Windows auto-repair/reset/safe mode not working - can't boot HP Elitebook 8760w

[George1157]

For some weeks my Elitebook 8760w was randomly switching off and auto-rebooting. It was getting hot prior to auto switch off and Speedfan confirmed the CPU and GPU were running hot. This was solved by applying new thermal paste a couple of weeks ago and both then ran cool (about 55-60 deg C). However, the auto switch offs persisted and I started pursueing this on another post. A couple of days ago the 8760w went a bit haywire after one of the auto-reboots, went through Preparing Automatic Repair, Diagnosing your PC and Automatic Repair - Your PC did not start correctly, and the usual Repair options. None of the repair/restore/reinstall options work, not even Safe Mode will boot up. When you allow the auto reboot to start again it goes through the first stages and soon comes up with Something went wrong - Stop Code CRITICAL PROCESS DIED and then goes through the Preparing Automatic Repair cycle again.

I've got a full backup of data files so finally decided to bite the bullet and simply to install Windows afresh from DVD. Unfortunately, due to boot sequence it won't read the DVD, just starts again from c: drive with the same result. Attempting to enter BIOS setup to change the sequence results in a request for a password which needless to say I don't have and never did have and never set up despite having the machine from new.

I searched the community forum and some posts instruct removing the CMOS battery for 15-30 minutes then installing it back which is supposed to open BIOS setup but on mine it produces a message saying CMOS Reset (502), Enter = Reboot System and proceeds to auto re-boot almost instantly, with the now familiar sequence of re-boots and failures. I've posted separately about the BIOS password issue but the answers came that apparently it can't be done without a motherboard replacement (around $200), which of course is not viable so have closed that particular route.

Back to what is possible. From the repair options the only thing that works is opening Command Prompt so out of interest I did. It defaulted to drive x:\windows\system32> which I found mighty strange.

Dir/p showed there are 1303 files and 72 directories with what look like Windows type setup files, mostly dated first quarter of 2019 with a handful of earlier ones and a couple from 9th March 2020 which was the last day it booted and worked properly.

dir/p of c:\ drive resulted in File Not Found - very strange indeed, it's as if C: was empty for some reason.
dir/p of d:\ drive gave 480 files and 41 directories with recognisable names of some of my files and directories from an SD card normally resident in e: drive.
dir/p of e:\ drive gave 3 files and 14 directories including Program Files, Program Files (x86), Windows, Windows Old amongst them.

dir/p of all remaining drive letters correctly showed these don't exist.

So, here are some actual questions,

1. is this situation recoverable and how?
2. would CMD copying the files from x:\ drive to c:\ drive and rebooting allow Repair Options to work again? I could easily then re-install Win10 from the repair options.
3. any ideas how to install Win10 from DVD when boot sequence can't be changed but CMD is available?

Your ideas will be greatly received and much appreciated.
George

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

I have a pat answer that may go someway to answering your questions............

From 2016 onwards there is a possible recovery option via the cloud...
HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 7 & 10)
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205
OR
This First part only works when a valid Recovery Partition is enabled.

If it displays an error message then move onto the Second part,
OR if you have data you wish to try and save using the XCOPY command.
Then create your own Repair/Recovery/Rebuild/Re-install media or buy a set from HP.

Turn off the computer.

Disconnect all connected devices and cables, Media Drives, USB drives, printers, & faxes.
Remove media from internal drives, and remove any recently added internal hardware.
Do not disconnect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, or power cord.

Turn on the computer and repeatedly press the F11 key, about once every second,
until the Choose an option screen is displayed, and then continue.

On the Choose an Option screen, click Troubleshoot, and work your way through the screens.

Second Part:-
This may require another PC. Find and Download your .iso from…
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Expand/Extract/Burn the iso Image onto a DVD/USB as needed.
Microsoft’s Creator Tool will make the required DVD or USB.

Even though it has NO actual HP software/drivers included, you may be able to
XCOPY the C:\Users\* area onto a ‘large’ USB stick, via the Command Prompt.

You’ll need to try various drive letters; D:..-..Z: until it’s matched - could be G; mine’s S:

C:\>XCOPY C:\Users\* S:\ /e /i /h (then files like those 3 listed below get copied over)

C:\Users\desktop.ini
C:\Users\All Users\agent.1509128044.bdinstall.bin
C:\Users\All Users\HP Deskjet 2540 series\Help\flash\zoom.swf

Then you can try System Recovery Options / Advanced Options shown in the screenshots.

NB:- W7 Try running a Startup Repair more than once for a full fix.
NB: - W10 Begin with the Automatic Repair, then Startup Settings etc.

From either the C:\ or the X:\ prompt try the following
cd boot
bootrec /FixMBR
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBCD

If the above FAILS then please try:-
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/install-windows-10-from-usb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You could try this 5 minute peace of mind method....

