Recoil Series laptop (2018) stuck on PC Specialist splash screen

[SkyinSeoul]

Hi, everyone. As you can see from the title, I dug out my previous laptop recently, and I'm hoping to get it working again. Last year, when this issue showed itself, I simply took the opportunity to replace it, as it had given me five years of service already, but I feel it would be good to get it working, even if only as a back-up in case I need to send my current laptop in for repair.

Essentially, when I hit the power button, it powers on as normal, but won't pass the PC Specialist splash screen. When it first happened last year, I had left it on to see if it would eventually continue on to Windows, but it never does. Because it hangs at the splash screen, I can't enter the BIOS, and attempts to use a Windows recovery/installation USB (or a Linux one, for that matter), also do nothing.

This thing took five years of heavy use, and I did need to send it in to PC Specialist in 2021 for a replacement battery and keyboard, but no other specs have changed. I was wondering (hoping) it might be as simple as needing to replace the SSD, as I can do that cheaply and easily, but I wanted to ask here to see if anyone has any insight or ideas. Specs below, thanks!


Chassis & Display
Recoil Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD 60Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor 8750H (2.2GHz, 4.1GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
8GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti - 4.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive
120GB ADATA SU650 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (520MB/R, 320MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 2 in 1 Memory Card Reader (SD, MMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 120W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Recoil II Series 46WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-9260 M.2 (1.73Gbps, 802.11AC) +BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.1 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language
PER-KEY RGB BACKLIT UK MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi, everyone. As you can see from the title, I dug out my previous laptop recently, and I'm hoping to get it working again. Last year, when this issue showed itself, I simply took the opportunity to replace it, as it had given me five years of service already, but I feel it would be good to get it working, even if only as a back-up in case I need to send my current laptop in for repair.

Essentially, when I hit the power button, it powers on as normal, but won't pass the PC Specialist splash screen. When it first happened last year, I had left it on to see if it would eventually continue on to Windows, but it never does. Because it hangs at the splash screen, I can't enter the BIOS, and attempts to use a Windows recovery/installation USB (or a Linux one, for that matter), also do nothing.

This thing took five years of heavy use, and I did need to send it in to PC Specialist in 2021 for a replacement battery and keyboard, but no other specs have changed. I was wondering (hoping) it might be as simple as needing to replace the SSD, as I can do that cheaply and easily, but I wanted to ask here to see if anyone has any insight or ideas. Specs below, thanks!


Chassis & Display
Recoil Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD 60Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor 8750H (2.2GHz, 4.1GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
8GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti - 4.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive
120GB ADATA SU650 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (520MB/R, 320MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 2 in 1 Memory Card Reader (SD, MMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 120W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Recoil II Series 46WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-9260 M.2 (1.73Gbps, 802.11AC) +BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.1 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language
PER-KEY RGB BACKLIT UK MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit

What happens if you try to boot from a windows installer USB?

Have you tried entering the BIOS as the PCS splash screen is the part after the BIOS has loaded as it enters through to attempting to boot windows, so it may be past the BIOS loading part?

 

[SkyinSeoul]

What happens if you try to boot from a windows installer USB?

Have you tried entering the BIOS as the PCS splash screen is the part after the BIOS has loaded as it enters through to attempting to boot windows, so it may be past the BIOS loading part?

Before replacing it last year, entering the BIOS and booting from a USB were the first things I tried, and sadly, it did nothing. I then tried both again a few days ago after digging it back out, just to double-check, so to speak.

Attempting to enter the BIOS doesn't work, no matter whether I try before the splash, or during it. It just goes straight from a black screen, to the PCS splash, and then stays there.

Using a Windows installer USB doesn't do anything either, although to clarify, I've tried it with two different USB drives, tried each in multiple USB ports, and it simply does nothing at all, beyond the indicator light on the USB drive flashing. So I still just end up at the PCS splash indefinitely.

 

[DarkPaladin]

1) Have you ever opened your laptop since purchasing? If yes, what have you done to maintain it?
2) Have you replaced or upgraded any components? If yes, what?
3) Are there any devices which are plugged in when you boot the laptop e.g. mouse? If yes, unplug them and see if it makes a difference

If all else fails, it might be worth contacting PCSpecialist and writing to them what you posted here. An RMA may be needed but ideally this is a last resort option.