Factory reset hp tower

[MoonMouse]

I was gifted an hp tower but they forgot to rest the tower before handing it to me and I’m trying to trouble shoot without password and my f11 key isn’t working properly.

[Sneha_01]

HI @MoonMouse,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

To factory reset an HP tower without a password and with the F11 key not working, you can try the following steps:

Method 1: Using HP Recovery Manager (if accessible)

1. Turn on the Computer: Boot up the HP tower.
2. Access HP Recovery Manager:
   • If Windows loads, open the Start menu and search for "Recovery Manager".
   • If accessible, select it and choose "System Recovery".
3. Follow the On-Screen Instructions: Follow the prompts to perform a factory reset.

Method 2: Using Windows 10 Built-In Reset (if you can log in)

If you can log in with any account:

1. Open Settings: Press Win + I to open the Settings menu.
2. Navigate to Update & Security: Go to Update & Security > Recovery.
3. Reset This PC:
   • Under "Reset this PC", click "Get started".
   • Choose either "Keep my files" or "Remove everything" depending on your preference.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.

Method 3: Using a Windows 10 Installation Media

If you cannot access Windows:

1. Create Installation Media:
   • On another computer, download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website.
   • Use the tool to create a bootable USB drive or DVD.
2. Boot from Installation Media:
   • Insert the USB drive or DVD into the HP tower.
   • Restart the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, F10, Esc, or Del during startup).
   • Change the boot order to boot from the USB drive or DVD.
3. Install Windows:
   • Boot from the installation media and select your language preferences.
   • Click "Next" and then "Install now".
   • On the "Activate Windows" screen, if prompted for a product key, click "I don't have a product key" to proceed.
   • Select the version of Windows that matches your previous installation.
   • On the "Which type of installation do you want?" screen, choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)".
   • Select the drive where Windows is installed (usually Drive 0) and click "Next". This will format the drive and install a fresh copy of Windows.

Method 4: Accessing Advanced Startup Options

1. Restart the Computer:
   • While the computer is booting, forcefully shut it down by holding the power button. Repeat this 2-3 times to trigger Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
2. Access Troubleshoot Options:
   • In the WinRE, select "Troubleshoot" > "Reset this PC".
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to reset the PC.

Method 5: Using a Third-Party Password Reset Tool

If you need to reset the password to access Windows:

1. Download a Password Reset Tool: On another computer, download a tool like Offline NT Password & Registry Editor or another similar tool.
2. Create Bootable Media: Follow the tool’s instructions to create a bootable USB drive or CD.
3. Boot from the Tool: Insert the bootable media into the HP tower and boot from it (you may need to change the boot order in BIOS).
4. Reset the Password: Follow the on-screen instructions to reset the Windows password.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571

HP Support