No Sound on Z800 and Windows 10

[agdodge4x4]

Ok....lets step back. Why am i reinstalling wondows from blank when i can simple reset it and select “remove everything”? This should literally be a clean fresh install. Right?

[SDH]

A few things.... 

1.  Yes, the Z600 has the same BIOS path to the Device Security access to seeing if System Audio is turned off.

2.  Why reinstall..... you have a valuable workstation for free that you are getting ready to give up on.  You have nothing to lose.  Time to get the basics going right  and work on Office later.

3.  When I've had an install acting badly and I did not install it I start from scratch..... I have no idea who did what before me.

4.  When a computer is activated for W10 the first time its UUID in BIOS gets registered with the MS W10 servers, and you can clean install  anytime thereafter without needing a code.

5.  MS makes it easy to download and install W10... I'll assume you have the Pro version, 64-bit.  

6.  You may want a computer shop to do this for you.....  Every Z400 and Z600 I've worked with has accepted W10Pro64 no problem, and the latest update version (Spring Creator's Update nickname) auto-installed on the day of its release (a sign of high compatibility).  I trust DGroves' talents..... if he says the Z800 works fime too I'm on board with that.

[DGroves]

there are numerous utils that can recover/display the office 2016 key along with most other common programs

 i will not recomend any, but i have heard of Nasoft Product key explorer  google is your friend here

microsoft will let you re download office 2016, they simply ask you to supply a valid key before giving you the download link

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/download-and-install-or-reinstall-office-365-or-office-2016...

this should remove your listed reasions for not doing the windows reinstall

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

[agdodge4x4]

OK.  That works for me.

I'll have to give it a shot.  After rreading the Office links, even if I have my key, which I can find, I do NOT have the account or password information used to log in to micrsoft and I will not be able to gain that information.  So, unless MS will just shoot me a link without logging into anything, I am out of luck.

 More importantly, what if this windows and office is a volume license of some sort? 

[DGroves]

you keep posting reasions why something can't be done or will be a problem for you which would be ok if not for the fact that microsoft (and other sites) usually post  how to create a login account and also lists which versions of office are available to download please try to  read a sites information and try it  before you assume there is a problem

[agdodge4x4]

OK.  Fair Point.  I'll give it a go!

Does it matter for re-install if you have an OEM, Retail, or Volume license?  Or is the process all the same and once that machine is registered it's good to go forever?

[Brian1965 · Accepted solution]

Hi agdodge4x4,

A friend of mine has recently had a similar issues with his audio drivers on his Z600 machine. Long story, short version is that he did not have the latest BIOS version installed. I would suggest you check your current BIOS version and check the latest BIOS version available on the HP Support web site and update as necessary BEFORE trying any other fixes.

The Nvidia items in device manager are indeed the graphics card audio drivers. You can simply disable these in device manager if you plan to use the onboard sound but this is not actually necessary.

[agdodge4x4]

Not a bad idea.  One thing I was worried about is that Windows 10 64 bit is not listed in options when you select software for the Z800. 

[Brian1965]

Just select Win7 64bit as the OS and download the latest BIOS.

Please read the instructions carefully before installing the BIOS but this is a relatively straight forward procedure.

[DGroves]

I previously told you that windows 10 installs fine on a z800 and that i own/use

if the audio issue was bios related don't you think i would have told you that!!!

HP does not have a time machine, as such they can not list support or a OS that was released after HP stopped support for this system. 

during the microsoft download of the win 10 installer it promps you for the os type (home/Prof) and 32 or 64 bit

and DVD image or USB key THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO PLAINLY POSTED ON THEIR WEB SITE