Restore Windows 10 from factory seetings Windows 7

[zaph]

My son's Windows 10 computer became almost unusable so he ran the HP rescue and chose to restore it to factory settings. When he rebooted it was, quite logically, back in Windows 7.  A couple of years ago he took advantage  of the free upgrade to Windows 10. Now he is asking me how to get back to Windows 10 without paying for it - legally.

Now I am asking you 🙂

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

Hope this helps....
KeyFinderInstaller may help....
https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Doing research, and none of the methods are mine, I have some, simple single lines of code that will list the same value for your Windows 10 Product Key…
Also consider Belarc Advisor.

Some may not work until 10 is installed, but you never know...
W10 Using cmd.exe as an Administrator (copy and paste accordingly).
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey >> c:\ProdKey.txt

Creates a text file called ProdKey.txt on your C:\ area.

Next is a PowerShell command, as Administrator...
(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey

but it will run within W10 using cmd.exe as an Administrator.
powershell (Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

First:- Turn off the computer, press and hold the PWR button for 4 seconds.

Then - Leave only keyboard and mouse connected, disconnect all externally connected
devices such as Docking Station, USB storage devices, displays, and printers.
Unplug the AC adapter from the computer.

Next - Press and Hold the Power button for 15 seconds to Hard Reset.
Rinse and Repeat

AND/OR - Power on your PC, press Esc (repeatedly), then F2 at the prompt.
Choose System Tests (Fast Test does a 4 minute hardware check).
AND/OR
HOW DO I USE DIAGNOSTICS?

HP PC Hardware Diagnostics Windows is a Windows-based utility that allows you to run diagnostic tests to determine if the computer hardware is functioning properly. The tool runs within the Windows operating system in order to diagnose hardware failures. HP PC Hardware Diagnostics Windows comes pre-installed on new HP computers, but if not on yours, download here:- http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp93001-93500/sp93457.exe

From 2016 onwards there is a possible recovery option via the cloud...
HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 7 & 10)
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205
OR
This First part only works when a valid Recovery Partition is enabled.

If it displays an error message then move onto the Second part,
OR if you have data you wish to try and save using the XCOPY command.
Then create your own Repair/Recovery/Rebuild/Re-install media or buy a set from HP.

This may require another PC. Find and Download your .iso from…
(You will need a NON_OEM key for W7;
W8.x and W10 should activate automagically from their embedded licence key.)

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-iso-download-tool

Expand/Extract/Burn the iso Image onto a DVD/USB as needed.
Microsoft’s Creator Tool will make the required DVD or USB.

Even though it has NO actual HP software/drivers included, you may be able to
XCOPY the C:\Users\* area onto a ‘large’ USB stick, via the Command Prompt.

You’ll need to try various drive letters; D:..-..Z: until it’s matched - could be G; mine’s S:

C:\>XCOPY C:\Users\* S:\ /e /i /h (then files like those 3 listed below get copied over)

C:\Users\desktop.ini
C:\Users\All Users\agent.1509128044.bdinstall.bin
C:\Users\All Users\HP Deskjet 2540 series\Help\flash\zoom.swf

Then you can try System Recovery Options / Advanced Options shown in the screenshots.

NB:- W7 Try running a Startup Repair more than once for a full fix.
NB: - W10 Begin with the Automatic Repair, then Startup Settings etc.

From either the C:\ or the X:\ prompt try the following

cd boot
bootrec /FixMBR
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBCD

If the above FAILS then please try:-
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/repair-master-boot-record-mbr-windows
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/install-windows-7-from-usb
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/install-windows-10-from-usb

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, @zaph 

All you need to do is to click on the blue Update Now button at the link below to upgrade back to W10 from W7.

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

If you are asked to enter a product key during the upgrade process, select the 'I don't have a product key' option and W10 will install and automatically activate once you are connected to the internet, since the Microsoft activation servers have a record of that PC having been previously upgraded to W10.

[zaph]

Wow, that is a comprehensive reply! It looks more like a retirement hobby than a solution :)) Paul_Tikkanen has what looks like a very simple solution which I will try first. If that does not work I will start going through your list.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Prego.

I wish I was clever like wot Paul is.

While I might not be wrong, he is more right than me.

[zaph]

:)) 

> While I might not be wrong, he is more right than me.

You sound like my wife.