HP 840 G1 OS Windows 8.1 Recovery Media

[TheEagle2020]

Product Name: HP EliteBook 840 G1

Model Number: H5G26ET#ABU

OS: Windows 8.1

Hello I have bought this machine used a while ago.

it comes with a formatted SSD drive without the HP recovery partition.

I really can`t find the recovery media nowhere and the HP Cloud Recovery Service unfortunately does`t support it yet, cause I`m waiting but this model seems to have been forgeted.

Can Someone help me to get or gently share the iso of the recovery media for this machine.

HP seems to not sell it anymore and I really don`t know how to reach the possibility to restore this machine to factory settings as I desire.

In case HP still sell it I want to know how to get it.

Thank You for Your Help.

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @TheEagle2020 

Based on your location, HP will most likely not be able to provide you recovery media, especially for Windows 8.1

HP Cloud Recovery also does not support your machine.

You will simply need to perform fresh clean "vanilla" installation of Windows OS.

Note that this PC is a configure to order model and it may not have an OS preinstalled. It depends on the configuration. Therefore, a Windows key may not be bundled into the BIOS/UEFI, you will need to obtain one on your own (like purchase a license for Windows 8.1 , like GGK one)

• You should use an unofficial option known as a utility from Heidoc to download the OEM image of Windows 8.1 as the OS vendor Microsoft no longer provides publicly OEM versions

• You can use this free utility

  >> https://www.heidoc.net/php/Windows%20ISO%20Downloader.exe

  >> https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-downl...

• Read the attached PDF instructions (below), use Heidoc, Rufus, boot from a USB device using the F9 options

• Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows. Perform clean installation/custom installation (not repair).

  Delete all existing partitions and install Windows on Disc 0 Unallocated space

  - After successful Windows installation, install drivers taken from HP web site

  - Make sure Windows is Activated by going to Start > Control Panel > System

Let me know if you face any difficulties

[TheEagle2020]

Hello!!

Thank You for the Reply!!!

I can assure everyone that this machine has been provided with Windows 8.1 OS already Installed and hp software preinsalled on it and it had recovery partition.

I`m looking for a solution to restore it back to factory settings.

I already have done rufus + windows 8.1 OEM but I really don`t like that solution unfortunately is not the same.

So I`m looking for the recovery media DVD or the iso or usb Image that can allow me to have it back as unboxed the first time.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, @TheEagle2020 

I would call HP technical support in your country and see if they still have W8.1 recovery media available for your model notebook.

I have this 9 year old business PC directory for which some numbers may still work.

https://jp.ext.hp.com/lib/doc/manual/desktop/business_desktops/332630_007.pdf

Or you can start the contact process at the link below...

https://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-contact-us.html

You may find that all you will get form HP is a plain W8.1 Pro installation disk and an application and driver DVD, which will be no different than clean installing W8.1 and installing the drivers from the support page.

That is what they sent me on my HP business notebooks that came with XP, Vista and W7.

And you can download W8.1 from Microsoft that the link below, which works just fine with the OEM key in the BIOS.

I just did it this way on a Dell Optiplex 7020 business desktop PC that has a W8.1 Pro OEM product key in the BIOS.

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

[TheEagle2020]

Hi Paul,

Thank You for Your reply!!!

I have a question ..

if this is the case

"You may find that all you will get form HP is a plain W8.1 Pro installation disk and an application and driver DVD, which will be no different than clean installing W8.1 and installing the drivers from the support page."

How I`ll have my recovery partition back ?

Thank You for your help !!!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

If you get the plain W8.1 OS disk and and application and driver DVD disk from HP, it will not reinstall the recovery partition.

If you are wanting a recovery image, once you set up your PC the way you want it with the drivers and software, use this free disk imaging utility to store a system image on a portable hard drive.  You can update the image any time you want and delete the old ones.

The utility will also have you make a bootable rescue DVD or USB flash drive that you use to access the image stored on your portable hard drive.

https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @TheEagle2020 

HP does not provide directly supplies and media in countries within this part of Europe you appear to be in. HP as a company co/works with local or regional partners and they are responsible for these countries/regions. As far as I know, the company Best2Serve is part of Ingram Micro >> https://www.best2serve.com/en-gb/about

and it is the one responsible for your country/region.  I also checked for recovery media on their website, and as expected, no such a media is available for your model.

Also, HP does not provide directly recovery media for old operating systems. Windows 8 / 8.1 is considered kind of old. At least in this part of the world and it has always been like that... (I am writing this because I live close to your country).

Even if you manage to find one or some copies left somewhere, the price will be huge and not worth it (comparing to the fact that there are free / 0 euro solutions)

Therefore, if you want to reinstall Windows and if Windows was preinstalled before, the only reasonable and professional option would be to install clean vanilla OEM installation. OEM installation is not provided by Microsoft and their links but are available only from the Heidoc app/links. 

No recovery media will create or restore the desired HP recovery partition - their part is to replace the partitions and to install OS, drivers, apps.

HP stopped using or supporting HP Recovery Manager or partitions for new models and this is getting kind of "obsolete" nowadays >> https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebooks-Knowledge-Base/Recovery-in-Windows-10/ta-p/7061284

Hope this helps. Please, let me know if any questions or issues.

Cheers ! 🙂

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @TheEagle2020 

Recovery media for HP business notebooks and desktop PC's can only be ordered by telephone.

Many folks in European countries have ordered recovery media for their business PC's by calling HP.

In some countries such as the UK, HP even sends the recovery media at no cost -- in or out of warranty.

You have nothing to lose by calling HP in your country. 

The worst thing they can say is they don't have the recovery media anymore.

And I will repeat that you absolutely can use the W8.1 ISO file from Microsoft on any PC -- OEM or otherwise.

It will work with the W8.1 OEM product key without any extra work, and even with a W8 product key by using this process I have given to dozens of forum members...

Here is one where the forum member had a W8.1 OEM product key in the BIOS.

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/Factory-Image-Recovery-Preparat...

Here is one where the forum member had a W8 OEM product key in the BIOS.

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Upgrade-to-SSD-Clone-process-F...

[TheEagle2020]

Hello Guys!!!

first of all thank You for all the help,

I  think that I`ll not be able to repair this machine as I want,

if someone someday want to share their iso or a usb prepared from HP recovery partition

program with me for this notebook will be welcome.