Flickering safe mode (with networking), unable to boot into Windows

Troubleshooting Flickering Safe Mode with Networking on HP Omen 25L: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Encountering boot issues can be daunting, especially when your Windows system fails to load properly. Recently, a user reported experiencing a persistent flickering screen while attempting to boot into Safe Mode with Networking on an HP Omen 25L gaming PC. This article provides a detailed overview of the problem and offers effective troubleshooting strategies to resolve such issues.

Understanding the Issue

The user inadvertently configured their system to boot into Safe Mode with Networking via the System Configuration tool (msconfig). This configuration, combined with potential underlying issues, has led to a screen that continually flickers—rendering the system unresponsive and hindering normal operation. Despite multiple troubleshooting attempts, including command-line fixes and hardware reseating, the problem persisted.

Common Causes

• Corrupted BCD (Boot Configuration Data)
• Misconfigured boot options
• Driver conflicts or hardware issues
• Corrupted system files
• Disk errors or filesystem issues
• External factors like BitLocker (not active in this case)

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Verify Boot Settings and Boot Configuration Data

2. Use Recovery Environment:

   1. Boot from a Windows installation media (USB or DVD).
   2. Select “Repair your computer” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt.”

3. Rebuild BCD:

   Run the following commands one by one:
   bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd

4. Check Boot Configuration:

   Use the command:
   bcdedit /enum
   Ensure that the boot entries are correct and do not contain conflicting options.

5. Disable Safe Mode Entry

6. Using Command Prompt:

   1. Access the command prompt from the recovery environment.
   2. Remove the Safe Mode setting:
      bcdedit /deletevalue safeboot
   3. Exit and restart the system to see if the issue persists.

7. Perform System File and Disk Checks

8. System File Checker:
   sfc /scannow

9. Check Disk:
   chkdsk /r /f C:
   These commands help identify and repair corrupted files or disk errors that