Windows 10 - hanging on startup

[Archon Prime]

One of those days where the brain doesn't function...
Client brought in her HP Envy Laptop running Windows 10 with latest updates.
Issue is: Sits at HP Logo with spinning wheel. nothing happens at all. It will start to load (as per the drive access LED) then stops. So something is holding it up.
Okay. so logged into Safe boot with networking. same thing. doesn't load.
Safe boot alone - works perfectly fine. so I'm assuming it's something network setting/driver related.

For the fun of it, i decided to bring it back to a restore point from last week. Works.. computer started up normally and I was able to do some quick clean up and then rebooted again - back to square one...well ****.

So last night I checked startup items in autoruns, cleared some broken stuff and rebooted - no change.
It's late at this point so I shut it down and back at it this morning.
Back to safe boot.

Tried setting the startup type to Diagnostics, goes right back to selective startup, okay, so just enabled "Load system services".

AVG is on this system and it's corrupted so I turned off those services as well and all startup items, no go.

Any suggestions on what I can do with this, and anything else I'm forgetting (which I know I am)
I'm not able to do a N&P since there is software on here that cannot be re-installed.

 

[Markverhyden]

AVG? I'd not turn off the services, I'd remove it and also go through the reg to manual search and destroy anything AVG related.

 

[Archon Prime]

Update: did another restore - back to the desktop no problem. Restore was from the 14th. Latest updates installed again.

rebooting the computer back to square one. Just sits there spinning. reboot to safe boot with networking does NOT work. only safe boot. At this point I'm really confused.

 

[Archon Prime]

AVG? I'd not turn off the services, I'd remove it and also go through the reg to manual search and destroy anything AVG related.

Was going to do that now. I'll have to try a different approach since it's corrupted and the repair/installer isn't working.

 

[Archon Prime]

Well I got the go ahead from the client to erase - so I'm doing a reset of windows 10. Makes my life a lot easier instead of pulling my hair out. Of course I've done a lot of other steps in trying to resolve this but It's too much to write haha

 

[Sky-Knight]

Test the hard disk please, I've not had a single case where Win10 blows after an update yet that wasn't the result of a weak, and beginning to fail hard disk.

 

[Archon Prime]

Drive is good. SMART is good, crystaldisk shows good.

 

[Markverhyden]

Drive condition is a valid concern.

Well I got the go ahead from the client to erase - so I'm doing a reset of windows 10. Makes my life a lot easier instead of pulling my hair out. Of course I've done a lot of other steps in trying to resolve this but It's too much to write haha

To be honest thats the best route in a situation like this. Because you can't really put you hand on the problem you can't be sure it was fixed. I'd also get them off of AVG.

 

[Archon Prime]

Hey @Markverhyden That was my first step with this is to toss AVG. She's a student, so I'm getting her a 30 day trial of Emsisoft. If she wants to continue with it I'll sell her a 1 year license at a decent price.

As for the initial issue, I'm scratching my head as to why it was doing that. I had a strange suspicion it was AVG doing it.. but why wouldn't it start up in safeboot with networking?

I need a coffee.

 

[HFultzjr]

I have had 2 of these, both HP.
Seems to have happened after the latest MS updates.
Both had AMD processors and seem to be related.
System restored both and heard about MS stopping the offending updates.
Sorry, I don't have the KB numbers at this time.
This comes to mind:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/9/1...tdown-spectre-security-updates-amd-pcs-issues

 

[Archon Prime]

I heard about the AMD stuff but this is a i7. I'm installing the last update right now after a clean install...taking FOREVER and it's still
"Getting Windows Ready" haha oh boy I hate Windows updates.

 

[fencepost]

Once it's done check the event log for disk timeouts and fire up Resource Monitor and watch the disk queue. The combination of "student," "laptop," "slow disk" immediately makes me think "This thing gets moved around or dragged across desks while there's still drive activity."

Highly recommend an SSD for any truly mobile laptop. Good backup as well, both because there's often no recovering from a failed SSD and because laptops that are out and about can go walkabout.

 

[Porthos]

I'm installing the last update right now after a clean install...taking FOREVER and it's still
"Getting Windows Ready" haha oh boy I hate Windows updates.

Updated image easy to build and easy to keep updated. Just loaded one, 10 minute install with updates and usual 3rd party programs already installed.

 

[johnrobert]

As soon as I see AVG I remove it and that usually fixes many problems
Had a client today with it on he just paid $60 so I was reluctant to remove it, I will tell him to get his money back
but most people would not be as persistent as me
When I see AVG I see red

 

[DRPCNZ]

Probably a bit late for you now but Graphics driver saw a few after the last Windows update

 

[Archon Prime]

So looking into this more, it was a combination of AVG and something else causing it to screw up. But anyway. It was all working great, like a new machine once the reset was done. Client was happy. She just needs to setup her applications and whatever. I asked her to promise me to never install AVG or Avast ever again lol.

 

[GTP]

never install AVG or Avast ever again

Amen to that!

 

[glennd]

Was going to do that now. I'll have to try a different approach since it's corrupted and the repair/installer isn't working.

for future reference, AVG have a tool to remove stubborn installations. it basically does it by brute force.

https://www.avg.com/en-au/utilities

 

[tf76]

I have this issue as well. Backing up and reinstalling with latest win 10 and updates. Downloading latest windows 10 build and creating the usb now.

 

[Porthos]

Downloading latest windows 10 build and creating the usb now.

Just hold on to it, It only changes twice a year. Downloading it each time in between does not get any newer.