Issue reinstalling Windows 8

[HPenn]

Hi. A friend of mine purchased a used HP Omni 120 desktop all in one computer that came with Windows 8. There are some problems...

1. It's polluted with malware.

2. Even worse... The previous owners girlfriend messed with it and I see that while the recovery partition is there it is empty so I can't use that to restore it to factory. The computer didn't come with any recovery media either. I have an official MS Windows 8.1 iso I made and I have used that in the past a few times to restore some computers. I put that disk in this computer and thought I'd get it to reinstall Win8 easily, but that's not the case. I get stuck with a driver issue. I have a screen shot below of what happens. Any ideas of what I need to do to get past this and get Windows back on here? Thanks!

[WAWood]

HPenn

Ordinarily, what I would recommend is ordering HP Recovery Media to restore the PC.

But there are two problems in this case.  First, there are over 200 models of that desktop, and without the model number, I can't check to see if recovery media is still available from HP.

Second, if it is not, you would have to go to a third-pary to order the media from them, and for that, you would need the specific model number.

If you can find the model number on a sticker or plate on the PC and post that, I can check for HP media, but you can also go to these sites and checks yourself if they have the media for that PC:  http://www.computersurgeons.com/  and http://www.restoredisks.com/

Recommending this because it's generally a lot cheaper than going out and buying a copy of Win8.1.

Also, as an alternative, you can use RUFUS to create a bootable USB stick from the ISO you have and see if this PC boots from that -- realizing that the HP OEM product key on this PC is most likely NOT going to work to activate the Win8.1 you install from the ISO.

Good Luck

I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor do I represent, HP.
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[HPenn]

Thanks for the reply. Why would I have to buy a factory or retail install disc when I made one with the MS mediacreationtool executable? I used the MS tool to make a 8.1 install disc. Do you know what I mean?And why use RUFUS when the MS tool already makes a DVD or USB bootable? Or am I wrong in saying that? This tool...

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

The Product number of this desktop is H3Z76AA#ABA

Hmm a Windows 8.1 install disc will not work with a Windows 8 OEM HP key? If that is the case are there any places I can download a Windows 8 iso? Sort of strange if true... why would a key allow going from 8 to 8.1, but not right out of the gate to 8.1?

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

The MS tool creates Retail installation media; the version preinstalled on your PC was HP OEM -- they are not the same.

You said you had an ISO; nowhere did I see in your post that you used the MS tool that also allows you to create install media using a USB stick. So, I told you how you can do that using RUFUS.

Some folks have also claimed that the Win8.1 media made from the MS tool will accept Win8 product keys for activation, not just Win8.1 keys.  I have found this to be true because I did a clean-install using media made from that tool and used my existing Win8 product key to activate it.

There have been claims that the version made from the MS Win8.1 tool CAN accept OEM product keys, but those claims have also been disputed.

Don't know of anywhere that you can download a Win8 ISO -- and even then, that would be subject to the same limitations as the Win8.1 ISO -- it might not accept an HP OEM product key for activation.

Good Luck

I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor do I represent, HP.
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If you feel my suggestions helped you, please click the Thumbs-Up symbol to say thanks!

If they helped resolve your issue, please click "Accept As Solution" to help others find similar information.

[HPenn]

Thanks. I used the MS media creation tool, RUFUS, and a flash drive to install Win8.1 LEGACY, not UEFI. It accepted the OEM key which I believe is tied to the BIOS? All is good now. I can't believe someone wiped out the recovery partition.