Laptop won't install from Win10 boot disk

grumpycrab

I've vague memories of laptop GPUs dying - its a HP AMD A6-9220 RADEON A4 (2017).  Symptoms are cannot load windows from a (working) win10 boot disk.  "Files load" ok then the HP logo comes up and restarts. Or get a corrupt screen (attached).  BIOS looks ok.  HDD looks ok. Is this just a knackered GPU? 

debitcardmayhem

have you tried a linux live disk?

grumpycrab

No, but I think that's my next step. I've tried HP recovery which has failed at the end and I've ended up in something called "Windows 10 audit mode"  which I've never heard of/seen before. 

Neil_Jones

grumpycrab said:

No, but I think that's my next step. I've tried HP recovery which has failed at the end and I've ended up in something called "Windows 10 audit mode"  which I've never heard of/seen before. 

Audit Mode is the mode that the manufacturers use to set up the machines for mass distribution.  All you're seeing with HP Recovery is what happened in the factory up to the point where you switch it on for the first time.

It has its uses outside of computer recovery if you're so inclined:

https://web.sas.upenn.edu/jasonrw/2018/03/21/building-an-image-of-windows-10-for-mass-distribution/

grumpycrab

Don't know why "HP recovery" didn't complete, but I'm sure the hardware is ok.  I managed to get it out of audit mode (reg setting) and windows runs but with the built-in admin account (easily fixed).  It then stubbornly refused to upgrade to Win10 20H2 (from 1703) and all I could think of was to upgrade the BIOS.  (under 1703 it was heavily disk-bound and superfetch churning away etc)....  trying in place upgrade to 20H2 now....  fingers crossed...

Jenni_D

But if the screen looks OK in "audit mode" then it suggests the GPU is OK?

Does this laptop have a separate GPU or only onboard graphics from the CPU? (The "model" number you've given yields lots of different options with a search, so it looks like this is merely the CPU model). If yes (to GPU) then audit mode may be using onboard graphics, which could explain why you get a dodgy screen when the GPU is tried to be used.

What if you connect an external monitor?

grumpycrab

Jenni_D said:

But if the screen looks OK in "audit mode" then it suggests the GPU is OK?

Does this laptop have a separate GPU or only onboard graphics from the CPU? (The "model" number you've given yields lots of different options with a search, so it looks like this is merely the CPU model). If yes (to GPU) then audit mode may be using onboard graphics, which could explain why you get a dodgy screen when the GPU is tried to be used.

What if you connect an external monitor?

GPU must be a red-herring despite corrupt screen.  In the middle of installing 20H2... I'll give details when its done...

grumpycrab

doing windows updates now but is working; laptop is HP 15-bw066sa; windows update has just updated the graphics driver and its listed as AMD Radeon R4 which I guess is integrated with CPU.  It looks like the BIOS update fixed it - only the second time I've had to update the BIOS to enable a windows10 install (in his case from 1703 -> 20H2).  Normally (?) BIOS upgrades are pushed out through windows update but obviously not this one.  I don't like HP.

Jenni_D

That reminds me ... my previous laptop was originally W7 but when I updated it to W10 the laptop screen stopped working. I had to update the BIOS to get it working.  

Neil_Jones

grumpycrab said:

doing windows updates now but is working; laptop is HP 15-bw066sa; windows update has just updated the graphics driver and its listed as AMD Radeon R4 which I guess is integrated with CPU.  It looks like the BIOS update fixed it - only the second time I've had to update the BIOS to enable a windows10 install (in his case from 1703 -> 20H2).  Normally (?) BIOS upgrades are pushed out through windows update but obviously not this one.  I don't like HP.

BIOS updates are most definitely not pushed through Windows Update.  Some machines you can update the BIOS through itself, others you have to manually intervene.

You may be thinking of the processor Microcode updates for Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities - those came through Windows Update.

grumpycrab

Neil_Jones said:

grumpycrab said:Normally (?) BIOS upgrades are pushed out through windows update 

BIOS updates are most definitely not pushed through Windows Update.  

Yes I guessed on that one.  I'm sure I've seen the word "BIOS" in windows update though.