HP Notebook - 15-ay041wm Recovery Manager failure

[sycomp]

This unit's product# is X0H86UA and is UMW for another couple of months.

I attempted to recover the unit via the recovery partition with the HP Recovery Manager. It fails with a command window complaining of "System cannot find the specified file".

I contacted HP support since the unit is UMW and was informed immediately that I would be forced to *purchase* recovery media from HP to correct this problem.

??????

I'm a longtime HP customer and the last time I had to contact support for my business class Elitebooks they were HAPPY to send me recovery media when I needed it as long as the unit was UMW. This is a consumer class machine so is that the difference now/then/always?

[CherylG]

Business class machines have always pretty much had higher quality Support than consumer class machines. Though I have seen HP send free Recovery Media if a customer reported that HP Recovery Manager failed at creating it- IF the customer hadn't made changes to partitions or changed OS which would be considered owner induced damage.

[sycomp]

Though I have seen HP send free Recovery Media if a customer reported that HP Recovery Manager failed at creating it...

Thanks Cheryl.

Unfortunately, that's not going to be possible to test since the machine has a partially restored OS at present.

Is another OEM copy of Win 10 going to be problematic, e.g., with product key/activation issues?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @sycomp

If you don't want to pay for recovery media from HP, you can always clean install W10 for free at any time by using the media creation tool at the link below.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

The tool will allow you to create a bootable W10 USB installation flash drive, or save an ISO file which you can burn to a DVD using your DVD burning program's burn ISO file option.

The tool will also work with the W10 product key in your PC's BIOS and activate once you are connected to the internet.

After W10 installs, you can install the drivers and available software from your PC's support page.

[sycomp]

The tool will also work with the W10 product key in your PC's BIOS and activate once you are connected to the internet.

Thanks Paul, that answers my question!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[sycomp · Accepted solution]

I attempted to recover the unit via the recovery partition with the HP Recovery Manager. It fails with a command window complaining of "System cannot find the specified file".

As an addedum to this post, be advised that clearing system BIOS passwords and then initiating the recovery from the recovery partition again fixed my problem.

I had read elsewhere that another user had success with this method,  however, the HP "support" technician with whom I spoke said it wouldn't matter.

It apparently does.

[CherylG]

That is great news! One trip-up I had never considered. Thanks for taking time to come back and share your experience which helps enrich the knowledge base for customers.

In order to help others looking for the solution it would be good to mark your Reply as Solution instead. Use the Option dropdown beside the non-solution to "un-choose" it. Then the button will be active under your solution Reply.

[sycomp]

In order to help others looking for the solution it would be good to mark your Reply as Solution instead.

Cheryl: Per your recommendation, this is complete.