Fresh Install and Windows Update borked my system

My laptop was a mess, files everywhere, unorganized, 3 SSDs filled with junk. I decided to do a fresh install of Windows 11. Done this many times before. Downloaded the USB Media Creation Tool from Microsoft, wiped my SSDs and reinstalled. No issues. Logged in and started round one of Windows Updates. Windows rebooted. After the restart my laptop boots to a total black screen. Screen is on, but its black, no Windows boot logo or spinning circle. Just *hit power button, immediate black screen*. I cannot access the BIOS either, on this laptop it is F12 or DEL, either one works usually. Nothing. I tried multiple key combos from the Manufacturer (HP Omen 15), still nothing. I tried reinstalling Windows, it will not boot from flash drives, same when trying Linux. I cannot access the recovery environment. It's like it cannot even load the BIOS. I tried multiple monitors and keyboards, nothing. I even downloaded the BIOS recovery tool from HP. That did boot, and it ran. BIOS Recovery ran from my flash drive and said it recovered and repaired the BIOS back to the original version and to hit enter to restart. I did. Same issue. Just a dead laptop. Even took out all the SSDs and RAM one by one and swapped them around thinking maybe it was hardware. Nothing. Any ideas? This is new and frustrating as heck.

LucaraCrassus said:

Logged in and started round one of Windows Updates. Windows rebooted. After the restart my laptop boots to a total black screen.

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That would indicate to me WU downloaded a bad driver, or in this case probably a bad bios update. There are reports on HP that some HP BIOS releases by Microsoft do not match what is on the HP web site. If that is the case, I wish you luck in being able to downgrade your bios.

With OEM machines, depending on the model and bios version, in some cases an earlier bios can be loaded, but in other cases the OEM prevents a bios downgrade and there's no way around it unless the OEM can help you. This is common for all OEMs. The rule is (as I understand it) if the current installed bios addressed an Intel security issue, that bios version can NOT be downgraded. The OEM blocks it. It's dependent on your model and the version of bios that is loaded.

You might take a look at this thread to see if it gives you some direction to jump. Note: I'm not insinuating the bios versions mentioned in this thread apply to your machine. Only the troubleshooting steps. You would have to go to the support page for your particular device to know what the correct bios version is for your particular device.

LucaraCrassus said:

I even downloaded the BIOS recovery tool from HP. That did boot, and it ran. BIOS Recovery ran from my flash drive and said it recovered and repaired the BIOS back to the original version and to hit enter to restart.

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So you had image - after doing BIOS recovery?

Remove the SSD and try Booting, does it get to BIOS now? If not - try another BIOS recovery without the SSD. If still nothing - either your BIOS chip was affected (maybe some update released by HP through WU) or it's a coincidence (some hardware issue - like a short which just happened to take place at that time).

neves said:

So you had image - after doing BIOS recovery?

Remove the SSD and try Booting, does it get to BIOS now? If not - try another BIOS recovery without the SSD. If still nothing - either your BIOS chip was affected (maybe some update released by HP through WU) or it's a coincidence (some hardware issue - like a short which just happened to take place at that time).

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Honestly I am thinking its just a dead laptop now. It was 6 years old but ran great. I've tried all of this too and downgrading the BIOS version. Nothing. I was hoping to revive it as a spare machine but I think its gone. Thanks for the suggestions though!

1) have you used an external monitor or tv to see if the POST screen does actually show but not on your laptop screen? (im not saying its booting to windows, just the POST)

2) you could try pulling the cmos battery clear bios settings

dacrone said:

1) have you used an external monitor or tv to see if the POST screen does actually show but not on your laptop screen? (im not saying its booting to windows, just the POST)

2) you could try pulling the cmos battery clear bios settings

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I did, I used 2 separate monitors and a TV as well as other keyboards. This laptop does not have a separate CMOS battery, the main battery powers it according to the manufacturer, and I can't find it on the motherboard. I have pulled the batter and I get a CMOS reset message, it tells me to press enter to continue and I am right back at the black screen with no BIOS access.

LucaraCrassus said:

I did, I used 2 separate monitors and a TV as well as other keyboards. This laptop does not have a separate CMOS battery, the main battery powers it according to the manufacturer, and I can't find it on the motherboard. I have pulled the batter and I get a CMOS reset message, it tells me to press enter to continue and I am right back at the black screen with no BIOS access.

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when you tried the ram one by one, did you try powering it without any ram at all to see if it throws a beep code?

there's also this reddit about it being a sensor that gets damaged. unplugging it may/may not resolve the black screen

also, depending on how far you want to go... you can try to reflow the solder

dacrone said:

when you tried the ram one by one, did you try powering it without any ram at all to see if it throws a beep code?

there's also this reddit about it being a sensor that gets damaged. unplugging it may/may not resolve the black screen

https://www.reddit.com/r/HPOmen/comments/1d10hox/hp_omen_15_en0013dx_black_screen_on_boot

also, depending on how far you want to go... you can try to reflow the solder

SOLVED: No beeps, no post just Black Screen - HP Pavilion

It is not easy to diagnose that kind of problem, but I can give you some pointers to narrow down the problem. * 1. First, remove the hard drive, wireless card, and CD drive to see if you can get it to post 2. Getting any kind of beep sequence is a good thing. It says that the CPU is still...

www.ifixit.com

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I did try this too, without ram and without any drives in it. It isn't giving any beeps either, I thought I would at least get one or two but nothing. I think shes just dead now! :) Nah, I don't think it is worth it to go that far, I was just hoping to get Linux on it and play around, but I will just salvage the drives now and use them as external storage. She had a good life.

I had one of these for a couple of months. Had a similar issue

Regardless if it’s a Battery pack or CMOS battery, they have to be removed for at minimum 20 minutes.
From memory, I also had to hold in the power button for 30 seconds

I wouldn’t say never, plenty of info and videos online.
Also plenty of videos online involving a sledge hammer and laptop

antspants said:

I had one of these for a couple of months. Had a similar issue

Regardless if it’s a Battery pack or CMOS battery, they have to be removed for at minimum 20 minutes.
From memory, I also had to hold in the power button for 30 seconds

I wouldn’t say never, plenty of info and videos online.
Also plenty of videos online involving a sledge hammer and laptop

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I have a hammer somewhere around here...