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- Re: Tried to log in and it said critical error. How do I fix...

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09-30-2018 04:33 PM
Can you get into System Diagnostics? Immediately after powering on start tapping the Esc key. This will open a menu where F2 System Diagnostics is an option. Tap F2 key and run the tests.
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09-30-2018 04:39 PM
Hi @jebosh
Welcome to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.
Does it happen all the time ? Have you tried again ?
1. Try hard restart/hard reset.
Press the power on-button on your PC and hold it for about 5-10 seconds until your computer powers off completely.
Remove and unplug any external periferals and accessories.
Press once the power-on button to turn on the PC and wait if it will start now. Wait...
If it still fails to load properly, go ahead with the next steps
2. Perform some basic hardware checks to rule out hardware problem
- Please, shutdown the computer using the power button (pressed and hold for a few seconds until PC powers off)
- Power the computer back on.
As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap) before any logo appears. This should open a HP Startup Menu
- Choose F2 to open System Diagnostics. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform System Test >> Quick test.
This will check major hardware componets for issue (do it just in case) . Here is more info >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JXUp43ahHA
If there are no system checks/no quick tests, perform HDD (hard disk drive) and RAM check (memory check).
Let me know the test results. If the tests pass without issues, continue. If not, please, let me know
3. Repeat steps 1-2 above but when HP Startup menu opens, please choose F11 for System Recovery options.
The computer should boot from it's recovery partition to open you various recovery options. Note, that F11 option will only work if the recovery partition is there (not deleted) and intact. From there, you have prenty of options to choose from. Every HP computer comes with recovery partition present to assist in tough moments.
Please, perform System Restore first in an attempt to fix the issue. Please, restore back to previous days (restore point) where the issue was not present. Here is more info:
>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03327545#AbT5
>> https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4588-system-restore-windows-10-a.html
Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes. Provide your feedback/reply.
*** HP employee *** I express personal opinion only *** Joined the Community in 2013
10-01-2018 12:25 AM
@jebosh wrote:It passed but I still can't get in. Tried to troubleshoot but not sure how to restore back 2 days.
It's good the test passes - this means there are no hardware problems, just software one(s).
The restore back procedure is described in details here
1>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03327545#AbT5
2>> https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4588-system-restore-windows-10-a.html
Watch out the video in 1 and/or read the steps (1 and 2) . Let me know how it goes.
*** HP employee *** I express personal opinion only *** Joined the Community in 2013
10-01-2018 08:35 PM
Try a complete reinstall via System Recovery following this Guide. If you have files you need to backup before completing have an external usb hdd or large capacity flash drive ready when you prompted to backup.
http://hp.dezide.com/ts/start.jsp?guide=HPSystemRecovery.net&as=true&SFS=sdoc§ion=ccweb
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