How do I re-install Windows 10 on HP Stream 14

[Klaske]

Good afternoon.

Windows Update requires more disk space, for the update KB 4053579. 

The laptop has 32 Gb.

I have successfully mounted an SD disk for 32 GB extra diskspace, however Windows update does not recognise this.

As far as I understand from different posts, it might be advisable to reinstall Windows, and so install the newest version and thus not have to upgrade.

I have already researched the possibility of freeing diskspace, but there is nothing substantial enough to help. Hardly any documents and no other apps than those that have been delivered with the laptop. Although I can still delete Office, it won't give me enough space.

I have no problem reinstalling Windows, but am unsure about the license; I bought the laptop online through Wehkamp.nl and don't have the Windows license number. 

Can you advise me how to go about this the best way? 

Thank you.

Klaske

Zutphen, The Netherlands

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

I have zipped up and attached below, a free utility that will let you see the product key in your notebook's BIOS.

That way you will know what version of W10 you need to reinstall.

You can clean install W10 for free at any time by using the W10 Media Creation Tool at the link below.

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

The utility will allow you to make either a bootable W10 USB flash drive or download an ISO file, which you can burn to a DVD using your DVD burning program's burn ISO file option.

The software will automatically work with the W10 OEM product key in your PC's BIOS.

W10 will install and automatically activate once you are connected to the internet.

Then go to your specific model notebook's support page to install the drivers and available software.

You may want to even use the advanced install method, and delete every partition on the hard drive, so that you have as much of the 32 GB of space that is available.

With only a 32 GB hard drive, and about 20 GB used by Windows + the recovery partition, tools partition, etc., that leaves you with very little free space before you even begin to install any programs.

[Klaske]

Thank you for your swift reply! I beleive it gives me enough info to be able to continue. 

Thanks a lot, school starts again next week and I would like to have the laptop in good order.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[Klaske]

Hello again,

Before I take these actions, I was wondering: the problem occurs with the upgrades, so the laptop already has Windows10, but then want to install upgrades and needs more diskspace. So when I reinstall Windows, will it not start looking for updates again and encounter the same problem? or is the version that I download to re install the latest? 

I can probably find this information myself, but maybe you just know this and can answer me directly.

Thanks again.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If you reinstall W10, you will be getting the latest version.

If you delete all partitions on the drive and create one large drive, you will have more space in the future so that not having enough disk space to do future updates shouldn't happen.

[Klaske]

Hi,

Thank you for the reply.

I have successfully reinstalled W10; I removed the partitions. 

W10 made 4 partitions however, and I accepted that.

There is enough  space at the moment for W10 to update (12 GB) , it is updating now with a.o. the 2017-12 update. When it is finished, I will mount the SD card as a drive an designate it for all new apps and docs etc. 

Thanks again, and have a good weekend.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

You have a great weekend too, and now you can enjoy your PC for a while without any storage space troubles.