Reinstall Win 10 on HP laptop from USB stick taking several days?

Greetings,

Win 10 was working fine on my HP EliteBook 2170p until the major windows update 2 January 2019. Since then, Windows would never fully re-boot.
I tried Windows repair a few times - it would never complete and gave an error report.
I tried to 'undue latest upgrade' - it would never complete and gave an error report.

Eventually I have tried to repair while booting from a Win 10 USB stick. Repair similarly failed.

Latest effort is to install anew from the USB stick.
It took a few days to download and start.
Eventually in went through installing features, eventually partially rebooting and installing updates.
for the last two days I have been gazing at the dark screen, little windows icon in middle and below spinning wheel and 'Getting ready'.

Should I keep waiting?
It did take a day or so of no visible progress to actually start installing after preparing.

I believe in is installing on a hard drive partition with 200 to 300 GB free before start.

Suggestions? Many thanks!

What was in the error report?

Was there an error message with error code?

What steps were made to "undo the upgrade"?

What did you mean by "Latest effort is to install anew from the USB stick"?
Was that an in place upgrade repair?
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade | Tutorials


These are some options:

1) Use Kyhi boot rescue > back up all important files > clean install
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums
Clean Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

2) Use a bootable windows 10 iso for its Windows advanced troubleshooting menu

Download Windows 10
Download Windows 10 ISO File | Tutorials

a) > trial and error steps with revert pending actions and remove recent updates
(these commands are ran using Windows RE command prompt)

b) > if step a fails then trial and error with reset save files equivalent (save files, reinstall drivers and applications)
Custom Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

3) Power on the computer and repetitively click the F2 key > open the BIOS UEFI hardware diagnostics > the default tests should be drive and RAM > if the BIOS UEFI diagnostics were upgraded they likely have tests for most hardware with extensive and loop until failure testing > perform available tests > report tests performed and results into the thread

The available HP UEFI BIOS hardware tests will depend on whether it was factory installed or upgraded:
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics | HP® Official Site

First of all, many thanks for getting back to me.
Are you suggesting I abandon the ongoing install process? It seems to be moving along, just taking many hours? I have experienced slow installations / updates on other computers, but this seems even slower - maybe because it's a new install? I've hesitated to abandon ship after making at least some progress. Should I continue to be patient?
I have interspersed responses to your questions below:


What was in the error report?
I don't remember - there were several attempted repairs - message said 'could not complete'

Was there an error message with error code?
don't remember

What steps were made to "undo the upgrade"?
I just clicked on 'undo most recent update' in windows repair menu.


These are some options:

1) Use Kyhi boot rescue > back up all important files > clean install
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums
Clean Install Windows 10 | Tutorials
Right now I'm still at the 'Getting ready screen. I haven't been able to run windows since 2 January. I can interrupt boot to get to BIOS setup and from there select boot from USB (which is a bootable win 10 stick)

2) Use a bootable windows 10 iso for its Windows advanced troubleshooting menu
Where do I get such a thing? Download to my working desktop and copy to another USB stick and start the whole process on the HP laptop?

Download Windows 10
Download Windows 10 ISO File | Tutorials

a) > trial and error steps with revert pending actions and remove recent updates
(these commands are ran using Windows RE command prompt)
I believe that is what I tried and failed.

b) > if step a fails then trial and error with reset save files equivalent (save files, reinstall drivers and applications)
Custom Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

3) Power on the computer and repetitively click the F2 key > open the BIOS UEFI hardware diagnostics > the default tests should be drive and RAM > if the BIOS UEFI diagnostics were upgraded they likely have tests for most hardware with extensive and loop until failure testing > perform available tests > report tests performed and results into the thread
I think I tested the BIOS and it passed

The available HP UEFI BIOS hardware tests will depend on whether it was factory installed or upgraded:
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics | HP® Official Site
This laptop originally ran Win7, but was already upgraded to Win 10 when I got it refurbished November 2017. No problems until Jan 2019.

