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×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
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- Can't Reset Laptop

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09-06-2024 07:54 AM
I was given a laptop at my job that was used by another employee previously. I am trying to reset the computer, but I don't have access to the admin password or the windows key. I can't log on to the email associated with the computer's main user as that email doesn't even exist anymore, so there's no way to reset the password from the email. This person changed the admin password before they quit (just now finding that out) and there is no way to contact them. So I downloaded windows 11 onto a USB and tried to reset it from that, but whenever I tried that, it said that "selected boot drive failed" so clicked OK. Then it said something about missing drivers. I've googled this, read and tried everything that was listed on reddit, etc. I even used a different USB and redownloaded Windows 11 to it. Please help. This is a perfectly good laptop otherwise.
09-06-2024 09:07 AM - edited 09-06-2024 09:09 AM
Use the W11 media creation tool to make a bootable USB installation flash drive (2nd option).
Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)
To boot from the W11 installation media, turn on or restart the PC.
Immediately tap the ESC key to get the menu of options.
Select the F9 boot options menu and from that, select the USB flash drive and press the Enter key.
The PC should boot from the USB flash drive.
When you get to the part of the installation where Windows asks: 'Where do you want to install Windows,' you will most likely be greeted with a message that states in substance 'Windows cannot find any drives to install on.'
I have zipped up and attached the Intel storage controller drivers that Windows needs to find the drive.
The attached file is good for both W10 & W11.
Copy all of the files in both folders in the attached file to a USB flash drive.
Have the flash drive and your Windows installation media plugged into USB ports.
Boot from the W10/W11 installation flash drive.
When you get to the screen where no drives can be found, click on the Load driver option, browse to the flash drive with the storage controller drivers on it.
If you check the box, it will only include the compatible driver.
After Windows can see the drive, delete all of the partitions on it, leaving just one partition of unallocated space.
Click Next and Windows should install.
Then you can install the drivers and available software from the notebook's support page:
HP Laptop PC 15s-fq2000 Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support