HDD crashed and need to reinstall windows 8.1- ISO file no longer on Google Docs

[rashal]

Paul Tikkanen posted that the Windows 8.1 64 bit ISO file could be found on Google Docs, but it it no longer there.  Please post where I can get this as my HDD has crashed and I would like to reinstall or replace HDD.  thank you.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

No dv7 notebook PC originally came with W8.1 from HP.

If your model was a dv7-72xx or 73xx, it came with W8, and that was the file that Microsoft ordered removed from google docs.

For some reason Microsoft never offered W8 for download, so here is how you can clean install W8.1 for free by using the W8 product key in your notebook's BIOS...

Install W8.1 by creating the Microsoft installation media, using another Windows PC, if yours is not working...You want the plain W8.1 64 bit ISO file.

You do not need to enter any product key to download the ISO file.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

At the beginning of the installation routine, you can delete every partition on the hard drive.

If you are asked to enter a product key during the installation process, use this generic key.

This is the generic key for W8.1 'standard.'

 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

If you had to enter the generic key, manually change the generic product key to the W8 'standard' key in your PC's BIOS in the PC settings menu.

After you get W8.1 installed, and you had to manually enter the generic product key, you will need to run the free utility I zipped up and attached below, that will show you show the W8 product key in your PC's BIOS.

I have also zipped up and attached below, the Microsoft tool which hopefully will transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so it is bootable.

Then you can install the available drivers and software from the  PC's support page.