Windows 10 USB installation won't properly boot on my HP Pavilion 15 ab188ca laptop

[Haghe]

Hello HP Community !

I'm attempting to replace the 1TB HDD in my HP Pavilion Notebook 15-ab188ca with a 512GB SSD and I'm encountering a problem.

Problem: I can't boot from any of the Windows 10 22H2 installation media I've tried. The BIOS recognizes the installation media, I can select it from the Boot Menu, and begins to boot (I see the HP logo and the spinning dots), but the laptop reboots a few seconds later without any error messages. It loops forever.

Here's what I've tried so far, all with the same result:

1. Used the Windows Media Creation Tool to write the image to a USB 2.0 16GB drive.

2. Downloaded the ISO using the Windows Media Creation Tool and wrote it with Rufus to a USB 2.0 16GB drive.

3. Repeated steps #1 and #2 with a USB 3.0 64GB drive.

4. Repeated steps #1, #2, and #3 using the MBR partition option in Rufus.

5. Wrote the image directly to the 512GB SSD using Rufus (same symptoms, but faster).

6. Used the DISM tool to export drivers from my old HDD and added them to the USB drive image (to install.esd)—no effect.

7. Enabled Legacy mode and disabled Secure Boot in the BIOS.

Additional information: I considered updating the BIOS, but there are no drivers/firmware available on the HP website for my model. My current BIOS version is F.19, and the motherboard model is 80AF 81.29.

Reason for the upgrade: The old HDD, which has Windows 10, is still functional but incredibly slow. Therefore, I want to upgrade to an SSD. The laptop isn't compatible with Windows 11, but my mom uses it mainly for playing word games, so Windows 10 should suffice for the remaining lifespan of the hardware.

Laptop specs: AMD A10-8700P Radeon R6, 8GB 1600MHz RAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 10 20H2

Computer knowledge: moderate to advanced. I've installed Windows 10 on tens of devices, but this one has been exceptionally challenging.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Garp_senchau]

@Haghe, 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 BIOS/UEFI Settings

• Secure Boot Disabled: You already disabled Secure Boot, which is good. However, double-check that it’s disabled in the BIOS, as some systems might reset or not save the setting properly.
• Boot Mode: Ensure that you're using UEFI boot mode rather than Legacy (or vice versa depending on how the bootable USB was created).
  • If you used GPT partitioning in Rufus, then UEFI mode is required.
  • If you used MBR partitioning, Legacy mode might be needed.
  • Switch between the two to see if one works better.
• Fast Boot: Disable Fast Boot if it’s enabled, as it can sometimes cause boot issues.
• Boot Order: Confirm that your USB drive is set as the primary boot device in BIOS.

Recreate Installation Media

• Since you’ve tried several ways to create the bootable USB, the issue might lie in how the media was created. Let's make sure it's done properly:
  •  Create a new bootable USB.
    • Download the latest Windows 10 ISO file directly from the official Microsoft website.
    • Please refer to this guide for creating the USB recovery drive
  • USB 2.0 vs. 3.0: Sometimes, booting from USB 3.0 drives can cause issues, so try using a USB 2.0 drive, especially when using older systems. Ensure the port you’re using is USB 2.0.

Try a Different USB Port

• Some systems have issues with booting from USB 3.0 ports. If you have not already, try using a USB 2.0 port instead of USB 3.0 to rule out potential incompatibility.

Check for Storage Issues

• SSD Health: Ensure the 512GB SSD is not faulty. Try connecting it to another computer to see if it’s recognized and working properly.
• Disk Initialization: Before starting the Windows installation process, use the Diskpart tool from the command prompt to ensure the SSD is initialized and has the correct partition scheme:
  • Boot from the installation USB.
  • At the “Install Windows” screen, press Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt.
  • Type diskpart and press Enter.
  • Type list disk to ensure the SSD is listed.
  • Select the disk by typing select disk X (replace X with the correct disk number).
  • Type clean to remove any existing partitions, followed by convert gpt if you plan to use UEFI.
  • Close the Command Prompt and try reinstalling Windows.

Reset BIOS to Default Settings

• Sometimes, after making changes to BIOS settings, things can get mixed up. Reset the BIOS to default and start over, carefully reapplying only the necessary settings (e.g., disabling Secure Boot and enabling UEFI or Legacy, depending on the installation media).

[Garp_senchau]

Try a Different Installation Method

• If you’ve been consistently using the USB stick, try the following:
  • Use an external DVD drive: If you have an external USB DVD drive, you could try burning the installation ISO to a DVD and booting from that.
  • Network Boot (PXE): If you have access to another system that can act as a PXE server, you might be able to boot and install Windows via network boot.

Check the RAM

• In rare cases, a faulty RAM stick can cause installation issues. If possible, try testing your system with just one stick of RAM or use MemTest86 to check for memory errors.

BIOS Update (If Available)

• You mentioned that you’re unable to find an update for your BIOS. While you already have version F.19, if you come across any new updates, consider applying them to ensure full compatibility with the SSD and Windows 10 installation.

Additional USB Booting Issues

• If none of the above works, consider the following:
  • Try booting with just the old HDD and see if the system boots properly with that. If it does, try cloning the old HDD to the new SSD and see if that works.
  • Check your USB drive for errors: Sometimes, USB drives can develop issues during creation. Use HDDScan or similar tools to verify the health of your USB drives.

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

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. 

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Regards,

[Haghe]

Thank you @Garp_senchau for your response !

As you suggested, I managed to create a USB recovery drive by using the old HDD by following the steps here: HP PCs - Create and use a Microsoft recovery USB flash drive | HP® Support. I managed to install Windows on the new SSD by using that recovery drive.

However, it installed Windows 10 1607... when trying to upgrade to 22H2 (Download Windows 10), I got a message that explained why I was not successful in the first place: "HP Pavilion Notebook - BIOS needs to be upgraded before you can upgrade to the next version Windows"....

But I have no idea where to find the latest BIOS update for my laptop. On the official webpage, I read "There is no software or drivers available for your product.", see: HP Pavilion Notebook - 15-ab188ca (ENERGY STAR) Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support

Where can I download a BIOS upgrade for my laptop? (Motherboard 80AF 81.29, BIOS version F.19)

Thanks in advance !

[Garp_senchau]

Hey @Haghe,

Thank you for your response,

You may want to check out this guide for updating the BIOS on HP Consumer Notebook PCs. It walks you through the steps to ensure your system is up-to-date and running smoothly. 🚀

I hope this helps resolve the issue

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. 

If this reply nailed it, 🔨 mark it as the "Accepted Solution"—it’s like a spotlight for future problem solvers. ✨ And clicking 'yes' under 'Was this reply helpful?' is the cherry 🍒 on top of the solution sundae. Sharing is caring! 💕

Regards,