Computer is asking me install operating system after I tried recovery process

[Chicagogirl]

I was trying to do recovery and followed all the steps it asked as my computer was running slow. Now it is asking for me to install operating system. I realize the computer is 7 years old but it was working perfectly fine prior to all of this.  I do not have the original operating system to reinstall 7 years later. What can I do to get my computer back in working condition? I do not have cash for a new one and this one was still working great as it was well taken care. Very disappointed as I have been working on trying to get this problem resolved for 3 days now. What needs to be done to resolve this issue?

[WAWood]

@Chicagogirl 

IF it was, as you state, working great -- then why did you force a recovery?  Had you checked here first, I would have advised you AGAINST doing that and you would still have a working PC.

Unfortunately, HP no longer carries Recovery Media for the Win7 PCs, so you would be able to order it from HP.

This slowness  issue is often due to a failing drive.

If your PC is new enough to support UEFI, you can use these steps to test the hard drive: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00439024

If not, to check the drive you have to follow these steps:
1) Press Esc key repeatedly, several times a second, while rebooting the laptop. Do NOT hold the key down, just press it over and over.
2) Eventually, you will see an HP Startup Menu
3) Press the Function key for testing the hard drive (usually F2) and let it run.

[Chicagogirl]

It came with Windows 8. It says it has a hardware diagnostics failure with a long I’d... What to do now?

[WAWood]

@Chicagogirl 

Post the long ID number here -- we have a tool to look up IDs.

[Chicagogirl]

RU289Q-6T4A9X-MFPWXF-60R203

[WAWood]

@Chicagogirl 

That error code means your disk drive is failing and needs to be replaced.

Once you have the replacement drive, read the information below about HP Could Recovery to be used to restore your PC to working condition:

If your PC is a 2016 model or newer, you should see if you can make a bootable USB recovery drive using the HP cloud recovery tool on a working PC. The recovery drive can then be used to install Win10 and the HP drivers and utilities that originally came with your PC. Here is the link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

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If the HP Cloud Recovery is not available or does not work, you may have to look into ordering HP Recovery Media -- which is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities. You have to order these from HP; they can not be downloaded.

You can look online for Recovery Media starting with the linked paged: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

Once there, input your Product name or number. On your Software and Drivers Download page, select your Operating System and and Version. Click "Update"

If HP Recovery Media is available for your machine, down near the bottom of the page, you will see an entry for Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB. Click the + symbol to expand that entry and click on Order Media for details.

Or, if you prefer, you can do the same by contacting HP Customer Support:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true

[Chicagogirl]

I want to thank you for your time and effort as it is very much appreciated. At this point it seems that it will cost me more to get it fixed than to get a new one  some time. Thank you  again as you helped me and that is a kindness I will remember.