Automatic continue loop repair

[Attitudeofprais]

My laptop is stuck in automatic repair loop. I've tried every in the advanced option, except restoring to factory setting. I'm a Photographer and have Already lost all my equipment in The Great Fiood of Louisiana in August. I can't afford to lose my pictures and data again.

Thanks in advance

[Attitudeofprais]

I'm having the same problem. My laptop is stuck in automatic repair loop. Purchased this laptop 7 months ago after I lost all my pictures and data in the Great Flood here in Louisiana I am a Photographer, cannot afford to loose all my pictures again. Need to know if your issue was resolved? Is so, how?i have a HPnotebook 15 ac-158nr.

Thanking you in advance

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @Attitudeofprais

Welcome to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.

* Note - I have merged your 2 posts into one single thread so that we can keep it all in one place.

* I see you have selected Vista as your operating system but the PC model of HP 15 ac-158nr comes with Windows 10 . If you purchased it recently, then you probably run Windows 10. Could you confirm that for me, please ?

Don't worry about your photos and docs. If the hard disk drive (storage) is ok, then they can be taken out.

Not sure what caused it but restarting is happening because the computer cannot successfully and fully load Windows. This may be hardware problem (e.g. memory or storage issue) or software problem (virus/malware, driver issue, Windows faulty update, etc.) . Did you perform some change recently ,something new these days, last hours before the issue started ?

Please, perform some basic hardware checks to rule out hardware problems

1. Please, shutdown the computer using the power button

2. Power it on.

2.1 As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu

3. Choose F2 to open System Diagnostics. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform System Test >> Quick test.

This will check major hardware componets for issue (do it just in case) . Here is more info >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JXUp43ahHA

If there are no system checks/no quick tests, perform HDD and RAM check.

Let me know the test results. If the tests pass without issues, continue. If not, please, let me know

4. Repeat steps 1-2 above but when HP Startup menu opens, please choose F11 for System Recovery options.

The computer should boot from it's recovery partition to open you various recovery options. Note, that F11 option will only work if the recovery partition is there (not deleted) and intact. From there, you have prenty of options to choose from. Every HP computer comes with recovery partition present to assist in tough moments.

Please, perform "System Restore" first in an attempt to fix the issue. Please, restore back to previous days (restore point) where the issue was not present. Here is more info:

>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03327545#AbT5

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes. Looking forward to your feedback and reply

[Attitudeofprais]

This happened right after I uninstalled and restalled ITunes. Which didn't help the issue I was having with iTunes. So now I don't have ITunes nor a working laptop.
Thank you. I'll let you know the results.

[Attitudeofprais]

Good afternoon,
system quick test- passed
Performed systems recovery options-restore point
Error message: system restore DID NOT complete successfully.
Still stuck in automatic repair loop.

Looking for feedback. Thanks

[IT_WinSec]

Good news here is that the hardware tests passed fine, therefore this is a software issue with Windows.

Did you try with different restore points (try with several ones) ? Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done in this situation... Looking forward to your reply.

If you tried with many possible restore points, let me know if you require some instructions to back-up your data before going with different approproach

[Attitudeofprais]

Yes. I tried all 4 restore points, and received the same error message after each attempt.
Please assist with backing up my data before trying another approach.
Thanks

[IT_WinSec]

---

@Attitudeofprais wrote:
Please assist with backing up my data before trying another approach.
Thanks

---

You are welcome !

Here are some instructions with options to access the data stored on the HDD

You will need :

- either 1 empty/blank USB thumb drive    OR    1 empty/blank DVD disk

- Linux based operating system - free to download - e.g. Ubuntu or Linux Mint

* You can directly download Ubuntu Desktop from Ubuntu's web site:

Download the x64 ISO > http://releases.ubuntu.com/16.04.2/ubuntu-16.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso

* Once ready, you need to write the ISO to make a bootable media (e.g. bootable DVD or USB drive). Here is how:

How to create bootable ISO on USB device >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

or

How to write ISO to DVD >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/burn-a-dvd-on-windows

* When ready with the USB drive or with the DVD:

* Ensure Secure Boot is disabled  (probably this is not applicable for your model, so you could skip it)

* Ensure Legacy mode is enabled (probably this is not applicable for your model, so you could skip it)

* Save the UEFI/BIOS changes. (probably this is not applicable for your model, so you could skip it)

(if applicable for your model) Details>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03653226

Eventually, please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

Insert the Ubuntu USB thumdrive or the Ubuntu DVD prepared previously

Power on the PC.

As soon as you press the power-on button, start hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap) even before any picture/logo appears

This should open a HP Startup Menu

Choose F9 to open Boot options. Select the thumb drive as boot option.

Follow the on-screen instructions to run Ubuntu (not install it but try it).

Ubuntu should load (it might take 2-3 min.) . You can try to see if it will be able to mount your existing HDD. If possible, you may be able to browse your files and copy what is necessary to a online Cloud storage service or to another USB device.

Hope this helps. Provide your feedback and let me know if this work for you.