My hp envy TE01-1177C won't boot up and is giving me a 3FO code.

[six-string1971]

I have a Seagate free agent go flex desk 2 TB external hard drive that wasn't working and I thought that I was cleaning the partitions on it, but when it finished cleaning, my PC wouldn't boot up anymore and it said that my operating system wasn't there. I have a bootable zip drive for Windows 10 that I can reinstall but I don't have the product key to activate it. It had just upgraded to Windows 11 within the past week. Instead of booting up it gives me a 3fo code and my Intel optane memory can't be found. Is there anything I can do to recover my operating system? Would Windows or Microsoft have my product key so it could be reupgraded to Windows 11 after I install the Windows 10?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Your PC's product key is encrypted in the BIOS of your PC.

You don't need it to reinstall W10 or W11.

As a matter of fact, if you had W11 installed, you can just clean install W11 by making a bootable USB installation flash drive from the link below (2nd option).

Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)

Boot from the installation media.

When you get past the Install Now screen you will be asked to select the version of W11 you want to install.

Seelct the version you upgraded to from W10.

Then you will be asked to enter a product key.

Select the 'I don't have a product key' option and W11 will install and automatically activate once you are connected to the internet.

Then you can install the drivers and available software from your PC's support page.

HP ENVY Desktop - TE01-1177c Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Customer Support

[six-string1971]

Thank you so very much for your time and knowledge. I was completely lost. I've made bootable zip drives from iso files for Windows 10, I guess that's the same thing I need to do for 11? I put my win 10 zip drive in to see if I could get to the repair screen, but it wouldn't get past the blue screen saying code 3FO, install an os on your drive, and my Intel optane memory couldn't be located. This will correct all of those problems? Thank you again for your time and expertise! 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Yes, you can reinstall W10 with your W10 installation flash drive.

You have to tell the PC to boot from it though.

Have the flash drive in the PC, turn it on or restart it.

Immediately press/tap the ESC key to get the menu of options.

Select the F9 boot options menu and from that select the EFI USB flash drive with W10 on it and press the Enter key.

The PC should boot from the flash drive.

If there is no EFI flash drive showing up on the F9 boot options list, you will need to go into the BIOS and disable secure boot.

See this link for how to do that...

HP Desktop PCs - Computer Does not Start After Installing a Video Card (Windows 10, 😎 | HP® Custome...

Your PC is also supported by the HP cloud recovery tool which you can use to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your PC.

You will need to create the media using another PC running W7 64 bit or newer and a 32 GB USB flash drive.

Here is an info link for how to use that utility...

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

[six-string1971]

it worked exactly like you said it would! I could just hug you! Thank you so so much! It only took about 30 mins to make the viable zip drive, it installed the first try and it's working perfectly. It even set it up from my previous version I had. I thought I had lost all of my info and pics and stuff. You're a god send! I can't thank you enough! I really do appreciate your knowledge and willingness to help me, a total stranger. Your the tips bro,!  I hope you have a FANTASTIC Sunday and may you be successful at everything that you set your hands to do! 😃✌️

 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Glad to have been of assistance.

You enjoy the rest of your Sunday too!