HP Notebook - 15-f233wm Recovery Manager wont complete

[gdon_2003]

15-f233wm Notebook Recovery Manager wont complete.  I created the Recovery CDROM before trying to restore.  I first tried the recovery partition on the existing drive by doing a Factory Reset.  The same thing happens with the recovery CDROMs.  The Recovery Manager starts, formats the drive and copies files.  Then the notebook reboots and a software loading screen starts.  The notebook reboots several times and then the Recovery Manager screen comes and tells me the recovery is incomplete.  I had found a support document that said you may need to turn off secure boot and enable legacy boot mode.  I did that and the same outcome.  There is a cmd window in the background that repeats the specified drive is not found. 

I reset bios defaults and tried again.  The same Recovery Manager fails to complete.  I didi capture the log on a usb.  I dont see a place to upload the log.   Please tell me what files in the log would help and I will copy them here.

Any suggestions to get this notebook restored. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If neither the internal recovery system or the HP recovery media isn't working the only suggestion I can offer would be to clean install W10.

Use the Microsoft media creation tool to create bootable installation media.

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

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

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-15-Notebook-PC-series/7527799/model/8857447

[gdon_2003]

I have Win 10 on usb but it warned I had GPT partition and did not recommend install as partitioned.  What partition scheme would you recommend for clean Win10 install.  Seems GPT partitioning is for UEFI enabled machines.  With a Win 10 install the UEFI would no longer function with a recovery partition?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You are correct.   GPT partitioning is for UEFI enabled machines

If you can boot the USB flash drive from the EFI boot menu, you should not get that error.

It seems to me that you are booting from the legacy USB boot device menu.

The other thing you can do is boot the way you are doing now, and clean the disk during the W10 installation process, and that will take care of that error.

Watch this video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=z4Z38pD1Gt0&feature=emb_logo

[gdon_2003]

Ok I used the MS media creation tool.  I have Windows 10 loaded but there was no option for which option/edition to load.  I saved the original license key from the OEM HP Win 10.  Can I activate with that key. 

The HP Recovery Manager was a disaster.  I may have had a defective image in the recovery partition and I created the Restoration DVDs from it.  But the MS media creation tool made me an iso image I burned to dvd and it worked.  I currently am not hooked to an internet connection with that computer so how do I activate the OEM Windows License Key.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Your notebook has a W10 Home product key in the BIOS.

You should not be asked to select what version of W10 you want to install, nor should you be asked to enter a product key.

It should take you to a screen that asks 'Where do you want to install Windows,' and at that point, you can click Next, and W10 should begin to install.

At the end of the installation, W10 Home 64 bit should be the version (assuming you made the 64 bit installation media), and W10 should be activated.