Anyone who's used HP Cloud Recovery? Or familiar with Envy laptop 13 or similar?

[polygony]

Simple questions hopefully, but the answers could get my laptop usable again after about 6 weeks.  (Luckily, my phone's been a reliable sole computer!).

A bit of explanation may save time (the short story!).  I want to try and reset my laptop following a BSOD about the 3rd day I turned it on, due to a forced Windows 10 2004 update.  (For anyone who thinks it's HP's responsibility, it isn't).  An HP Expert said elsewhere that my case was one for the HP Cloud Recovery Tool, luckily I found a 32GB USB in a shop not too far away, and I've created and used a bootable USB before.  But finding and arranging to use a computer for the downloads was very fiddly and time-consuming on that occasion, and that was in normal times.  So I've tried every other recovery method and bit of advice I can find, but no joy, so it's back to the HP Cloud Recovery.  I've read through the document describing the process, but still have some questions I can't find the answers to (and don't think they need an Expert).

The model is Envy laptop 13-ah0501na (2019), but maybe other models have the same function keys, icons etc?  HP computers are new to me.  (So is Windows 10 - last OS was Vista).

1   I can still access the Safe Modes in the laptop - can creating the bootable USB drive be done from there?

I now have the answer to this one (via the Microsoft forum, re their MCT), and the answer's Yes if anyone wants to know.  (Using safe mode with networking of course).

2   I know the process will remove the software I'd installed, but should I still disable (or uninstall) my antivirus before downloading and/or using the HP tool?

3   When the HP tool has completed its job, does it leave the computer with the same Windows build as when it left the factory?  (If it fetches Windows updated without consent, I'll have to think again).

4   What is the Country Code required on the System Information page of the tool?  (Does it mean the international dialling code for the country I live in?  Or of the seller's/manufacturer's country?  Or an URL country code, and whose?  Or maybe part of the model details printed on the bottom of the laptop?  If so, what does it look like?)

5   Anyone know if disconnecting from the internet in the laptop's settings is enough to be sure a forced update can't happen?  If not, I'll try temporarily blocking the Microsoft domains in question in the router's DNS settings.  (Unless it's possible for Microsoft to override those?)*

6   Is there a way to connect/disconnect the laptop from the internet, and/or wifi, that's quicker than going into the Settings?  I looked on the screen before the problem started, but couldn't see any obvious way.  Or maybe there's a way using the keyboard?

7   Does the laptop show any sign on the screen and/or keyboard of whether the internet connection and/or the wifi is on or off?  I couldn't spot one in the few times I've had it on (either when it was in normal mode, or later in safe mode with networking).

*I'll still need internet access (via our home wifi LAN) while the laptop is on, both during the recovery process, and for figuring out afterwards what the best update strategy is in my case (which isn't as straightforward as most).

[WAWood]

@polygony 

HP Cloud Recovery requires that you download an image over the Internet and use that to create HP Recovery Media, usually on a USB stick.  So, if you can't or won't do that download, you can't use that approach.

Also, the factory reset done using that media completely erases the ENTIRE hard drive, so it basically starts out from scratch with a new installation.  The Windows version on the PC is the one that is obtained through the Cloud Recovery download.

There is an alternative, but it involved a large download, too.  You can use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool (MCT) to download and create a USB stick (for which you only need 8GB stick, not 32GB stick) that then can be used to do a clean install of Windows 10.  The problem with that approach is it will now download or install HP drivers, only those provided by Microsoft, and that could result in issues with your laptop.  You can avoid that to a large degree by following these directions to make a backup, on USB stick, of your HP drivers.  That way, after the clean install using the MS media, you can insert the drivers USB stick and restore your HP drivers.  Thread:  https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/68426-backup-restore-device-drivers-windows-10-a.html

[polygony]

Thank you for the info, WAWood.

(Note to others; this post isn't necessarily of any interest to you, and won't help answer my questions, so if you know an answer(s), please just post it!  Thanks.).

I did know the HP tool requires an image download to bootable USB stick, having studied HP's description/instructions, and done the same thing before (for a Linux OS in a Packard Bell desktop, in that case).  That's why I'm trying to find out whether the download can be done in Safe Mode, because if the answer's Yes, I'll know it's an option.  There is a faint possibility of being able to use another computer, but the only friend within a day-trip radius with the right setup probably has someone shielding in their home (as I do), and it also looks as if we older folks may soon have to go back to staying at home all the time (or at least be forbidden again from driving as far as any friends' houses).

I've asked the same question over in the Microsoft forum about the MCT (which I'd also read up on, and also with no mention of Safe Mode).

You mentioned that the Windows version on the PC is the one that's obtained through the HP Cloud Recovery download - can I just double-check that it'll be the version that was on the PC originally (the preinstalled one)?  I just need to be sure it won't be the version that's now on the PC (which would definitely mean going for the Microsoft tool). Thanks.

The Microsoft one would have an upside for me, far outweighing a bit of time spent getting HP drivers.  A clean install would save trying to find out how best to update from a hasty build of Windows 10 1809, that was just as hastily pulled after 4 days, and is omitted from the list I saw of updates on offer for Windows versions!  (But it's all academic until I know about Safe Mode).