Windows installation cannot proceed

[Daimod]

Not used our laptop for a few years and decided to charge it back up and reset it to factory settings to sell. It started to reset and got up to 43% but then we had to switch it off and try again following g day. It seems ed to be really slow, so we replaced the battery and tried again. Then it came upon screen as “ the computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed, to install windows click OK to restart the computer, then restart the installation “  . When I click ok as instructions, it goes back to “ preparing” then the same message about windows comes up again. Over and over again!

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Daimod 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Let us run the hardware diagnostics to check if the hardware has no issues.

Please follow these steps:

1) Shutdown your PC completely, as soon as you Turn on the computer repeatedly press the Esc key to enter the Startup Menu.

2) Now press the F2 key to access HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) main menu.

3) On the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) main menu, click System Tests.

4) Click Extensive Test.

5) Click Run once to initiate the test.

Note: It will take few hours to complete the test.

If there is no failure detected and if the laptop boots to windows follow the steps below:

Let us update your Windows using Windows Update and check the performance.

In Windows, search for and open Check for updates. If there are any available updates, they begin automatically.

After the updates install, restart your computer when prompted.

In the video link below you will see how to update drivers and software using Windows Update.

https://youtu.be/O-Ak18JwOW0

If this solution hit the spot, please come back and click "Accepted Solution" to help others find the answer. And if you'd like to say thanks, select "Yes" on the bottom left of the public post, as that would make our day! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye