HP Recovery Tool Not Working: Need to Do a Factory Reset

[RoxyMI44]

I'm trying to do a factory reset on my laptop but the HP Recovery Tool, which is the latest version, will not let me run the software. It says to right click and run as adminstrator, which I do, and it keeps saying I need to run as administrator. I'm also assigned adminstrator permissions.

I just want this back to a 'new' laptop so I can sell it to my mom.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @RoxyMI44,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

If the HP Recovery Tool isn’t working and you’re unable to initiate a factory reset through the software, you can try alternative methods to perform a factory reset on your HP laptop. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

1. Use Windows Settings for a Reset

If you can access Windows, you can perform a factory reset directly through the operating system:

Open Settings:

• Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.

Navigate to Recovery:

• Go to Update & Security > Recovery.

Start the Reset Process:

• Under “Reset this PC,” click Get started.
• Choose Remove everything to ensure a full reset to factory settings.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.

2. Use HP's Built-In Recovery Options

If you can't access Windows or prefer using HP’s built-in recovery options:

Turn Off the Laptop:

• Shut down your laptop completely.

Enter Recovery Mode:

• Turn on your laptop and immediately press Esc repeatedly (about once every second) until the Startup Menu appears.
• Press F11 to enter the Recovery Manager.

Choose Factory Reset:

• In the HP Recovery Manager, select System Recovery or Recover.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to perform a factory reset.

3. Use Recovery Media

If the built-in recovery options are unavailable, you may need to use recovery media:

Create Recovery Media (If Not Already Available):

• If you don’t have recovery media, you’ll need another computer to create it. Visit HP’s website for instructions on creating recovery media using a USB drive.

Boot from Recovery Media:

• Insert the recovery USB drive into the laptop.
• Restart the laptop and press the key required to access the boot menu (Esc, F9, F12, etc., depending on your model).
• Select the USB drive to boot from.

Follow Recovery Instructions:

• Once booted from the recovery media, follow the instructions to restore the laptop to factory settings.

4. Use Command Prompt for Advanced Recovery

If you’re familiar with command-line operations, you can use Command Prompt to trigger a factory reset:

Open Command Prompt:

• Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Run System Reset Command:

• Type the following command and press Enter:
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571

HP Support