Solved! (Perplexing) Windows often (sometimes) failed to boot, while Linux mostly boots fine.

[k00ly]

I bought 2 HP Elitebooks 8730w 17" laptops for less than $150 each back in 2017.

One of them works fine, while the other constantly often fails to boot Windows. It fails about 70-80% of the time (at least). While Linux (Ubuntu 16.04) will be successfull (at least 90% of the time). For Windows 7, it will show "Starting Windows" screen as shown here:

Then it will NOT go into login screen, but to a blank black-screen as shown here:

and it will freeze as if there is no CapsLock or NumLock respond anymore. The similar thing happen to Windows 10 LTSB too, that I installed earlier before I switched to Windows 7 (I switched, becoz I thought Windows 10 did not support the hardware, but the same thing happens later to my Windows 7 Installation).

I thought it was the old HDD, so I also had replaced a new HDD b4 installing the Windows 7, but it did not fix it (So it was not because of the initial HDD that came with the laptop, as I also had thought of).

The Windows image run fine on the other laptop, so it was not becoz of the OS image.

This failure to boot occurs only mostly to Windows (7 & 10) (Not all the time) (70-80% failure rate at least) (Isn't it perplexing???), while Linux (Ubuntu 16.04 or Kali 2019.01) would be successfull (at least 90% of the time). This is the only strange clue. The other laptop that I had bought (same type), runs fine.

Google only take me as far as : https://www.maketecheasier.com/windows-10-failed-to-start/

What could be the problem here? As replacing the HDD and reinstalling OS doesn't solve the problem.. I haven't checked the GPU or other hardware connections, but the strange thing is that Linux starts (boots) fine mostly.

Thx in advance and I appreciate for all the helps.

 

[webworkings]

Since the computer loads, just Windows doesn't, try these...

Option 1 ...

1. First, while the computer is off, connect an external monitor.
2. Next turn on the computer and allow it to fully load.
3. Once loaded, press the "Windows Key" + "P" to open the "Easy Display Switcher".
4. In here select "Computer only".
5. Now shut down the computer and disconnect the external monitor.
6. Disconnect the external monitor
7. And finally restart the computer.

Option 2 ...

Make sure you wait until the computer would be fully loaded before trying this, and not try it right away like you would to say get into BIOS. This needs you to actually be where you would be when Windows Explorer loads.

1. Press "Shift" repeatedly until the "sticky keys" window shows up.

2. Now click the the link there that will lead to the "Ease of Access Center".

3. Next click "Cancel" on the the bottom right corner of the "Set Up Sticky Keys" window.

4. From here you want to click "Control Panel" on the upper left corner (it should be right beside the "Make Your Computer Easier to Use" title.

5. Locate the "Computer Settings" menu and then choose the "Recovery" icon (make sure that your view of this is by either large or small icons for easier access).

6. Now click and open "System Restore".

7. Here you want to click next on the bottom right corner (a few times) until the button "Finish" shows up and then click it. (Just follow everything prompt that the window says which will lead you to recovering your previous system, in a certain time.

8. The computer will now do the work it needs to and then reboot.


If that doesn't work, you can try the following...

You can also try doing the Ctrl+Alt+Delete and see if you can get "Task Manager" to show.


If the "Task Manager" windows shows, then choose "New Task" and then type in EXPLORER. If the desktop shows up then you need to go into "Start", "Programs", then "Accessories" and finally "Command Prompt". (Or you can do a search for CMD.)

Make sure you load the "Command Prompt" with Administrator access. Then when it loads type in....

SFC /SCANNOW

It will do a file check.

To learn more about "SFC" visit this link at Microsoft... https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

 

[k00ly]

Sorry for late to reply. I hvn't got time to tinker with it again until recently.

1) I hv tried the 'Windows + P` solution. It was initially set to 'Duplicate' and I have set it to 'Computer only'. Well, I thought it worked initially, but it does not. Windows still fails to boot about 70% of the time.

I have to stress again, that it only fails too boot about 70-80% of the time. Sometimes it boots successfully, about 20% of the time.

2) I hv not tried this solution, because I do not think it will fix it. The laptop has been failing to boot Windows 70-80% of the time since the beginning of the 1st install. And because of this problem, I have not quite used this laptop much and kept it pretty much still fresh & default, I only installed perhaps firefox and avast.

And I have also said in my original thread, that I have initally installed a Windows 10 on an older HDD. It also has this exact problem. So, I guess it's not the only 'current install or image' of Windows 7 that causes this (So I think 'system restoring' Windows, will not likely to fix this). After my initial similar problem with the Windows 10, I changed the HDD into a newer HDD and installed Windows 7 (instead of the initial Win10) because I thought initially, that maybe the Windows10 doesn't support the HW. But it all is to no help/use. Windows still fails to boot after (changing into new HDD and also reinstalling a fresh new Windows 10 and 7).

