HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop - 16-a0032dx

[Samhain17]

hi i just files to write onto usb drive to install the operating system and a key to install the proper software i only have windows 10 and its saying i have only 26 gb when i i should have more than 500 gb on the hardrive i already tried making a hp recovery tool drive with my serial but it just freezes during the loading screen and dosent work.

[Nal_NR]

Hi @Samhain17,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

It sounds like your HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop - 16-a0032dx is facing a few issues, including limited storage being detected (26 GB instead of 500 GB) and difficulties with creating or using the HP recovery tool. Here’s how you can resolve the problem, create a bootable USB drive, and get your system back up and running:

1. Check Disk Partitioning

If your system is only detecting 26 GB of storage, it’s possible that your hard drive has been improperly partitioned, or the operating system is installed on a small partition.

Check Disk Partitions:

• Boot into Windows (or safe mode if necessary).
• Open Disk Management:
  • Press Windows + X and select Disk Management.
  • Check the layout of your hard drive. You should see the full capacity of your drive (500 GB) displayed in different partitions.
• If the majority of your hard drive is unallocated (not being used), you’ll need to extend or merge the partitions.

Extend or Merge Partitions:

• Right-click on the 26 GB partition (where Windows is installed) and see if there’s an option to extend volume.
• If there’s unallocated space, you can extend the primary partition to include the missing storage.
• If you need help with partitioning, there are free third-party tools like MiniTool Partition Wizard or EaseUS Partition Master that can help you manage partitions more easily.

2. Create a Bootable USB Drive with Windows 10

If you need to reinstall Windows 10 and fix your hard drive issues, creating a bootable USB drive from Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool is a reliable option.

Steps to Create a Bootable USB Drive:

Download Media Creation Tool:

• Go to the Microsoft Windows 10 Download Page.
• Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.

Run the Media Creation Tool:

• Open the tool and select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO) for another PC.

Select Your USB Drive:

• Plug in a USB drive (minimum 8 GB).
• Select the USB drive as the installation media.
• Follow the prompts to create the bootable drive.

Boot from USB:

• Insert the USB drive into your HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop.
• Restart your laptop and press Esc or F9 during startup to access the boot menu.
• Select the USB drive and follow the installation prompts.

Please find the remaining steps in the next post.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[Nal_NR]

Hi @Samhain17 ,

Please find the remaining steps below.

3. Reinstall Windows 10

If you want to reinstall Windows 10 from scratch:

Delete Existing Partitions:

• During the Windows installation process, choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
• Delete all partitions, which will free up the full 500 GB.
• Select the unallocated space and click Next to install Windows on the full drive.

Let the Installation Complete:

• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation of Windows 10.

Activate Windows:

• If your laptop came with Windows 10 pre-installed, the product key should be embedded in the BIOS, and Windows will automatically activate after installation.

4. HP Recovery Tool Freezing

Since the HP recovery tool is freezing, it may indicate an issue with the tool itself or the recovery partition. If the standard Media Creation Tool approach works, you likely won’t need to rely on HP’s recovery tool.

If you still want to try using the HP recovery tool:

• Make sure your USB drive is at least 32 GB and is fully formatted before creating the recovery drive.
• Try running the tool on a different PC to see if it works better.

5. Check the Hard Drive Health

Given that your hard drive is only showing 26 GB instead of the full capacity, it might be worth checking whether the drive is physically damaged.

HP Hardware Diagnostics:

• Restart the laptop and press Esc repeatedly to open the Startup Menu.
• Select F2 to run System Diagnostics.
• Perform a Hard Drive Test to check if your hard drive is in good health.

If the hard drive is failing, replacing it might be necessary.

6. Install Drivers and Software

Once you have Windows 10 installed, you’ll need to install the appropriate drivers and HP software for your laptop.

Download Drivers:

• Visit the HP Support Page for your HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop - 16-a0032dx.
• Download and install the necessary drivers, including:
  • Chipset drivers
  • Graphics drivers (NVIDIA or Intel)
  • Audio drivers
  • Network drivers (Wi-Fi and Ethernet)

You can also use HP Support Assistant to automatically download and install the correct drivers.

By checking the disk partitions and using the Windows Media Creation Tool to reinstall the operating system, you should be able to recover your HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop and regain access to the full 500 GB of storage.

Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.