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How to debrick a Z2 Mini workstation: Is HP software required for display?

T

the_servicer

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Do you guys have any ideas about reliably restoring a display signal in a workstation that constantly wants to lose it?

I unboxed a new Z2 Mini G1a and was shocked by the bloatware. So I did a clean installation of Windows 11. Actually, I did multiple after noticing that each Windows installation process resulted in no display signal. The only way I got a display signal to come back, and therefore to ever see Windows again, was to force power off and boot cold. A warm restart usually, or always, kills the display signal. Sometimes the boot logo is visible in this trial-and-error process. Other times it isn't. If it does show, it's the last thing to appear before darkness overcomes.

I have a hunch this problem would never have occurred by running HP's stock copy of Windows. So what drivers or HP software titles are actually necessary?

Even after this question is answered, I worry it won't help because even installing Windows (as described above) requires the computer to restart. Thus it goes dark.

I tried basic troubleshooting. Everything, including power, was disconnected before holding down the power button for almost forty seconds. Each Mini DisplayPort port on the rear panel was tried. The BIOS was updated. The BIOS was reset to factory default settings. Fast startup was disabled in Windows. Relevant diagnostics were run (with each a result of "pass") after starting them from the HP boot menu.
 
How long did you let it sit with a blank screen? Maybe let it sit longer and see if it grabs a driver.
Where did you get the Windows 11 media and is it modified?

Also, if you power it off a couple of times when it is trying to boot, it should load up Safe Mode, tried to load a display driver when it's in safe mode
 
It could just be a bad unit. Check to make sure Secure Boot is disabled, and set to Custom (from User) to delete the security keys (you can always factory reset to get them back).
 
Should I try to resolve this with HP Image Assistant? While I hate resorting to HP software, I'll consider anything at this point.
The very, very first time I started it, I worried my cable was bad because it took forever to show a picture. Then, all by itself, it came alive and never really had a problem as long as the original Windows from HP was installed.
Zepher said:
How long did you let it sit with a blank screen? Maybe let it sit longer and see if it grabs a driver.
Where did you get the Windows 11 media and is it modified?
Also, if you power it off a couple of times when it is trying to boot, it should load up Safe Mode, tried to load a display driver when it's in safe mode
Click to expand...
I don't know how to trigger safe mode but it's a thought.
Windows came directly from Microsoft via a "media creation tool". It should not be modified.
I think there were times when I left it long enough. Are you talking about leaving a network cable plugged in? I usually disconnect the network (unless Windows Update is working). Or would slowly grabbing a driver happen in an unconnected PC?
El_Capitan said:
set to Custom (from User) to delete the security keys (you can always factory reset to get them back).
Click to expand...
I understand secure boot, but this part I don't know about. Is it also in BIOS?
 
the_servicer said:
Should I try to resolve this with HP Image Assistant? While I hate resorting to HP software, I'll consider anything at this point.
The very, very first time I started it, I worried my cable was bad because it took forever to show a picture.

I don't know how to trigger safe mode but it's a thought.
Windows came directly from Microsoft via a "media creation tool". It should not be modified.
I think there were times when I left it long enough. Are you talking about leaving a network cable plugged in? I usually disconnect the network (unless Windows Update is working). Or would slowly grabbing a driver happen in an unconnected PC?

I understand secure boot, but this part I don't know about. Is it also in BIOS?
Click to expand...
needs to be hooked up to ethernet to grab an updated driver automatically. so hook up the ethernet cable and let it sit for 10-15 minutes
 
I don't know if it's too early to celebrate, but I may have solved it. Leaving it alone for over twenty minutes did nothing. My attempt to enter a Recovery Environment only brought me to Windows first-time setup. So I ended up taking a detour to Windows Update. Did that. Then I restarted twice and gained a display signal each time, though the time delays surprised me.

I love how you guys seem to come through when it really matters, even if you're accidentally prompting me to a different solution.
 
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