Accidentaly Installed Windows 8 onto Windows 10.

[Mani75]

Hello,

We bought this PC just 2 weeks ago and it came with Windows 10. My dad didnt like windows 10 so he installed windows 8 from an installation disk and now the internet no longer works. The internet was via ethnet cable direct from the modem. I reset the modem but it doesnt get an IP assigned to the NIC card. I tried to force an IP to be assigned but it still doesnt work.

How can we go back to windows 10? I tried the HP restore but it only shows options for windows 8.

Please Help!

Thanks!

[WAWood]

Mani75

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

Ordinarily, I would recommend using HP Recovery Media to restore your PC to its original condition. That would erase the entire drive, format the drive, and install the OS, the drivers, and the HP utilities.

Unfortunately, there is no HP Recovery Media linked to the HP Product Page for your PC. 

You should  try contacting HP Customer Support directly, using the links below, to see if you can order if from them:

If you live in the US or Canada, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/phone-assist.html#section1

If you live elsewhere, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-contact-us.html

NOTE: After you get through, stay on the line until you are finally able to talk to some one -- it can take a while!

If you have trouble finding a phone number, then try: 1 (800) 474-6836

---------------------------------------
However, HP Customer Support is generally not available on the weekends, so you might have to wait until Monday to contact them.
---------------------------------------

Good Luck

[Mani75]

I live in Australia and will try to contact the HP guys here.

Is there anything we can do at our end to download and install Windows 10? I cant seem to find a Windows Product Key stuck on the PC. Is there any way we can find that?

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

Mani75

Ever since Win8 came out, the OEMs embedded their product keys into the UEFI firmware on the motherboard -- and stopped including it printed on stickers on the PCs.

You can reinstall Win10 by making install media from this link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install?ocid=ms_wol_win10

Since your PC is already registered for Win10, if you get a Window asking for a product key, just choose the option to skip that. 

After Win10 is reinstalled and you connect to the Internet, the PC will be reactivated automatically.

Good Luck

[IT_WinSec]

---

@WAWood wrote:

You can reinstall Win10 by making install media from this link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install?ocid=ms_wol_win10

Since your PC is already registered for Win10, if you get a Window asking for a product key, just choose the option to skip that. 

After Win10 is reinstalled and you connect to the Internet, the PC will be reactivated automatically.

---

@WAWood

I suspect this may not work as the ISO downloaded from MS web site requires a product key available or Digital entitlement.

The Windows 10 that came with the PC was one that actually required code/key, not Digitial entitlement.

What you write about is for Digital entitlement method of activation.

Reference >> https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation

[IT_WinSec]

@Mani75

If you want, you can continue using Win 8 - you can experiment... Did you download and install the network driver ?

Your PC only supports Windows 10 or Windows 7, W8 is not officially supported. You can download their drivers and try.

You can download the W10 or W7 network driver to see if it will work on Win 8.

If this does not work, you will need to purchase HP Recovery media and use it to get back to Windows 10 and factory default condition. This will ensure Windows is activated, that all drivers are installed, all pre-configured software will be installed, etc...

You can contact HP support to see if they can offer you original recovery media for this computer (a.k.a. recovery DVDs or USB).

Info EU/EMEA >> http://support.hp.com/bg-en/document/bph07143

Info US/CA/AMS >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/bph07143

Info Asia/APAC >>  http://support.hp.com/in-en/document/bph07143

Here is how you can contact them :

>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp

>> http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-phone-assist.html

Option 2) If there is no recovery media at HP, you can try to contact

http://www.best2serve.com/page/rcd_landing   OR   http://www.computersurgeons.com/

 to see if they can offer you such recovery media

Once you get the recovery media, here are instructions how to perform the recovery:

>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04758961

>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04758961#AbT4

Let me know if this works.

[Mani75]

Thanks Mate, this worked exactly as you posted!

The PC is now back to Windows 10 and windows is also activated.

So glad I found this forum 🙂

[IT_WinSec]

Don't hesitate to post again if you experience issues.