[chris547]

I have a nice HP Phoenix H9-1033 which is now 6 years old which is standard spec except that I fitted an extra 3TB Seagate hard drive.  I upgraded from Windows 7 to windows 8 to windows 10. It has run great for ages however now it does not want to boot up. It will awaken if I put it to sleep however I prefer to close it down every night.

 

HP have a blue screen which appears however it sometimes hangs. If I go away for an hour or repeatedly switch it on and off it does open a recovery function which often works but sometimes not.

 

At other times I get a black screen and it stays black.

 

At other times the black screen can have a flashing cursor top left. Sometimes the circle of dots runs, sometimes not.

 

I have used the diagnostics provided by HP and their SMART test on the hardware which tests OK. I concluded that I might have corrupt windows files and did try replacing the windows apps files which did not produce a miracle cure.

 

I thought now I should ask for some expert advice from  someone with special knowledge and appeal for some help please. 

 

 

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Hi chris547,


Have you installed latest versions of device drivers?



Upload Dump Files:
NOTE: If using a disk cleaning utility, please stop using it while we are troubleshooting your issues.
Please go to C:\Windows\Minidump and zip up the contents of the folder. Then upload/attach the .zip file with your next post.
Left click on the first minidump file.
Hold down the "Shift" key and left click on the last minidump file.
Right click on the blue highlighted area and select "Send to"
Select "Compressed (zipped) folder" and note where the folder is saved.
Upload that .zip file with your next post.

If you have issues with "Access Denied" errors, try copying the files to your desktop and zipping them up from there. If it still won't let you zip them up, post back for further advice.

If you don't have anything in that folder, please check in C:\Windows for a file named MEMORY.DMP. If you find it, zip it up and upload it to a free file hosting service. Then post the link to it in your topic so that we can download it.

Also, search your entire hard drive for files ending in .dmp, .mdmp, and .hdmp. Zip up any that you find and upload them with your next post.

Then, follow the directions here to set your system for Minidumps (much smaller than the MEMORY.DMP file): http://www.carrona.org/setmini.html
More info on dump file options here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254649




I would like you to check the system integrity of your Windows OS installation.

• Please right click the Windows logo (formerly the start button) at the bottom left of your screen.
• Please select "Command Prompt (Admin)"
• Please type the following command and press the <Enter> key: sfc /scannow (Please note that there is a space between 'sfc" and "/scannow".)
• It should take about 20 minutes to run, if there are no serious errors.
• If the System File Checker reports that some errors were fixed, but some remain; please reboot your computer and run the System File Checker from an Administrator Command Prompt, again.
• If the System File Checker again reports that some errors were fixed, but some remain, please reboot your computer and run it a third time.
• If "Resource Integrity Violations" (errors) are reported that could not be corrected, or were not corrected after a third SFC run, then please navigate to the folder: C:\Windows\Logs\CBS and copy the file "cbs.log" to your desktop immediately. I am asking you do that because that file is dynamic, so I want to be able to examine a copy that is unchanged from the time that the System File Checker was run.
• If there are errors that couldn't be corrected, let me know and I will provide you with instructions as to how to upload the file

[FreeBooter]

Hi chris547,


Have you installed latest versions of device drivers?



Upload Dump Files:
NOTE: If using a disk cleaning utility, please stop using it while we are troubleshooting your issues.
Please go to C:\Windows\Minidump and zip up the contents of the folder. Then upload/attach the .zip file with your next post.
Left click on the first minidump file.
Hold down the "Shift" key and left click on the last minidump file.
Right click on the blue highlighted area and select "Send to"
Select "Compressed (zipped) folder" and note where the folder is saved.
Upload that .zip file with your next post.

If you have issues with "Access Denied" errors, try copying the files to your desktop and zipping them up from there. If it still won't let you zip them up, post back for further advice.

If you don't have anything in that folder, please check in C:\Windows for a file named MEMORY.DMP. If you find it, zip it up and upload it to a free file hosting service. Then post the link to it in your topic so that we can download it.

Also, search your entire hard drive for files ending in .dmp, .mdmp, and .hdmp. Zip up any that you find and upload them with your next post.

Then, follow the directions here to set your system for Minidumps (much smaller than the MEMORY.DMP file): http://www.carrona.org/setmini.html
More info on dump file options here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254649




I would like you to check the system integrity of your Windows OS installation.

• Please right click the Windows logo (formerly the start button) at the bottom left of your screen.
• Please select "Command Prompt (Admin)"
• Please type the following command and press the <Enter> key: sfc /scannow (Please note that there is a space between 'sfc" and "/scannow".)
• It should take about 20 minutes to run, if there are no serious errors.
• If the System File Checker reports that some errors were fixed, but some remain; please reboot your computer and run the System File Checker from an Administrator Command Prompt, again.
• If the System File Checker again reports that some errors were fixed, but some remain, please reboot your computer and run it a third time.
• If "Resource Integrity Violations" (errors) are reported that could not be corrected, or were not corrected after a third SFC run, then please navigate to the folder: C:\Windows\Logs\CBS and copy the file "cbs.log" to your desktop immediately. I am asking you do that because that file is dynamic, so I want to be able to examine a copy that is unchanged from the time that the System File Checker was run.
• If there are errors that couldn't be corrected, let me know and I will provide you with instructions as to how to upload the file

[chris547]

Thank you for such a prompt response.

