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"Why did my PC restart?" Loop

Anonymous
2018-09-13T21:45:44+00:00

Hi! So, I recently recieved a laptop as a gift and upon recieving it, I had an issue. I opened it and I was greeted with the normal blue screen that asks to set settings and such, but the real problem occured when I clicked next. A screen popped up saying "Why did my PC restart?" And then a few sentences under it describing the issue. In case you need it, it reads "There's a problem that's keeping us from getting your PC ready to use, but we think an update will help get things working again. Here's how to update it." And then there's 4 steps giving me directions as to what's needed to be done. So I plugged it in, and since I had internet, I clicked next and selected my internet. After that, it just did the normal "wait a moment" blue screen which wasn't at all worrying. After awhile of waiting, I was greeted with the black screen and hp logo, then brought back to the same screen with settings I needed to set. So I did that again, then was greeted with the same exact screen saying "Why did my PC restart?". So I did the same thing as I did last time and the only thing I can do and clicked next, except this time, I wasn't given the option to select my internet. It went through the same exact cycle: "Please wait a moment", waited for a bit, black screen with the hp logo, then the blue screen with settings and the same exact screen saying "Why did my PC restart?". I contacted the friend who had gifted the laptop to me, and they said all they did before resetting it was update it, so maybe that has something to do with it? Anyway, I looked up online some things I could do, and I found a thread saying I should I shut it off and when the windows logo (in this case it was the hp logo) popped up, unplug it and plug it back in several times until the troubleshooter booted up. Then, afterwards, select the "repair start-up" option. So, I did exactly that and thankfully got to the troubleshooter, but the repair start-up option needed a password. So I asked my friend, and she gave me 3 different passwords, but none of them worked. So at this point, I was rather agitated and decided to see if resetting the laptop again would work. As of me writing this, I've reset the darn thing at least 3 times and clicked next more times than I should've and still, that same two blue screens keep popping up. I don't know if it's a problem with my internet or what, but all I know is I'm out of ideas as to what to do :/

In case it's important, my laptop is an HP Spectre x360 and runs on Windows 10. I'd really appreciate some help. Thank you so much for the trouble in advanced!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-09-15T04:58:45+00:00

    Then I would create the bootable media on another PC by installing Media Creation Tool, open the tool to create bootable media on USB or burn ISO to DVD, following the steps you can read on the downloads page: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

    Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

    If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

    Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on second screen choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof.

    .

    You will get and keep the best possible install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods in the linked tutorial: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki... It's a better install than any amount of money could buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC because you will learn everything that works best and how to apply it with your own hands.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2018-09-13T22:19:04+00:00

    Hi Summrb. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

    Did you do the factory reset which reinstalls all the HP bloatware? HP makes great hardware but the factory install is the worst in the industry, larded with bloatware like utilities that duplicate and cause issues with better versions built into Windows.

    In Windows 10 everything depends upon the quality of the install, and Factory or Upgrade installs are inferior installs which most enthusiasts won't even run because they'd expect endless issues. Consider now or later doing the Clean Install in this link which compiles the best possible install that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    There is also an automated Fresh Start that reinstalls WIndows while shedding corrupting factory bloatware, saves your files, but doesn't clear the drive to get it cleanest: https://www.howtogeek.com/265054/how-to-easily-...

    If you want you can go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    Start with Step 4 to turn off Startup freeloaders which can conflict and cause issues, then Step 7 to check for infection the most thorough way, then step 10 to check for damaged System Files. Then continue with the other steps to go over your install most thoroughly.

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

    ________________________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-09-15T04:41:20+00:00

    Hello! I have a few issues regarding the steps and options you've given me. For option 1 and 2, I'll be trying that later once I'm able to get my hands on a seperate PC and flashdrive to do them. For option 3, none of the options in the troubleshooter workerd, neither did the command prompt. When I entered the command prompt to get into safe mode, it brought me to the hp logo and told me that it couldn't work since windows 10 wasn't installed, then told me to reset my PC (which I did). For option 4, I'm not able to do any of those things because my PC isn't useable. All it can do beyond it's infamous three screens is access the troubleshooter from turning the laptop off and on several times. For option 5, I tried the sfc/scannow command and all I got in return was "Windows Resource Protection could not preform the requested operation", then I tried the other ones provided, which didn't seem to do much. For option 6, it's the same for option 4; I'm unable to do anything with my laptop, and even if I could, I definitely don't think I could do all that alone with how limited my knowledge of computers is. And lastly, option 7 isn't anything to worry about as my files are already gone and were backed up anyway. Thank you for going through all this trouble. Hopefully we can figure this out soon :/

