Stuck in Automatic repair preparation loop/PNP Watchdog bluescreen

[Maximilian213]

I have issues with the following notebook: HP ENVY x360 Convert 13-bd0699nz (4P492EA).

I cant start it up, it gets stuck in the automatic repair loop untill a bluescreen with pnp watchdog error comes up.

It happened after pluging in my printer via usb, upon which my notebook shut down.

How can I either reinstall W11 without loosing my data or Backup my data to perform a clean reinstall?

Here’s what I’ve already tried:

• Booted from a USB stick with the latest BIOS and diagnostic tools installed(via usb stick).

• Booting from the USB I can either choose Install Windows (which warns about wiping data) or Repair Windows. In both cases, only the USB stick is detected as a drive, not the internal SSD.

• In Advanced Boot Options (when choosing repair windows) → Command Prompt, I listed the disks, but only the USB shows up.

• I considered reinstalling Windows via USB, but I’d like to avoid losing data. Windows support told me that a custom install would normally save files into Windows.old, but since the SSD isn’t detected, I can’t select it as a destination. And the usb stick cant be selected because of the following error:

  • “Disk has an MBR partition table, but EFI systems require GPT.”

  • “Setup doesn’t support installing on USB/IEEE 1394 drives.”

• In recovery mode (via usb boot), I tried Startup Repair and System Restore, but both failed with errors. 

• Tried entering WinRE without the stick through:

  • Shift + Restart (didn’t work),

  • multiple forced restarts (didn’t work),

  • F11 from the startup menu (just loops back into automatic repair, eventually hitting a PNP Watchdog blue screen).

What are my next steps?

[Garp_senchau]

@Maximilian213, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Check the SSD Connection in BIOS

First, ensure that your internal SSD is recognized by the BIOS.

Reboot the laptop and press ESC or F10 repeatedly to access the BIOS setup.

Go to the Storage or Boot tab.

Check if the internal SSD is listed under available drives. If it's not listed, it might be a hardware issue, such as a loose connection or a failing SSD.

If the SSD is listed, try resetting the BIOS to default settings and see if that helps in detecting the SSD.

Attempt to Access Recovery Options via Command Prompt

If the SSD isn't showing up in the recovery options and you cannot proceed with a fresh installation, try to access your files and perform a backup using Command Prompt:

Boot into WinRE again, and select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

Run the following commands to check your drive status:

• diskpart
  list disk
  select disk 0  (or the disk that should have your files)
  list volume

Check if your drive shows up here. If it does, you can try to manually copy files to an external USB drive using the command prompt:

• copy X:\path\to\file Y:\path\to\destination

Replace X and Y with the correct drive letters.

HP Hardware Diagnostics

If you're still facing issues with detection, you can run HP's built-in diagnostic tools:

Turn off the laptop.

Press and hold the ESC key, then press Power to turn it on.

From the menu that appears, choose F2 for System Diagnostics.

Run the Hard Drive Test and Memory Test to check if there’s any hardware failure with the SSD.

PNP Watchdog Error

The PNP (Plug and Play) watchdog error could be related to faulty drivers or an issue with peripheral devices. If the error started after plugging in your printer, try removing all external devices (USB drives, printers, etc.) before booting again. Sometimes, faulty drivers or hardware can prevent Windows from booting properly.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

[Maximilian213]

Thank you for the reply.

• I can't find it in the boot tab in the BIOS. It shows:
•  Harddrive/ssd test and memory had a pass/successful 
• I can only get into winre via usb boot->repair computer. Then with diskpart it only shows the usb stick. Same goes if i try to reinstall windows and it asks about where I want to install it. It only shows the usb stick(and doenst allow a clean install on it)
• There are no devices pluged in. But yes I see your point, as it happened immediately after plugging in the printer...
• In the diagnostics tool under system information, my two drives show up correctly. So there they are strangely recognised, but nowhere else. 

Is there anything else I can try?

[Garp_senchau]

Hi @Maximilian213,

Thank you for your response

It sounds like your SSD is being recognized at a hardware level, but it’s not being detected as a bootable drive in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This could indicate an issue with the boot partition, file system, or even Windows drivers related to storage. Since HP's diagnostic tool shows that the drives are physically recognized but they don't appear during the reinstallation process, the issue seems to be related to the software layer that interacts with the SSD.

Here’s a list of further steps you can try:

Check Boot Order in BIOS

Even though you don’t see your SSD listed under the "Boot" tab, make sure that your internal SSD is set as the first boot device.

Reboot your HP laptop.

Press ESC or F10 repeatedly to enter BIOS.

Under the Boot tab, confirm that your internal SSD is set as the first boot device.

If it's not listed, it may be an issue with the SSD's boot partition or a possible failure to detect the SSD correctly.

If needed, manually add the SSD to the boot priority list if possible.

Reset BIOS to Default Settings

If the SSD is not showing up or is misbehaving in the BIOS, try resetting the BIOS to its default settings:

In the BIOS, press F9 to reset to default settings.

After resetting, save changes by pressing F10 and reboot the system to see if it detects the SSD properly.

Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD)

If your SSD is physically fine and recognized in diagnostics, it’s possible that your boot configuration is corrupted. You can attempt to rebuild the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) using the Command Prompt.

Boot your system via the USB stick with Windows installation media.

Choose Repair your computer → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Command Prompt.

In Command Prompt, type the following:

• diskpart
• list disk
• select disk 0  (Make sure this is your internal SSD)
• list volume

You should see the list of volumes here. If your SSD is listed, proceed with the next steps:

• exit
• bcdboot C:\Windows /s C: /f UEFI

This will rebuild the BCD and attempt to fix the booting issue.

Check for Driver Issues in Windows Recovery

In some cases, the storage controller drivers might not be loaded in WinRE, which can prevent Windows from detecting the SSD.

In the Command Prompt in WinRE, type the following command to list all drivers: dism /image:C:\ /get-drivers

If the storage drivers are missing, you may need to manually add them.

You can try downloading and loading the storage controller drivers via Load Driver option in the Windows Setup screen. Use the “Browse” option to locate the drivers on your USB stick or another device.

The steps above should help you isolate whether the problem is hardware or software related. If the SSD is physically healthy and recognized by diagnostics but not by Windows, a clean reinstall might be your last resort, but data recovery should be your top priority first.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,