Turn off the computer, press and hold the PWR button for 4 seconds.

Then - Leave only keyboard and mouse connected, disconnect all externally connected
devices such as Docking Station, USB storage devices, displays, and printers.
Unplug the AC adapter from the computer.

Next - Press and Hold the Power button for 15 seconds to Hard Reset.
Rinse and Repeat; Re-Connect the AC adapter.

NOW begin checking/testing/proving the Hardware is fit for purpose.
Power on your PC, press ESC (repeatedly), then F2 at the prompt.
Choose System Tests (Fast Test does a 4 minute hardware check).

If in doubt please ask.

[George1157]

Wow, thanks Lil_Boy_Blue, that's really comprehensive and has given me a great deal of renewed hope for recovery.

It'll also likely keep me busy all weekend but it'll be worth it if it succeeds I'll report on progress when done, or on problems if i hit them.

In meantime have a great weekend and please keep your fingers crossed for me.

Cheers.

George

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Prego.

I actually use another method...

A 'LIVE' Linux distro like MINT, but that is to my personal taste.

https://linuxmint.com/download.php

[George1157]

Hi Lil_Boy_Blue,

I started working on your suggestions from the top so the first was a possible recovery option via the cloud. The first link took me to the tool for consumer pcs and as the 8760w is a business machine its lookup tool didn't find my pc in its listing. However, it also gave a link for the cloud tool for business machines, with a long table of supported machines. Sadly, my 8760w didn't feature on that platform's listing either but in reading through the instructions for use of the cloud tools I chanced upon one of the instructions for using F1 as a bootup interrupt which I'd never previously known about. This brought up an HP screen which had an option for booting from CD/DVD drive so I was able to boot from the bootable DVD after all.

Before installing Win10 afresh from that DVD I used the CMD repair tool to xcopy all the files on the c:, d:, e: and x: drives in case I needed to access them or perhaps to copy back if required. I'd forgotten how painfully slow xcopy was so the process took over 2 days as on several occasions DOS reported lack of disk space after several hours of copying so had to start again. Undeterred, I managed to get the copying finished and proceeded to install Win10 v1909 successfully from the DVD.

Rather pleased with myself at this point I checked for updates and there were about 20 of various types so proceeded to download and install those as well of course, before any other software installs or any other configurations or additional setups. When update downloads and installs finished a restart was initiated and to my horror part way through the reboot process the pc auto shut down again and started a new auto reboot, eventually ending up at the familiar repair/restore/reinstall options after 3 auto-reboots. 

After another clean install of Win10 it did exactly the same following the first set of updates leaving me extremely perplexed. Booting into safe mode was fine and didn't cause any auto shutdowns, nor did any amount of troubleshooting, installing etc despite using it for several hours. After yet another clean install of Win10 I decided not to invoke the updates but simply to check the update history which showed 2020-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1909 for x64-based System (KB4551762) Failed to install on 16/03/2020 - 0x80242016. All other driver updates, definition updates and other updates installed successfully. 

So, before returning to the remainder of your suggestions, whilst I've got a new installation do you have any ideas as to why the 2020-03 Cumulative Update might be failing and causing the auto shutdowns?

Cheers.

George

[Lil_Boy_Blue · Accepted solution]

Hi

Nope, I am still on 1903.

Courtesy of Paul Tikkanen, it may be possible to find and use W10 1903 from HEIDOC.

See attachment. Which may be better initially.

However there is a method via PowerShell to exclude certain updates.

http://woshub.com/pswindowsupdate-module/

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/11bf2532-3000-4dae-87bf-bd5bbf6d69c6/specific-wind...

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/scripting/approve-or-decline-wsus-updates-by-using-powershell/

etc etc.

[George1157]

Hi Lil_Boy_Blue,

Thanks for the links to exclude certain updates via PowerShell, they look a bit daunting but it'll be great to be able to switch them off individually when problematic in the future. Before using them in anger on my failed 2020-03 Cumulative Update I had a lightbulb moment this afternoon that perhaps the Win10 v1909 bootable DVD I downloaded in January was superseded by a newer one, so downloaded the iso file and made a new DVD. Lo and behold another fresh install from today's new bootable DVD worked fine, as did the subsequent updates, including the 2020-03 Cumulative Update. It's now just a herculean task to start installing the rest of the software, but at least it also allows for some serious housekeeping to be done, long overdue 🙂

Thanks ever so much for your help in getting the 8760w back up and running, and for educating me some more in the dark arts of OSs. Please also say a big  "hi" to Paul Tikkanen from me, he's helped me many a time with this machine and several others in the past.

Have a peaceful evening.

George

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Prego.