Windows 10/11 Unable to fresh install

[Twirlzy]

Hello, I recently tried to revert my laptop (HP Pavilion 15-eg0073cl SN#: [Personal Information Removed]) back to Windows 10 as I did not approve the auto update, a process I have done multiple times since Windows 11 came out. This time, it got stuck in a Bitlocker/Auto recovery loop that I am unable to escape out of.

Steps I have taken to try and fresh install Windows 10 or 11, it does not matter to me anymore as long as I can get my laptop working:

- Disabled bitlocker

- Enabled UEFI usb boot mode from BIOS

- Downloaded Windows 10 fresh install onto 8gb usb stick (did the same with Windows 11, neither has worked, however 10 allowed me to at least try and find a drive storage)

- Downloaded a driver storage onto a separate usb stick to attempt to locate it in "Browse for drivers"

- Attempted "Custom Install" and "Windows Update", neither has succeeded

- Disk select (list disk, select disk 0, clean, etc.)

- Swap out physical SSD

- Hard disk scan (there is one and it is working properly, just not recognized)

- Ran driver.exe installing onto USB stick

- Extracted only .sys, .inf, and .cat files to USB stick

- Also included .exe file of raw driver installation, nothing works

When I try and install a fresh Windows 10, it tells me there is no drive to be found. If I list disks from console, there is one (disk 0), however that seems to be the usb as cleaning it deletes the usb contents. In trying to browse for the .exe that is the downloaded driver storage, it is not listed in the files in the usb. In fact, it doesn't even display files, simply folders.

Furthermore:

I have ran all quick and extensive tests for system and drivers, they all passed.

I cannot for the life of me figure out what happened to my laptop in trying to do the normal recovery process, nor why I cannot load another driver onto it to install Windows.

I am happy to install Windows 10 or 11, I do not care. I just want my laptop to work and so far, Windows 10 has actually provided me the options to install fresh, but it doesn't work regardless.

What more can I do? Do I need to see a specialist?

Thank you

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

See if this works:

I zipped up and attached the Intel storage controller drivers below so Windows can find the drive.

The attached file is good for both W10 & W11.

Copy all of the files in both folders in the attached file to a USB flash drive.

Have the flash drive and your Windows installation media plugged into USB ports.

Boot from the W11 installation flash drive.

When you get to the screen where no drives can be found, click on the Load driver option, browse to the flash drive with the storage controller drivers on it.

If you check the box, it will only include the compatible driver.

Click Next and if those are the right drivers Windows should find the drive and install.

[Twirlzy]

Thank you so much, this actually caused something to happen. It is not fixed yet but I was at least able to see a driver in the selection list. 

When I selected the .inf files from the VMD folder (I tried both), it seemed to pull up my Drive 0 Partition 1 that seems to be my laptops standard drive (496gb available), however it said "We couldn't install Windows in the location you chose. Please check your media drive. Here's more info about what happened (0x80300001)."

What would cause this?

Thanks,

Garrett

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Garrett.

Try cleaning the disk using Diskpart when you are at the screen where you find the drive but get the error:

1. Press Shift+F10 from inside Windows Setup to open a command prompt window.
2. Type diskpart and press the Enter key.
3. Type list disk to find your disk number.
4. Type select disk (e.g., select disk0) to choose the disk you want to format.
5. Finally, type clean to wipe the disk completely.
6. Exit diskpart and try installing Windows again.

[Twirlzy]

Thanks for the quick reply,

I did this before but did it once more, it does list both the usb disk and the main disk (with 476.9gb out of 476.9gb of free space), however even after refreshing and restarting the install, it is giving the same error. I have the option to select "new" but that just makes unallocated space that is treated the same as the main disk.

Additionally, is there anyway to enable trackpad for this process? I have to use a wireless and doing so disconnects the installation media usb stick as I only have 2 ports.

Thanks!

Garrett

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome. 

Sorry, that didn't work. 

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

I googled the error code and there's several things it could be down to the USB flash drive has a problem. 

I can't answer your other question regarding the touchpad. 

[Twirlzy]

Is it by any chance because we manually swapped out the SSDs in the beginning of troubleshooting? I still have the old SSD and could put it back in. I'm worried that my laptop is now useless even though I bought it 3 years ago.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I don't see where you have anything to lose by installing the original SSD and hope that Windows will install. 

[Twirlzy]

That's what I figured. Thank you very much for all you're help, I'll update here if it works or doesn't

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime. 

Good luck.