Elitebook os recovery

[Beppe-IT]

Hello everybody, the recovery image on my laptop was deleted by the previous owner, where can I find the original iso for a full restore?

Thanks in advance

Beppe

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Beppe:

If your PC originally came with Windows 10 from HP, it is supported by the HP cloud recovery client utility which you can use to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook.

You will need to use another PC and a 32 GB USB flash drive to create the recovery media with.

Here is the link to the recovery client file download.

Driver - Notebook HP EliteBook 840 G4 | Assistenza clienti HP®

Here's an info link for how to use the utility:

PC aziendali HP - Utilizzo di HP Cloud Recovery Client in Windows 11 e Windows 10 | Assistenza clien...

[Beppe-IT]

Thank you Paul.

I downloaded the tool and successfully recovered the original O.S.

Now I updated the system but I have an error "windows activation not possible, key is incorrect"

Do I need to look for the original windows key?

Can I find it in the HP support site?

Thanks again and regards,

Beppe

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Beppe.

Install and run the free Showkey Plus app from the Microsoft Store.

ShowKeyPlus - Microsoft Store Apps

It should show you an Installed key and an OEM key.

If the installed key is different from the OEM key, change the installed key to the OEM key in the PC settings menu and see if you can now activate Windows.

[Beppe-IT]

Thank you Paul, I installed ShowKey Plus and tried to change the installed key to the oem one, but it does not like this key "key is invalid"

The installed key is shown as "default key, need a digital licence to activate"

Maybe this laptop was sold without a license?

Kind regards,

Beppe

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Beppe.

If there was an OEM key in the BIOS, that should have worked to activate Windows.

If you enter the serial number of your notebook in in the search window at the link below, it should tell you if the notebook came with Windows 10 and the version (Home or Pro), or if it came with FreeDOS.

HP PartSurfer

Let me know if you find any additional details.

[Beppe-IT]

Hi Paul,

HP PartSurfer shows that my laptop originally had a win 10 home plus O.S. but if I make the recovery from HP tool it  installs win 10 Pro.

Is there a way to download the home plus version of the OS from the HP recovery tool?

Thanks again for your support!

Kind regards

Beppe

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, Beppe:

Unfortunately, there isn't, but you can use the Microsoft media creation tool to create a W10 installation flash drive that will install W10 Home.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

After W10 has completed installing, you can install the drivers and available software from your notebook's support page.

HP EliteBook 840 G4 Notebook PC Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Customer Support

If there is a reason you need to upgrade to W10 Pro, you can read the info at the link below for how to do that after W10 Home is installed.

Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Pro - Microsoft Support

[Beppe-IT]

Hi Paul,

I installed the OS from Microsoft media creation tool and now all is working, the key is correct and the two keys, OEM and installed are the same.

Thank you for your support, it solved my problem.

Best regards

Beppe

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Beppe.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Cheers,

Paul