Windows Update Causes Bricked Laptop!

[Splewis]

Windows Update caused my laptop to be bricked.  Restarted laptop and blue screen BitLocker appears asking for the key.  Inputted the key and laptop went into a loop of trying to diagnosis the problem and ultimately tried to connect to the network to find a solution.  No solutions found try again in 30 minutes message.  Tried a bunch of things including: BIOS tweaking and command prompt to fix master boot record... nothing.  I had to reinstall Windows from an ISO image in order to get my laptop back.  I have paused Window Updates for a week - I don't want the same problem happening again after another update - I think it was an AMD driver that caused the issue. Does anyone in the community have advice or a solution for this issue?  Thanks.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Splewis,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

That sounds incredibly frustrating, especially after having to reinstall Windows just to recover your laptop. The BitLocker screen + endless repair loop after an update is often linked to a corrupted boot loader or driver conflict, and yes, AMD drivers have been known to cause issues during Windows updates.

1. Pause Updates Temporarily (Good First Step)

You already paused updates for a week, smart move. Extend this to up to 35 days:

• Settings → Windows Update → Pause updates for 7 days (click repeatedly to extend).

2. Block Problematic Driver Updates

If you suspect an AMD driver caused the issue:

• Download Show or Hide Updates Tool from HP: HP PCs - Updating drivers using Windows update | HP® Support
• Use it to block the AMD driver update until a stable version is confirmed.

3. Update BIOS & Chipset from HP

Before applying any future updates:

• Go to Official HP® Support.
• Enter your laptop model.
• Install the latest BIOS, chipset, and AMD graphics drivers from HP (not Windows Update).

4. Create a Recovery Drive

• Plug in a USB drive (32GB+).
• Settings → Recovery → Create a recovery drive. This ensures you can restore quickly if something goes wrong again.

5. Turn Off BitLocker Before Major Updates

• Open Control Panel → BitLocker Drive Encryption → Turn off BitLocker.
• Re-enable after updates complete. This prevents boot issues if the update modifies boot files.

6. Consider Switching to Manual Updates

• In Windows Update → Advanced Options, set updates to Notify before download. This gives you control over when updates install.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing 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,

VikramTheGreat

[Splewis]

Thank you VikramtheGreat for your suggestions.  It is disappointing, time-consuming and incredibly frustrating that I had go through these lengths to make my laptop usable again.  I am surprised *and disappointed) that HP does not notify/warn  their installed base where these problems are known.   I do have a problem with one of your suggestions... I can't turn off BitLocker because apparently it is only available if I upgrade to Windows 11 Pro (versus Home). I can only turn off "drive encryption"  If BitLocker was not supported in my version of Windows Home why would that blue screen of death appear asking for the BitLocker Recovery Key when the update crash occurred?  Do you have insight?

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @Splewis,

Thank you for sharing this, and I’m truly sorry for the amount of frustration, time, and disruption this issue has caused. We absolutely understand how stressful it can be to encounter a Blue Screen that asks for a BitLocker recovery key, especially when you’re using Windows 11 Home, which does not include full BitLocker management. I completely understand why this feels confusing.

Why the BitLocker recovery screen appeared on Windows 11 Home

Although Windows Home does not include full BitLocker, it does include Device Encryption on supported hardware. This feature is essentially a light version of BitLocker that works in the background and uses the same recovery mechanism.

Because of this:

• Windows Home does encrypt the drive (Device Encryption),
• It does generate a recovery key,
• And in the event of a critical update failure or hardware-level change, Windows may show the BitLocker-style recovery screen, even though the full BitLocker interface is not available in Windows Home.

This is why you saw the recovery key prompt, even though BitLocker isn’t listed as a feature you can manage manually.

Why turning off Device Encryption is different

Since Windows Home doesn’t have BitLocker management tools, you can only turn off Device Encryption, not BitLocker specifically. This is normal behavior for Home editions.

Regarding update-related issues

You are absolutely right to expect more stability during updates. While HP works closely with Microsoft to ensure compatibility, unexpected failures can still occur due to:

• Windows update corruption
• TPM or secure-boot changes
• Disk errors were detected during the update
• Driver conflicts

However, your feedback about earlier warnings and communication is valid and appreciated; it’s something we take seriously and will forward internally.

Take care and have an amazing 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,

VikramTheGreat