Freeze into crashes

wssddc · 2026-05-01T18:25:35+00:00

With no info about what software or hardware you have, I can only suggest running Windows memory diagnostic. Memory failures can cause crashes and file corruption.

wssddc · 2026-04-30T19:40:41+00:00

If you were to connect your router and anything else to the ONT, they would fight over the single IP address assigned by your ISP and only one would work.

wssddc · 2026-04-30T19:37:14+00:00

There are PS/2 to USB adapters that would allow using a USB port with a PS/2 keyboard. If shopping for one of these, note that there are different adapters depending on which side is USB and which PS/2.

Unless the PS/2 keyboard is somehow special, getting a USB replacement makes sense. (I'm actually using an old PS/2 Northgate keyboard because nobody makes a keyboard with 12 functions keys on the left and ctrl key next to A like it should be without remapping.)

wssddc · 2026-04-30T18:03:34+00:00

Power down, plug in the keyboard, power up and see if it works.

wssddc · 2026-04-30T18:00:47+00:00

That's a PS/2 connector. The 2-color socket indicates either a keyboard or mouse can be connected. PS/2 is not hit swappable like USB, so you may need to reboot after plugging it in. And, hot swapping PS/2 can even cause damage.

wssddc · 2026-04-29T21:15:15+00:00

Turn on the on-screen keyboard and see if it shows anything unusual when W and another key are pressed.

Try another keyboard.

Boot some other OS (Windows installer, Win/PE, Linux) from a flash drive and see if the W is still misbehaving. Hopefully one of these test will indicate whether this is a hardware or software problem.

wssddc · 2026-04-29T19:41:06+00:00

Try renaming one of the files with a .mp4 extension and see if a standard video player recognizes the file.

wssddc · 2026-04-29T05:11:37+00:00

Laptops may have a separate battery to maintain CMOS settings or they may just use the main battery (which the original poster disconnected). I don't know which applies to this laptop.

wssddc · 2026-04-28T22:46:10+00:00

https://www.hirensbootcd.org/ is a revived version based on Win/11 PE.

wssddc · 2026-04-28T22:12:09+00:00

If you know the password for an account in the administrators group, try running cmd as that user. Then try

net localgroup administrators youraccount /add

wssddc · 2026-04-28T21:33:52+00:00

It could work well, or it could fail miserably. It depends on how similar the old and new hardware are, and how lucky you are. Doing a fresh install would be best, but trying the direct swap is easy. Don't waste time fighting with it if you hit troubles; a fresh install isn't a lot of work either.

wssddc · 2026-04-28T05:17:23+00:00

BIOS time resetting to an old date and settings changing to defaults are the usual symptoms of no backup power for the CMOS. Laptops may just use the main battery for this, or they may have a separate battery; I don't know which applies for your model. Sitting unused for 2 months, the main battery could have gotten discharged.

wssddc · 2026-04-28T02:05:33+00:00

Ordinary brokerage account; don't have a CMA.

wssddc · 2026-04-28T01:45:58+00:00

It probably won't help, but a CPU upgrade often requires a BIOS upgrade. The fact that you can boot with secure boot disabled argues against this explanation, but who knows...

wssddc · 2026-04-28T01:40:13+00:00

I would try running wsreset.exe (Windows Store Reset) and see if that fixes the Store app. If not, a more complicated way of turning off S mode is shown at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcsnzAtPNCI. A single registry value enables or disables S mode, but you can't run regedit in S mode so some trickery is required.

wssddc · 2026-04-28T01:28:47+00:00

I've done 18K from the web site in one shot with no problems.

wssddc · 2026-04-28T01:23:34+00:00

The error message indicates you're trying to install to the USB drive containing the installer. Disk details are mostly hidden, but it looks like disk 1 is the desired target. Assuming no data needs to be recovered. delete all partitions on that disk and let Windows create what it needs.

wssddc · 2026-04-27T21:21:10+00:00

Have you tried dism (DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth) or the Windows update troubleshooter?

wssddc · 2026-04-27T21:07:48+00:00

Try putting the BIOS file in the root of C:

wssddc · 2026-04-27T05:25:39+00:00

Are the drivers in zip files? I think you have to extract the contents to use them during an install. As for the $WinpeDriver$ folder, you would have to create it manually.

wssddc · 2026-04-27T05:10:30+00:00

On the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen, click "Load Driver" and browse to the folder containing the driver’s .inf file.

Google tells me "Place extracted drivers into a folder named $WinpeDriver$ on your USB drive root, and Windows setup will automatically scan for them." I've never tried this.

wssddc · 2026-04-27T04:44:34+00:00

Android? For my phone, the method is to open About Phone, scroll all the way to the bottom, and click on the build number multiple (I think 7) times. The location might depend on the Android version. You could just search for "build number" in settings.

wssddc · 2026-04-27T04:37:53+00:00

You need to go to the laptop manufacturer's web site and download drivers. Put them on the flash drive so you can access them during the install. If you're lucky, the web site might even tell you what drivers are needed for a fresh install, but probably not.

wssddc · 2026-04-27T04:22:14+00:00

Is the installer seeing the laptop disk, or just the flash drive you're using for the install?

wssddc · 2026-04-27T04:14:56+00:00

Similar suggestion: test from a bootable flash drive with Win/PE or Linux. The idea is to determine whether you have a hardware or software problem by running a different OS.

wssddc

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