Can not do a factory reset...needs more space

[atkinsm]

We bought my son a display model HP Stream Laptop PC Model 14-ax027cl for Christmas from Sams  Club. They told us they could not do a reset because it takes to long at the store.  I was given directions over the phone.  Got held up at the beginning.   I first tried to login.. but the person that set it up with a password can't be found.. and the password they thought worked does not.  So i was told to hold the shift key and click restart.. not letting the shift key go.  CLick Troubleshoot...Reset this PC....Remove everything...Screen says preparing.  Now i Click on Fully Clean the drive.... Says getting things ready.. THis is where i have a problem.  Error message "Additional free space is needed on the drive where Windows is installed.  Free up space and try again.  I have tried to clean up space but i need that darn password.  Is there anything I can do.  Please help!!!!!

[banhien · Accepted solution]

@atkinsm

Machine only has a tiny space and you can't replace it. Now when you try to reset it, it wants to backup before reset just in case you want to go back.

Now, please do a fresh install, using the following steps

(a) Create a Windows 10 installation media from the following link

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

(b) Use the above media to install Windows 10 on your machine,

(c) Run Windows 10 updates few times,

(d) Go to HP support site(s) to download and install missing driver(s).

       https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-stream-14-ax000-laptop-pc/12499221/model/13443320/drivers

Windows 10 will activate using the key embedded in BIOS

Regards.

[MikeyFormer]

That solution doesn't really work.  After downloading the tool and attempting to create installation media, the Media Creation Tool states 8GB of space is needed. 

Not a great solution.  Please suggest something else for these HP Stream devices.  The latest update to Windows 1709 is a very difficult task to complete on these devices.  😞 

[CherylG]

@MikeyFormer

You must use another machine with ample free space to make the Windows USB. When making it on the other machine follow the instructions in Option 1 here:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html