Cannot Restore OS to factory defaults

[SPPam]

Hi there

I am happy to say that thanks to your help I am well on my way to regaining use of my PC.

What worked for me was downloading the W8.1 ISO file from your link and using the windows media creator to create a bootable drive.

My only difficulty was that even by setting the correct boot order in the Bios it would not see the USB stick.

I proceeded by using the DOS window to navigate to the USB stick and launch Setup.exe.

From then onwards it reinstalled the OS and even left my files intact in a W.old folder without even asking me so great, also seemed to find the product key by itself not asking for anything.

Once W8.1 is finished updating I hope I can upgrade as before for free to W10 ??

Thanks

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

Excellent.

That is known as "an over the top" install, where WINDOWS.OLD is created containing the User data.

You could be really adventurous and try and shrink the Windows Partition and make space for a separate data area (a D:\ drive), so that if you do a ""fresh install""  it would install into C: and not damage or destroy your D:\Data Area.

But that is something to plan carefully.

If in doubt please ask.

[SPPam]

Hi there

Thanks but I'm not going to do anything else as my nerves are wrecked from this ordeal.

I will in a day or two give you a final outcome so this thread can be completed fully andhopefully can be of use to somebody else.

Talk soon

[SPPam]

Hi there

I've reached the End of the W8.1 Install with all the updates completed and the system running properly, but there dosen't seem to be an option of upgrading to W10 yet. Is there a way to do this?

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

Run ShowKey Plus and get all the keys etc first. Print out/ Written down.

Then try...

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

https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/

[SPPam]

Hi there

I have restored my system completely to W10:

 - I ran the ShowKey Plus tool and obtained the licence info.

 - From the microsoft link you sent I downloaded and ran the Media Creation Tool.

 - I selected "Upgrade this PC now" and from then onwards it was all downhill.

Thanks very much for your help.

All the best to you and the rest of the team.

[Lil_Boy_Blue · Accepted solution]

Prego.

All the best to you and the rest of the team.

Actually I am an individual volunteer.  Not a HP employee at all, ever.

So solved.