My 2nd similar HP 8730w laptop, it works 100% fine.

I don't mind trying it (the system restore) thou, but it just seem unlikely to fix it.

3) Ran the 'SFC /scannow' on admin cmd. All fine.

4) Extra, I also took apart part of the laptop (again). And I tugged in most connection that I can access to (keyboard cables e.g). I took off and checked and tugged in the GPU real tight and snug too. With NO RESULTS.

Windows still fails to boot 70-80% of the time. It will show 'Starting Windows' and Windows logo and then went to black screen when failing. Not sure if it's related, but the keyboard CapLock and NumLock does not work, but the HP Quicklaunch Panel on top still works (toggles on/off for mute e.g.).

I still don't know what's wrong ?

Linux boots fine 98-99% of the time I guess.

 

[k00ly]

This is the subsequent Windows 7 boot menu after it fails to boot the previous time.

And I have to add though, that 'any Safe Mode' almost always successfully boots.

Yes, any 'Safe Mode' will successfully boot. Strange or not, idk. Not an expert here, but seems if 'Safe Mode' is able to boot almost 100% of the time, then something is only wrong with the 'Regular mode'. Maybe driver, maybe others idk...

 

[webworkings]

If s"Safe Mode" will always boot then there is something either going on software wise. Bad drivers, unsure. But I would consider the reinstall of the software.

 

[k00ly]

After almost a year, I still haven't solved this or even nailed down the problem. Just got the time to thinker with it again recently..

Recently also too, I just found out how to go to Windows 7 Advanced Boot Option; by pressing 'Enter' 2x during initial boot, then press 'F8' as directed on the screen for Windows 7. It gave me the option to 'Enable Boot Logging', you can look it up or even try it. It basically boots normally and plus recording logs during the boot.

My Windows 7 still failed to start then, but I have managed to acquire its boot logs named 'ntbtlog.txt' in the C:\Windows folder.
Here is the log:

 Service Pack 112 23 2019 15:37:01.375
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\hal.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\kdcom.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\mcupdate_GenuineIntel.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\PSHED.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\CLFS.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\CI.dll
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\Wdf01000.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\WDFLDR.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\ACPI.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\WMILIB.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\msisadrv.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\pci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\vdrvroot.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\partmgr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\compbatt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\BATTC.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\volmgr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\volmgrx.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\pciide.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\PCIIDEX.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\mountmgr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\atapi.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\ataport.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\msahci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\amdxata.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\fltmgr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\fileinfo.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\msrpc.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\ksecdd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\cng.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\pcw.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Fs_Rec.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\ndis.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\NETIO.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\ksecpkg.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\tcpip.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\fwpkclnt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswRvrt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswVmm.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\vmstorfl.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\volsnap.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\spldr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\rdyboost.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\mup.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\hwpolicy.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\hpdskflt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\fvevol.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\disk.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\CLASSPNP.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswbuniv.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswbidsh.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswArDisk.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswSP.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswSnx.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Null.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Beep.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswKbd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\vga.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\RDPCDD.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\rdpencdd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\rdprefmp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Msfs.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\Npfs.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\tdx.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\afd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswRdr2.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\netbt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\wfplwf.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\pacer.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\vwififlt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\netbios.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\wanarp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\termdd.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\rdbss.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\nsiproxy.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\mssmbios.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\discache.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\csc.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\dfsc.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\blbdrive.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswHdsKe.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswbidsdriver.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\aswArPot.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\tunnel.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\intelppm.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\dxgkrnl.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\atikmdag.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\HDAudBus.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\e1y60x64.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\usbuhci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\usbehci.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\NETw5s64.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\vwifibus.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\sdbus.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\tpm.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\parport.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\i8042prt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\HpqKbFiltr.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\kbdclass.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\SynTP.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\mouclass.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\Accelerometer.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\CmBatt.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\cpqbttn64.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\wmiacpi.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\CompositeBus.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\AgileVpn.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\rasl2tp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\ndistapi.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\ndiswan.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\raspppoe.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\raspptp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\rassstp.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\rdpbus.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\swenum.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\umbus.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\vga.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\usbhub.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\kbdhid.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\HdAudio.sys
Loaded driver \SystemRoot\system32\drivers\ksthunk.sys

This is the last normal boot I did using the 'Enable Boot Log' from the Windows7 Advanced Boot Option.
But idk what's wrong there, can anyone tell me, is there anything wrong with the Windows Boot Log..?

Thanks for the help..