cannot access the recovery options useing all methods available on the pc-settigs,adv options, etc.

[mtravinski]

any method I try I get the same response - words to the effect "Cannot access this function at this time".

[WAWood]

@mtravinski 

I'm not aware of any HP model known as a "streaming laptop".  Is it a Stream laptop?

Ordinarily, when a laptop no longer boots into Windows, this means that the boot records (known as the BCD) have become corrupted due to a failing drive and running diagnostics confirms this to be the case. Folks then replace the laptop drive, use the HP Cloud Recovery option and a 32GB USB stick to make recovery media, boot their laptop from that media and do a full restore.

With this PC, this is a much more difficult situation.

First, this PC does not actually have a laptop hard drive. Instead, it has a memory stick configured to work like a "disk drive" -- so, it has a stick of EMMC memory instead of an HDD. This is very small, usually 32GB, so it is too small to do any major Windows Updates since Windows takes up nearly all of the "drive".

Second, the SSD, unlike the SATA SSDs in other laptops, can not be replaced by the consumer. So, when it fills up, you can't replace it with a larger one. And when it fails, you can't replace it with a new one.

Thus, you can try running diagnostics to test the drive -- but if it fails, you will have to take this PC to a laptop repair facility to have them replace the SSD. You can not replace it yourself.

To check the drive you have to follow these steps:
1) Press Esc key repeatedly, several times a second, while rebooting the laptop. Do NOT hold the key down, just press it over and over.
2) Eventually, you will see an HP Startup Menu
3) Press the Function key for testing the hard drive (usually F2) and let it ru

[mtravinski1]

The correct description of my pc is: HP Stream Laptop 14-ax0xx. the message received when I tried to boot from usb was " no bootable device found". 

I have run the test for the hard drive and it passed. I ran all the tests in the diagnostics and it passed them all successfully.

 I should also mention the reason for trying to boot from usb which is: since I no longer have much use for the pc as the drive is close to being maxed out . It will no longer accept updates etc. I was attempting to install Linux  Lite as  Linux requires much less room for the os  and support goes to at least 2025.

I hope this info helps.

Thank you,

 mtravinski

[WAWood]

@mtravinski1 

Looks like you created a second account just to reply to your own thread -- and this is bad form.

Also, we here do not support Linux distros, so your are on your own for this.

[mtravinski1]

I did not purposely create a new account just to reply to my own thread - as you suggest! I did that unknowingly and completely by mistake. Number one , I am not used to subscribing to forums and was confused by the lack of options in the instructions. Number two I am also not used to asking for help, especially when it is free.

If you tell me that you cannot help me I can accept that and try to solve the issue on my own, but please do not think that I did something nefariously or unethically to further my own cause and agenda.

rest assured that I will no longer post or ask for help on this forum.

Michael A. Travinski

[WAWood]

@mtravinski1 

You're free to do what you want -- but as I said, we do not support Linux distros here -- so for any Linux issues, you need to find a forum that supports the distro you will be using.

Good Luck

[mtravinski1]

My problem is not with Linux or anything associated with it but rather that the pc will not boot from the flash drive. Again, I keep getting the message "no bootable devices found".

Thanx

[WAWood]

@mtravinski1 

Yeah - I get it -- but booting from USBs in modern laptops is difficult due to things like Secure Boot and for instructions on how to change the B|OS/UEFI settings to boot from a Linux boot USB stick, you need to check the Linux forum -- as there is a lot to do and we don't support Linux here -- including booting issues.