1) Find two flash drives that you can format ( > or = 8 GB)

2) On a working computer create the bootable Windows 10 iso:
Download Windows 10
Download Windows 10 ISO File | Tutorials

The bootable windows 10 iso can be made on any computer (public library, work computer, friends computer, etc.)

3) On a working computer create a Kyhi boot rescue flash drive:
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

4) The probability of success seems low for the Windows upgrade.
If you have patience which you clearly do you can wait another 24 hours.
Rarely does this work but it could be a case report.

5) It is unclear which hardware tests were performed.
The testing can be performed overnight.
If you give up on waiting for the upgrade to complete you will need to see the status of the operating system.
Does it boot to windows or does it fail to boot?
Either way you should be able to get into the BIOS to run the on board HP UEFI hardware diagnostics.
Report into the thread the tests performed and the results.
Alternatively use a camera or smartphone camera to take a picture of the results and post an image into the thread using a share link (one drive, drop box, or google drive)

If the computer boots to Windows then files can be viewed to troubleshoot the upgrade failure.
If the computer fails to boot then Kyhi boot rescue can be used to save important files, the drive if not yet tested can be tested, and a clean install of Windows 10 version 1809 can be attempted or performed.

Alternatively once files are backed up using Kyhi boot rescue (copy and paste of users folders and /or a backup image) there is more flexibility.

The windows RE command prompt should open a black box with title bar: Administrator: X:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe and prompt: X:\sources>

Find a camera or smartphone camera to take pictures and post images of the commands and results into the thread:

Type these commands. (Comments will be in parenthesis)

bcdedit /enum

bcdedit | find "osdevice"

dism /image:M:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions
(change the drive letter M: to the partition drive letter displayed in the results for osdevice)
(reboot and reopen command prompt)

dism /Image:M:\ /Get-Packages
(change the drive letter M: to the partition drive letter displayed in the results for osdevice)

(Find the package(s) that were just installed by date.)
(Run the following command on the last installed package:
example: dism.exe /image:M:\ /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB4014329~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.1.0
(change the drive letter M: to the partition drive letter displayed in find osdevice)
(Reboot)

(this step can be repeated multiple times to remove the packages up to the last day in which you remember the computer working properly)

Have you considered your hard drive might have failed?

Thank you zbook

I'll load up a couple USB sticks while waiting to see if the reinstall completes. If I have to abort that, we'll take it from there.

NavyLCDR

Possible that hard drive failed, but I think unlikely. We'll find out if I abort present ongoing attempt and can do tests.

Thank you both!

Good morning zbook and NavyLCDR,

over the last couple of days I have. Shut down the still attempting to install.

I try to download onto USB Stick with micro SD 32 GB
You can then download and run the media creation tool.
‘There was a problem running this tool
We’re not sure what happened, but we’re unable to run this tool on your PC. If you continue experiencing problems, reference the error code when contacting customer support. Error code 0x80070005 – 0xA001A

--- --- ---
Next day still spinning and ‘Getting ready’ I shut down at 13.58 Remove USB stick
I start again esc enter startup menu
F2 to UEFI hardware Diagnostics
Memory quick test passed
Hard drive extensive test SMART Check : NOT INSTALLED / Long DST` : NOT INSTALLED

Exit back out

F6 Enter Intel(R) ME Setup Need password so just exit that



Window icon and spinning wheel come up next 14:42 wait
Check 16:00 Windows icon gone spinner continues
16:22 I see window icon is back

16:28 pop up
X the computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click OK to restart the computer, and then restart the installation.
I click OK (but note – the computer never did finish loading Windows)
Now I’m back at windows logo with spinning wheel screen
16:47 windows logo and spinning wheel disappear cursor remains active

Return at 16:59 BLUE SCREEN Message
Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. Count up by % shows on screen.
For more information about this issue and possible fixes visit http://windows.com/stopcode Stop Code DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE

17:04 screen blanks, then windows logo and spinning wheel
17:36 notice screen want blank with spinner and no cursor

While waiting I download windows MediaCreationTool1809 (1).exe
https://software-download.microsoft....onTool1809.exe Use that to create Windows 10 media on Centon USB stick
‘There was a problem running this tool
We’re not sure what happened, but we’re unable to run this tool on your PC. If you continue experiencing problems, reference the error code when contacting customer support. Error code 0x80070005 – 0xA001A


I check Centon stick there is only a autorun file 0 bytes I delete that now 29.2 GB free
Start to create again – this time follow tutorial for saving iso file onto folder on desktop. Supposedly later burn to a DVD.
Select C:\Users\RCP\Desktop\Windows 10 1809 iso file\Windows.iso
Saved 18:13 4,050,240 KB file How do I make this a bootable USB?



