Backing up files before factory reset

[Lucy0804]

 

My laptop randomly went into recovery mode on Friday, I have got a brand new 1TB portable hard drive to back my files onto, i have gone through the process of selecting my files to back up (photos and videos as im not really fussed about anything else on the laptop) i have my hard drive plugged in and highlighted but i can’t click ‘next’. I only have around 104gb of files i want to backup and my portable hard drive is empty. I cant move my laptop to check its model number as when I do it turns itself off and says a problem has occured (did this before recovery mode happened) and im unsure on what OS i’m using but the laptop is only around 3 years old. Thanks

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @Lucy0804 

Welcome !

This method you use with HP Recovery Manager is sort of obsolete nowadays and not provided any more. If you want, you can restart your device and give it a try again. However, I would recommend that you follow the steps in the attached PDF file below to reinstall Windows 10 on your computer.

In order to back up your files, try this method - create a bootable device with Ubuntu or similar and use it to back up the data.

Using another working computer, please download a copy of Ubuntu Linux operating system - free from http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Save the ISO on your Desktop

Using Rufus and some empty/blank USB device, write the ISO to an empty USB thumbdrive as bootable one -> here is how to do it ->>> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

Once ready, please, shutdown the affected computer using the power button.

Insert the Windows USB thumbdrive prepared previously

Press once the power-on button to start the affected PC.

As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSN0qzXayUY

Eventually, choose F9 to open Boot options. Select the thumb drive as boot option to run Ubuntu.

Boot from Ubuntu (run it, do NOT install it) , start the file manager which should mount your HDD and you can then copy/paste your files to an external drive.

Copy your data but be careful not to accidentally delete HP recovery partition files.

Once ready, restart the device and remove your Ubuntu media.

You can eventually proceed with Windows reinstallation as per the PDF instructions below.

Hope this works for you. Feel free to post again if you experience difficulties.