 

I checked the drivers and quite a few, 12, did update on the chipset, and also the express controller, enhanced host controller. After doing this (over an hour) I rebooted as Windows instructed however it did not start. I left it on the HP Blue Screen (HPBS) and went to make tea, returned 5 mins later and saw a few Orange blinks on the case (hard disk activity) so I left it, the HPBS disappeared, black screen appeared with the blinking cursor top left.After half an hour the 4 blue paned window came up on the black screen, much hard disk activity for a few minutes and then the circle of dots appeared about 15 minutes later and spun round. The dots turned for about half an hour and finally the blue wireless adapter light on the case appeared followed by the Windows log in screen.

 

                                                   --------------------oOo------------------

 

 I don't have any Minidump files so decided to switch off. Bad idea as it would not reboot. Kept getting the HPBS and kept switching off and then on again 4 times which triggers the recovery partition , then a black screen, 4 paned windows, then circle of dots, then windows log on screen  however all this takes about 15 minutes

 

                                               --------------------oOo------------------

 

I used powershell (admin) to configure automatic dumps and logged out and back in. I had a lot of bother to reboot as above only to find there were no dump files. Still have the same difficulty trying to boot up. I tried the sfc /scannow without a switch to fix any errors however it never found any integrity issues. I had done this myself about a week ago and never found any violation.

 

I looked at the Corrona site however I do not get a windows blue screen of death, just the HPBS which is stage 1 of a boot but I just hang rather than an actual crash. I just come to a halt before windows starts up. There are no bleeps from the mother board. Startup just halts.

 

If I look under "computer management" there are loads of log files but none are to do with booting or crashes, they are just routine events and stuff and audits which are all passes.

 

The computer runs fine, it regularly updates most days however it just will not boot up unless you trigger the recovery files on the hidden partition on the C drive. I'll do an "F2" interruption if you like to see where the PC is looking and the order when it needs to boot if you think that might help. It's as if it looks where there is no boot info to read and the only place it can be read is on the recovery partition

[FreeBooter]

Please download and run SeaTools for Windows.

Before the installation begins you will be prompted to either Decline or Accept the terms of the installation, click on I Accept.

Once the installation begins you will see an image similar to the one below.



1. SeaTools for Windows will search for HDDs and SSDs on your computer. Please remove any external storage devices connected via USB ports.

2. Detected Drives will list the HDDs and SSDs found. Place a check mark in the drive box you want to run the scan on. This should be the drive that has the operating system installed on it, this is usually C: drive.

3. You will see Basic Tests toolbar above Detected Drives, move the mouse pointer over this to open the test options. Please click on Long Generic Test

4. This will start the scan. When the scan is complete you will see the result under Test Status , please post the results in your topic.



5. The test will indicate either Pass or Fail. Post the results of the scan in your topic.

6. Click on Help, then click on View Log File. If the scan failed take a screen shot of the Log File and post it in your topic.

[chris547]

 SeaTools for Windows v1.4.0.4 ---------------

02/08/2017 02:37:50

Model Number: Hitachi HDS721010DLE630

Serial Number: MSK5215H133T0G

Firmware Revision: MS2OA5R0

SMART - Started 02/08/2017 02:37:50

SMART - Pass 02/08/2017 02:37:55

SMART - Started 02/08/2017 02:45:53

SMART - Pass 02/08/2017 02:45:59

Long Generic - Started 02/08/2017 02:50:58

Long Generic - Pass 02/08/2017 04:54:50

[chris547]

I have looked at the HP Vision Hardware Diagnostics and the following all pass;

 

CPU

Hard Drive connection

Boot Test

SMART test

Memory test

 

                                  -----------------------------------oOo----------------------

 

I have also looked at the boot up device sequence and the computer is using the first option:

 

UEFI Boot Source

ATAPI CD/DVD Drive

SATA 2

Hard Drive

SATA 0

SATA 3

Network Controller (Realtek PXE B06 D00)

 

 

                               -------------------oOo---------------------

 

If I make a guess it is updating the drivers that is solving things as my last 2 boots were fast and trouble free. I am going to check all the drivers again while I wait for your next response. I suspect we have fixed the problem however I am being cautious. I have a automatic update program for Intel and it looks like it was not functional however getting windows to check each hardware component for the latest driver seems to be a more effective thing to do at least for the chipsets.

[FreeBooter]

Its better if you update device drivers from device manufacturer website.

[chris547]

I have installed Intel Driver Update Utility and further updating resulted. My logon screen now appears in about 30 seconds so I believe I should mark my issue as solved unless you have any further advice.

 

Thank you for your clear thinking.

[FreeBooter]

Best Answer

Nice to hear that the problem has been resolved very happy for you!