Activation code

[Stive85]

Good morning. I would like to format my hard disk and then restore my entire PC and my operating system (Windows 11). I have a HP All-in-One 22-df0091nl Bundle PC, with the wuale I did not have any recovery CD. Where can I find the ISO to reinstall Windows? And, above all, where can I find the activation key (or code) to validate Windows? Thanks

[TheOldMan]

That PC is supported by the HP Cloud Recovery Tool.  You can reinstall the complete software to make it same as factory, if that is desired, or you can make the Windows install media using the Media Creation tool from Microsoft.  Windows will be activated either way, but if you want to see the product key - just so it is on hand, see this

How to Find Your Window 10 or 11 Product Key: 4 Simple Ways

There is free software that can display the product key as well.  ShowKeyPlus is available from the Microsoft Store

NirSoft's ProduKey is available from the Nirsoft website.

[Stive85]

Thank you so much for your reply. And what if I don't just want to restore, but format the entire C: drive, how should I do it?

[TheOldMan]

Ay, yes, I did skip that part.  If formatting is the goal, there is a step using the Windows install media, as you would have if using the Media Creation, where booting to the new media, gives the option to format the drive before install Windows.

IDK if the HP Recovery media gives that opportunity.

Just in case there is something underlying "the want to format" - is there a reason for that?  And if you do that, do you have backups of the important data on the drive?  As everything will be over if you format.

Sorry for the questions.  I just want to make sure that you are aware for what the consequences are with formatting.  Or what may be the consequences are with formatting.  FYI: formatting will not get rid of the data on the drive, it will just let the new install overwrite the data with new data.  If there is something on the drive that you wish to get rid of, IE: malware, then it is better to erase the drive, then format after.

[Stive85]

Hi. No, I just wanted to delete data from the C: drive. I loaded files, programs and plugins that I would like to get rid of. If I restore to factory settings, will I recover the space on the hard disk? Just to clarify, I tried to launch the Recovery from the Bios (I think there is a dedicated partition on the hard disk) but it does not start because it does not find the drive. Thanks for your help

[TheOldMan]

Using the HP Recovery tool will make a restore the PC to factory media, so yes it will recover the disk space.

That PC has a 512 GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD for the main drive which is ample space but now would be a good time to expand that, if you want, to 1TB by replacing the drive.  Then use the HP Recovery tool to reinstall everything as from the factory.  Just saying.  You can also then use the Media Creation tool media to install the latest Windows version for the Windows already installed and wipe the drive in the process before installing.

Years ago there used to be a Recovery partition on the hard drive to return the PC to factory settings, much like the Recovery tool media does now.  HP did away with that some time ago, but you can look at the hard drive to see if it is there.  Look in the "This PC" and double click on the hard drive to see this there is a partition labeled "Recovery"

To do what you seem to be wanting - use the Media Creation tool to make the install media for Windows 10, load that media to the opening screen and then start the install.  It will give you the option to wipe the drive and then reinstall Windows when it first starts.  

[Stive85]

Ciao. Se il ripristino del disco alle impostazioni di fabbrica lo formatta ancora ed elimina ciò che contiene, non è necessario che lo faccia "alla vecchia maniera". Quando eseguo l'ottimizzazione del disco, quando seleziono "visualizzazione avanzata" appare una partizione di ripristino, ma se la avvio dal bios mi dice che è stata trovata. Ma, ripeto, se lo risolvo con il recupero HP, tanto meglio. Dove posso trovare questa applicazione? È già installato sul PC? Grazie