How to change Operating System on 15-dw3063st

[Coover1]

I purchased an HP 15-dw3063st and wish to take the HP version of Windows 10 off the computer and place another version of Win 10 without any HP software on it. When I place a flash drive with the new OS and try to boot to the installation program, it finds NO Hard Drive to place the OS and the OS change cannot be done. I found that I have a 128 GB drive stick which is called Boot (X:) with a (C:) drive on it, but it cannot be seen by the USB boot drive installer. What do I do? 

It also, apparently, has room for another Hard Drive, but no SATA connector. How can I obtain a SATA connector and place another hard drive in and make it boot to the new drive?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

There is a special process needed to install W10 on notebooks with the new Intel 11th gen core processors...

See the info at the link below.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-15-f2000-laptop-pc-series/35900344/model/35900346/document/c...

Here is the link to the driver you need...

This package contains the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver for the supported notebook models and operating systems. The Intel Rapid Storage Technology is designed to provide functionality for the Intel Storage Controllers. The driver improves Serial ATA (SATA) disk performance with Native Command Queuing.

18.0.1.1138

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp108501-109000/sp109000.exe

There is another thing I don't understand in that document, and that is where HP tells you to right click on the Intel driver file and select Extract to

When I ran through the steps, I don't get an Extract to option when I right click on the file.

So, if you have the same issue, download and install the free 7-zip file utility from the link below.

The 2nd file at the top of the page is for 64 bit.

7-Zip (7-zip.org)

Then you can right click on the exe file, select 7-Zip from the menu, and select Extract to: and let it extract the file into its folder name (sp109000), and copy that folder to your USB flash drive, and continue with the instructions.

Hard drivve connector...

Below is the link to the support page.  The second service manual listed is all HP has for the 15-dw3000 model series, but it is for the older 1-dw models.

HP Laptop PC 15-dw3000 Manuals | HP® Customer Support

Chapter 3, page 21 lists the hard drive cable with the HP part number.

The HDD cable is not available from HP, and the hard drive bracket is not available as a spare part.

[Coover1]

Thank you so much for your reply. Prior to my post, I had spend over 6 hours trying various things to get this done, including taking the back off the laptop (they didn't make it easy). I shall try using the information you have sent, but i won't know, probably until tomorrow, if it is going to work. Of course, I will reply back to you when I do know. 

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you. 

[Coover1]

Hooray, Paul ... a part of your solution worked ... and the whole solution would have worked if I had wanted to go that way. I did not want to use the Windows iso, I wanted to use another iso that I prefer. I downloaded the driver, and placed it on a flash drive after extracting it (yes, it requires extraction). I had my iso on another flash drive and was using a usb mouse, so I required a usb hub as the laptop only has 2 usb ports. After my first boot attempt, I found that the computer required more usb power, so I hooked up the hub to a power supply. Using the Escape Key, I booted to the BIOS menu and chose F9, the boot menu. Selecting the usb installation flash drive, I booted and started the installation. When I got to the part where I must choose the drive, I selected to install the driver. I browsed to the driver file on the 2nd usb drive, expanded it and choose the F6 directory. I was given a choice of two items. Not knowing which to choose, I choose the top item, installed the driver, and was shown all the partitions on the hard drive. As I usually do, I deleted all partitions and choose what was left and the installation started properly. I now have Win 10 Pro installed and do not have any of HPs programs that it wanted to install. 

Thanks for the information. It allowed me to do what I wanted, to not do what I did not want to do, and my grandson will now have a fine laptop.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Glad to have been of assistance.