Driver PNP Watchdog Error

HI Mike. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP here to help you.

I will give you all possible steps to troubleshoot installation failure which work in about 90% of cases. If not we'll go from there:

Follow the illustrated Clean Install steps in this tutorial which compiles the best possible install that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Make sure all other drives and peripherals are unplugged. Update the BIOS or UEFI firmware to latest, or reset to Defaults, making sure SATA controller is set to AHCI, UEFI is enabled, CSM disabled, Windows Boot Manager set first to boot, if necessary disable Secure and Fast Boot until after install: https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/reset-pc-bios-...

Create the latest new Windows 10 Installation Media by installing Media Creation Tool and following the directions here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... If you're using another PC to do this then uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first. If you can start Windows enter UEFI firmware here: http://www.isunshare.com/windows-password/four-...

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on first screen press Shift + F10 to open a Command Prompt, type the following commands, each followed by Enter key:
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SEL DIS # (replace # with the disk # of the Windows disk from list in previous command)
CLEAN
EXIT

Close Command Box, on second screen choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen choose Unallocated Space, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof.

Make sure to follow the setup steps in the first link tutorial to complete your install. Drivers are important enough that those steps are printed in red.

You will get and keep the best possible install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods in the first linked tutorial. It's a better install than any amount of money could buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.


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Hi Mike

My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.

It appears this system is not certified compatible with Windows 10. All the drivers pre-date Windows 10.

As future Windows 10 feature updates are released it will introduce an incompatibility with older devices and PC's. Certain components will not support these changes as observed by some users not seeing transparency anymore. Recommendations include: rollback, block the upgrade or consider upgrading components in your system such as graphics, storage, BIOS, motherboard or purchase a new Windows 10 PC.

If you need help with downgrading to the original working version of Windows you had prior to upgrading to Windows 10, do let us know.

Source: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservic...

You should probably go back to Windows 7 and stick with it.

Thanks Andre,

While that's disappointing it makes the most sense of anything I've heard or read over the past three days. I get that the most recent version of Windows, 1903, doesn't work buy wouldn't version 1511 or possibly 1703 work?

If I do wind up going back to Windows 7, do you recommend wiping the drive clean first? Prior to starting, I made a complete backup to an external drive just in case something like this happened.

Mike

Thanks Greg,

I actually saw this same information yesterday in a response to an earlier post. None of this worked for me.

Mike

You could always try an extremely older version such as Windows 10 1507 and 1703 which are no longer supported, but keep in those are not getting security updates.

So, give it a try first to see if it works, but I think, you ultimately would get better mileage using Windows 8.1.

If it doesn't work out and you do decide to go back to Windows 7, then you can do a clean install during setup.

What is the UEFI/BIOS firmware version presently installed, and the latest on the PC or motherboard's downloads page?

What are the UEFI settings in Setup for UEFI, CSM or Legacy BIOS, Secure and Fast Boot, Boot Priority order?

How was the media created, was it booted as a UEFI device?

I've probably troubleshot 10,000 or more installs and helped millions more Clean Install with my tutorials for 10 years daily in forums. I can help you get it installed no matter what, if not you can install to another PC and move the drive to this one. But I need feedback on at least the questions I just asked.

Thanks, I think I'll just put it back the way it was and work on getting her a new computer.

Thats probably best. Considering its from 2010, thats going nearly 10 years now. Even my 5 year old Surface Pro is starting to feel stretched with the latest Windows 10 Feature Update. :)

Thanks Greg, but we are dealing with a computer that is nearly 10 years old. We have been talking about replacing it. With this effort I was just hoping to delay that a bit. I plan to put it back to Windows 7 and start looking for a replacement.

Hi Mike -

That's a good long life for a PC, if it's still working with Windows 7 then doing a Windows 7 Clean Install may make it last even longer.

Follow these steps for the gold standard Windows 7 Clean Install following the illustrated steps in this link which include everything that works best: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

If the download link in Step 1 is dead and you don't have installation media, let me know and I'll help you find it.