Original OS installed on machine

[markdtaylor]

Friend of a friend asked me to review their computer. Turns out it's a failure on the Western-Digital hard drive that has failed on numerous other HP desktops I've worked on.

I need to figure out, because this model does not have a Windows sticker anywhere on it showing the OS product number (it simply has a Windows 8 sticker on the back), what OS was originally installed on this machine so I can properly insert another hard drive and get it up and running for this person.

I would like to physically talk to someone over the phone -- not a virtual agent.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

This is a peer to peer forum, not HP technical support. 

Not to mention if you were to get in contact with HP, they would charge you to even speak to them since the PC is out of warranty.

The product specs indicate the PC shipped with W8.1 'standard' 64 bit.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04108287/

Very easy to reinstall W8.1 for free.  The product key is in the BIOS.  No more product key stickers since W8 came out.

Download the plain W8.1 64 bit ISO file from the link below.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

Use the Microsoft tool that I zipped up and attached below that you will need to transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so that it is bootable.

After W8.1 has completed installing, you can install the drivers and available software from the PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-110-200-desktop-pc-series/5399643/model/6529744

[markdtaylor]

Wild that they won't assist with even basic questions over the phone. I tried searching on the website for that first link and wasn't able to find it. I'm not sure if it's my adblocker or other extension keeping me from finding it.

Thank you again! Now to rebuild this and get the trash WD hard drive out for data recovery.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

They'll say hello, and ask you for some info on the PC and once they look up the warranty info, they will ask you if you want to continue with paid phone support.