Flip Laptop 14-fm0xxx where the SQL Server Database Engine crashes during startup on clean installations.

The issue has been observed with both SQL Server 2019 RTM (15.0.2000.5) and SQL Server 2022 RTM (16.0.1000.6). In both cases, the installation completes successfully and the SQL Server services are created. However, when attempting to start the MSSQLSERVER service, it immediately terminates with Error 1067: The process terminated unexpectedly.

Event Viewer consistently reports the following error:

Faulting application: sqlservr.exe

Faulting module: ntdll.dll

Exception code: 0xc0000005

The SQL Server ERRORLOG shows the same startup sequence every time before the crash:

Starting up database 'master'

There have been 256 misaligned log IOs which required falling back to synchronous IO

CLR initialized successfully

Process terminates unexpectedly

System Configuration:

HP OmniBook X Flip Laptop 14-fm0xxx

Windows Build 26200

WD PC SN5000S SDEPNSJ-512G-1006 NVMe SSD

Standard Microsoft NVMe Controller

NTFS file system with 4 KB cluster size

Troubleshooting Already Performed:

Reinstalled SQL Server 2019 and SQL Server 2022 multiple times

Updated system BIOS to the latest available version

Verified NTFS configuration and file permissions

Disabled Windows Memory Integrity

Disabled VirtualMachinePlatform

Set hypervisorlaunchtype to Off

Rebooted and retested after each change

Confirmed the same failure occurs consistently

Since the behavior is identical across multiple SQL Server versions and occurs immediately during master database startup, I would like to know whether HP is aware of any firmware, storage driver, chipset, BIOS, ARM/x64 emulation, or platform compatibility issues on the OmniBook X Flip that could cause SQL Server to crash in this manner.

Any guidance, known issues, recommended firmware updates, or engineering diagnostics would be greatly appreciated.

[Pallipurath]

Hi @Marvel05 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query.

Thank you for providing such a detailed description of the issue and the troubleshooting steps you have already performed. I understand how frustrating it can be to encounter a consistent SQL Server startup failure, especially after multiple clean installations and extensive testing.

Is the system powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor or another platform?

Are there any additional Application or System Event Viewer entries logged immediately before or after the SQL Server crash?

In the meantime, please try the following steps if you have not already done so:

Run HP PC Hardware Diagnostics

• Press Esc → F2 at startup.
• Run Extensive Test and Storage Test to confirm SSD/controller health.

Install all available updates through Windows Update, including optional driver and firmware updates.

Check BIOS Settings

• Ensure UEFI mode is active.
• Disable Legacy Boot.
• Reset BIOS to defaults, then re‑enable Secure Boot if required.

If still the issue is not fixed i would request you to please contact Microsoft support.

Take care and have an amazing day!