Boot-up Woes

[Action-Jackson]

Bought a small, Windows 10 Home tablet for my daughter.  Windows 10 Home installed.  Worked fine until standard Microsoft update started to give errors about space.   Just out of warranty, so of course, no help.  

Decided to restore the computer to factory and rebuild.  Had an error while doing restore.  Now stuck at HP logo before Windows environment loads.  I suspect windows restore was corrupt and now I can't get Windows at all.

Followed instructions at: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04718479.  System diagnostics all good, so I have to assume problem is with Windows, but not sure what to do next?

- do I contact Microsoft and get a new copy of the O/S?
- do I download from HP somewhere?
- other thoughts?

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

[Photoray002]

Hello Action-Jackson

According to the Specs, that unit came with Windows 8.1 with Bing and I'm guessing you (at some point) upgraded to Windows 10.

Now you tried to do a reset back to factory settings, but that gave you an error and now it boot loops to the HP logo... correct?

If you had succesfully upgraded to Windows 10 before and it was working, then you can simply download a copy of Windows 10 Home 32-bit via the Microsoft Media Creation Tool on another computer and make a bootable USB installer.

Create media Windows 10

You will need an empty 8GB USB thumb drive to do this.

Once created, plug the USB drive into the tablet and boot into the boot options menu...

Rapidly tap the Esc key when you first hit the power button until a startup menu appears.

Then choose F9 for Boot Device Options.

You should see your USB drive as an option.

If you dont, you will need to go into the Bios/System Configuration and disable Secure Boot and (if available), also enable Legacy Mode.

Reboot and it will ask you to enter a code it shows you. Do that and continue.

Now restart and go back to the Boot options and try again.

Once Windows 10 is reinstalled, you will need to the HP Support site for the drivers and download them to install.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/

Note: you can do this ahead of time and have them ready to install once Windows is working on the tablet.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Action-Jackson]

Hi there Photoray002, 

Thank you so much for your quick response.  

A couple of minor clarifications that may be relevant:  

- this unit (HP Pavilion X2 detachable 10-n110ca ) came with Windows 10 Home 64-bit installed.
- after having grief with MS updates not installing properly, I opted to reset to factory ( got as far as step #6 "just remove files" in http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/reset-windows-10-pc).  

At this point, there is a very long process of resetting.  (e.g. Resetting this PC 1%).  This step crashed @ 62%.

Thank you for the link to Microsoft.  Will get a 8GB drive and try to download Windows 10 Home.

[Action-Jackson]

Specific error message at point where reset crashed:  "Reset this PC.  There was a problem resetting your PC" and I was presented with the "cancel" button as the only option

Note:  same result for "just remove files" and "remove files and clean the drive" at step #6 above

[Photoray002 · Accepted solution]

Action-Jackson

OK Its actually pronounced HP Pavilion x2 - 10-n110ca, thats why I couldnt get the correct data.

Since your PC came with Windows 10 already, then downloading the ISO from Microsoft wont work!!!

Thats because you dont have the activation keys for that to input.

If you did not create the HP Recovery Media from the tablet when it was new, you will have to purchase it from HP directly from the link below.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/mediaorder/hp-pavilion-10-n100-x2-detachable-pc/8499312/model/8961272/so...

But you shouldnt have the issue of stalling each time even with a new ISO install.

With the ISO installer from the Microsoft Media creation tool, can you go to the advanced options and wipe the partitions from there?

If you can clean the drive first and install the MS iso with no problem (it just wont activate), then order the HP media and reinstall from that.

Got what Im saying?

[Action-Jackson]

Hey Photoray002,

I tried to find the link to that computer on the HP site to share in this post, but could not find.  I think that is because it is a Canadian model.

I regret that my daughter did not create a recovery media.  I don't recall seeing this as being recommended.  I do have the original box with all of the serial number stickers, etc.

Seems odd to me that HP would charge for something that I already bought and can't recover.  Especially since HP does not appear to have noted the key in the box or on purchase information.  In any case, I did try the link you provided in order to try and get recovery media.  The form works only if one enters a US ZIP code.  I live in Canada.

As I mentioned, HP support does not want to help give that the warranty has expired.  I seem to be stuck in customer Hell.

Thank you again for your thoughts.  🙂

[Photoray002]

Well, it might be that your daughter may have dismissed the reminders that occasionally popped up during use, to create the recovery media. They are part of the HP Support Assistant that came installed.

But yes, HP does charge a fee for the recovery media if you have to order it.

Have you tried to contact HP via the regular link for Support?

Contact HP Worldwide | HP® Official Site

If you can talk to an agent, they can sell you the recovery stick.

I will also ask the others if someone has a direct phone number for Canada's Support Number, then you can bypass the Hell (so to speak).

[Photoray002]

Make sure you can do what I mentioned in post #5 though and get the drive wiped first. Then see if the Microsoft Media creation tool will install its OS version.

If it can, then continue to purchase the HP recovery stick.

That way, you wont be wasting money  the Recovery Stick if you cant install anything.

[Photoray002]

Edit.

[Action-Jackson]

OK.  Thank you so much for your help.