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04-26-2024 01:50 AM
hello,
my laptop is the hp elitebook x360, and i was trying to wipe my computer as it still had my school organisation on it, so i went in settings, system, recovery, and reset it, whilst doing this i had a usb plugged in that my school had given us to wipe it (i’m unsure what exactly was on this usb). but i now realise this was the incorrect way to remove my school organisation as there is a certain way to do it with the usb which i was unaware of. after my laptop had finished it said it had failed and no changes had been made. so i attempt to login but after that the screen is black with the mouse. i have run a hard drive quick test via the start up menu, and it passed. i’ve tried some other methods to fix it such as restart it, reset graphic drivers and unplug all devices. but none have worked, can you help me?
04-26-2024 05:15 PM
OK, so first of all, you can't wipe a computer; instead, you wipe a DRIVE.
Second, a reset does not WIPE anything; instead, all it does is reformat the primary drive prior to reinstalling Windows. All your files, settings, and personal data remain on the drive, just hidden from Windows. Anyone with $50 USD to spare can buy a data recovery app that can restore virtually all of those hidden files -- and then have access to all your personal information.
If this is a new laptop that has an SSD as its primary drive, then read this:
https://www.hp.com/my-en/shop/tech-takes/post/how-to-secure-erase-an-ssd-drive
If it has a hard drive, you will have to remove that drive and connect it to another PC to run a Secure Erase application on that PC.
Once the drive has been WIPED, you need to replace it back into your PC and then use the HP Cloud Recovery tool and a 32GB USB stick to create Windows install media to reinstall Windows onto that drive:
If your PC is a 2016 model or newer, you should see if you can make a bootable USB recovery drive using the HP cloud recovery tool on a working PC.
The recovery drive can then be used to install Windows and the HP drivers and utilities that originally came with your PC.
You will need a working PC and a 32GB USB stick to hold the recovery files. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtXOU40vxk
You use the Microsoft Store to download the actual tool:
https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9mtks9pr7r3n?rtc=1&hl=en-us&gl=us
If you use a different PC to run the tool, you will have to provide your PC's product number. Here is an HP link for finding that information:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_2039298-1862169-16
Here's a video from HP Support about using the Cloud Recovery Tool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7AwuKNJKS4
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor represent, HP