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2018-09-14T08:27:52+00:00

    Hi Summrb. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

    Did you do the factory reset which reinstalls all the HP bloatware? HP makes great hardware but the factory install is the worst in the industry, larded with bloatware like utilities that duplicate and cause issues with better versions built into Windows.

    In Windows 10 everything depends upon the quality of the install, and Factory or Upgrade installs are inferior installs which most enthusiasts won't even run because they'd expect endless issues. Consider now or later doing the Clean Install in this link which compiles the best possible install that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    There is also an automated Fresh Start that reinstalls WIndows while shedding corrupting factory bloatware, saves your files, but doesn't clear the drive to get it cleanest: https://www.howtogeek.com/265054/how-to-easily-...

    If you want you can go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    Start with Step 4 to turn off Startup freeloaders which can conflict and cause issues, then Step 7 to check for infection the most thorough way, then step 10 to check for damaged System Files. Then continue with the other steps to go over your install most thoroughly.

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

    ________________________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

    Hello! Thank you for getting back to me so quickly! The links you shared definitely seem helpful and your reasoning behind why my laptop is acting silly is conceivable and understandable, but I don't exactly know how to do any of that since it's in an endless, unescapeable loop of those three screens. If there's a way to actually use my laptop and get out of the loop, I'd definitely be able to use the methods you shared! But as of now, it's basically unusable with it stuck repeating the same three screens :/

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2018-09-14T10:21:42+00:00

    I will give you steps to access the Repair Mode to try all repairs to get Windows started, and if not to do the automated Reset or the superior Clean Install after rescuing your files. These steps don't cover possible hardware failure which might become apparent while performing the steps, so please report back as you go:

    1. Use whichever method works in this link to access Advanced Startup Options: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc.... Easiest may be to force shut down the PC (by holding in the power button) three separate times to trigger the Startup Options.
    2. If none of the other methods work it may be necessary to Create Windows 10 Installation Media on another PC: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

    Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

    Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, then on second screen choose Repair Your Computer. If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

    1. In the Advanced Troubleshooting options try to System Restore to a point before the problems began, Startup Repair, then if necessary from Startup Settings try to get into Safe Mode with Networking, or lastly Safe Mode.

    If Startup Settings aren't available you can force Safe Mode from Command Prompt following Step 5 here: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-saf..., or using the command to unhide F8 Advanced Boot Options here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/22455-enabl... where you can also try the old reliable Last Known Good Configuration.

    1. From Safe Mode w/Networking work through the Windows 10 Install Integrity Checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get donehttp://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-performance/windows-10-performance-and-install-integrity/75529fd4-fac7-4653-893a-dd8cd4b4db00: If it doesn’t fix Windows enough to start it normally, then try a Windows 10 Refresh: https://www.howtogeek.com/265054/how-to-easily-...

    Update your drivers from the PC's Support Downloads web page. Compare the latest drivers with the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu. Make sure you have the latest BIOS, Chipset, Display (Video), Sound, USB3, Bluetooth, Network and all other drivers, or else download and install the latest now.

    1. If Safe Mode doesn’t work or help stabilize things then return to Advanced Troubleshoot options. Next try Command Prompt to run through Windows 10 Install Integrity Checklist (above link) repair commands including sfc /scannow, DISM, a full Disk Check, or return to Troubleshoot options to Reset Your Windows 10 PC.
    2. Better yet do the vastly superior Clean Install Windows 10 following the steps in this link to delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...
    3. There is a step to Rescue Files from the booted media Command Prompt first: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    These steps are excerpted from my tutorial that compiles everything possible for Troubleshooting Windows 10 Failure to Start: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki.... You can continue with the other steps there.

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

    ________________________________________________________
    Standard Disclaimer There are links to a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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