17:53 I notice spinner stopped on the laptop – only on
e dot on spinner seen on blank screen
I touch touchpad and 5 dots show and stop

18:18 pop up again
X the computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click OK to restart the computer, and then restart the installation.
I click OK (but note – the computer never did finish loading Windows)
Now I’m back at windows logo with spinning wheel screen (as the first time this happened)
I leave running again, but am gone for 3+ hours

Almost 7.5 hrs later again pop up
X the computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click OK to restart the computer, and then restart the installation.
I click OK (but note – the computer never did finish loading Windows)

We shall see what reports later it is now 01:28 next day.



This morning 22 Jan I shut down laptop again
Prepare the Kyhi boot rescue flash drive. (extract the iso file onto the USB stick)
Boot the laptop from that USB stick
Now I have the windows like environment on laptop screen with many tools.
Should I do a new install of win 10? I see WinNTSetup.

Here is what I have been able to do. Can I simply install Windows 10 PRO using the Kyhi boot rescue?

Results I got doing as suggested:
1) Anything important I have more recent copies on other PCs or dropbox
2) I don’t know what the DM and BETA log collectors are
3) run HD Tune
a) Health photo
b) Benchmark photo
c) Full error scan 0.0% damaged blocks – all green photo
4) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
5) sfc /scannow
X:\windows\system32>sfc /scannow
Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
X:\windows\system32
6) Beginning system Dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth
Error: 50
DISM does not support servicing windows PE with the /Online option.
The DISM log file can be found at X:\windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

select all, copy and paste into thread:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.14393]
(c) 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

x:\windows\system32>sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.


Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.

x:\windows\system32>chkdsk /scan
The type of the file system is NTFS.
The shadow copy provider had an unexpected error while trying to process the specified operation.

A snapshot error occured while scanning this drive. You can try again, but if this problem persists, run an offline scan and fix.
Failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 50.

x:\windows\system32>dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.14393.0


Error: 50

DISM does not support servicing Windows PE with the /Online option.

The DISM log file can be found at X:\windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

x:\windows\system32>

11) F2 to UEFI hardware Diagnostics results:
Memory quick test passed
Hard drive extensive test SMART Check : NOT INSTALLED / Long DST` : NOT INSTALLED
I exit back out

Altensiedler said:

I check Centon stick there is only a autorun file 0 bytes I delete that now 29.2 GB free
Start to create again – this time follow tutorial for saving iso file onto folder on desktop. Supposedly later burn to a DVD.
Select C:\Users\RCP\Desktop\Windows 10 1809 iso file\Windows.iso
Saved 18:13 4,050,240 KB file How do I make this a bootable USB?

This is how you create a USB flash drive from the saved ISO file:
open a Command Prompt (Admin) or "Run As Administrator" Command Prompt then:
diskpart
list disk
select disk # <- replace # with the actual number of the USB flash drive
clean <- this will erase the flash drive, make sure it is selected above!
create part pri
format fs=fat32 quick
active
assign
exit
exit

Then mount the Windows ISO file. If using Windows 8/8.1/10 this can be done in file explorer. If using Windows 7, you need a program such as WinCDEmu. Then copy the files and folders from the mounted ISO file to the USB flash drive.

Boot your troubled computer from the USB flash drive. When the first screen of Windows setup comes up, press Shift + F10. That will open a command prompt window. Run:

diskpart
list disk
select disk # <- replace # with the actual # of the computer's internal drive
clean
exit
exit

Then continue with the install, selecting the unallocated space after selecting Custom Install. Click next to let Windows set up the partitions it wants to.