Windows 11 upgrade trashed my HP Envy

[NickP6]

Upgrading to Windows 11 caused my system to crash and an aborted attempt to recover form the recovery disk has failed.

Now Recovery mode doesn't work and I get a windows QR code when the system tried to boot.

I have tried plugging in a replacement Windows 10 USB stick (bootable) - but the system won't even boot from that.

In short - hard drive a mess, and the system is now unrestorable and won't boot - how do I get my system re-imaged - or can someone help?

Thanks

[NickP6]

and it shows a QR code with a message DRIVER_PNP_WATCHDOG

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

I looked up the product number for your notebook, and it is supported by the HP cloud recovery tool.

I recommend you use the cloud recovery tool to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook.

Here is an info link for how to use that utility...you will need a 32 GB USB flash drive for this.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

The notebook will not automatically boot from a USB flash drive.

You need to turn on the PC.

Immediately press/tap the ESC key to get the menu of options.

Select the F9 boot options menu and from there you select the USB flash drive and press the Enter key.

[NickP6]

Hi Paul,

Eventually it worked - I had to disable secure boot, enable legacy configs and delete the factory installed RAID settings - then boot from the USB key.

Sadly on reinstalling I'd lost the window to upgrade to Windows 11 FoC so have a machine revlocked on Windows 10 (unless I pay £120 to upgrade to Windows 11)

Anyway thanks for pointing me at the cloud recovery facility.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I don't know what W11 FoC is, but you can still get the free upgrade from W10 Home to W11 Home.

Microsoft has not announced any plans to end the free upgrade at this time.

They indicated it would be available for at least a year from last October.

How Long Will Windows 11 Be A Free Upgrade? (intowindows.com)