HP Recovery files copied to external drive

[Losplus]

I recently had to replace my hard drive after the laptop fell off a shelf and shut down and would not boot up again. I had upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 and it had been working fine. I don't have Windows 7 recovery discs (Laptop came with Windows pre-installed) and since support for 7 is ending, how do i get Windows 10 back onto the new hard drive?

[banhien]

@Losplus 

Since your machine previously ran Windows 10, you can do a clean install W10 for free 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 make a bootable installation media (USB/DVD) and you can use installation media to install.

During the installation process if you are asked to enter a product key, check the 'Skip' box and W10 will install and then automatically activate once you are connected to the internet using the key embedded in BIOS of your machine.

Then you can install the drivers and available software you need from your PC's support page. Normally few Windows 10 updates can install nearly all drivers for you.

Regards.

[Losplus]

Thanks! I appreciate the quick response. So far I have tried that a couple of times and it hasn't worked for me. It keeps giving me a "missing boot file" error message. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the computer originally came with Windows 7 (OEM) installed? I even tried copying that BCD file from the original Recovery files but that hasn't worked either. It's a brand new hard drive (1 TB) and it's partitioned (40GB)

[banhien]

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@Losplus wrote:

Thanks! I appreciate the quick response. So far I have tried that a couple of times and it hasn't worked for me. It keeps giving me a "missing boot file" error message.....

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@Losplus 

How do you create the Installation media. Did you install new HDD properly ? Nothing to do with Windows 7.

Regards.

[Losplus]

Yes the hard drive was installed correctly and the machine recognizes it. I have downloaded Windows 10 twice (using Media Creation Tool) - to an external hard drive (usb) as well as to a 32 GB usb thumb drive, neither of which has been able to load Windows. I suppose the next thing I need to try is burning the iso file to a dvd and see if it will boot that way

[banhien]

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@Losplus wrote:

,,,  as well as to a 32 GB usb thumb drive, neither of which has been able to load Windows. I suppose the next thing I need to try is burning the iso file to a dvd and see if it will boot that way

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@Losplus 

Very interesting, it worked for me yesterday. But it won't hurt when using DVD.

Regards.

[Losplus]

Thank you I will inform you of what happens with the dvd option

[Losplus]

Good morning! So currently, after several attempts at several methods I was able to successfully burn a Windows 10 iso to a dvd and get the laptop to boot from it and start to load files, which is taking an excruciatingly long time (since about midnight last night, and it's still on "getting files ready for installation - 0%) ). I don't know if this is because it's a clean install on a new 1TB hard drive or not but I have to just leave it alone and see what happens, right?

I do understand that the computer may ultimately end up rejecting these files for some reason or another, but I have to see it through. This is the most progress I've seen in over a week of trying to sort out the problem. So if I end up back at "square one" trying to find Windows 7 recovery media, then so be it. And just to clarify; The HP Recovery folder/files that I copied from the laptop to an external hard drive would be of no use to me, would that be correct?

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

Personally I would consider using the command prompt.

Make upto 4 partitions

1 being 16gb at the end of the drive, and a C: towards the front

Copy the expanded iso files onto the 16 gig partition.

Log to it and run setup.exe from it.

The install should then proceed at the speed of the HDD.  Much faster than a DVD.

[Lil_Boy_Blue · Accepted solution]

Just for completeness sake..

From 2016 onwards there is a possible recovery option via the cloud...
HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 7 & 10)
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205
OR
This First part only works when a valid Recovery Partition is enabled.

If it displays an error message then move onto the Second part,
OR if you have data you wish to try and save using the XCOPY command.
Then create your own Repair/Recovery/Rebuild/Re-install media or buy a set from HP.

Turn off the computer.

Disconnect all connected devices and cables, Media Drives, USB drives, printers, & faxes.
Remove media from internal drives, and remove any recently added internal hardware.
Do not disconnect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, or power cord.

Turn on the computer and repeatedly press the F11 key, about once every second,
until the Choose an option screen is displayed, and then continue.

On the Choose an Option screen, click Troubleshoot, and work your way through the screens.

Second Part:-
This may require another PC. Find and Download your .iso from…
(You will need a NON_OEM key for W7;
W8.x and W10 should activate automagically from their embedded licence key.)

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

For when it’s a NON MS OS ( iOS / Linux ) creating the install media.
www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

A 3rd party site like…
https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-iso-download-tool

Expand/Extract/Burn the iso Image onto a DVD/USB as needed.
Microsoft’s Creator Tool will make the required DVD or USB.

Even though it has NO actual HP software/drivers included, you may be able to
XCOPY the C:\Users\* area onto a ‘large’ USB stick, via the Command Prompt.

You’ll need to try various drive letters; D:..-..Z: until it’s matched - could be G; mine’s S:

C:\>XCOPY C:\Users\* S:\ /e /i /h (then files like those 3 listed below get copied over)

C:\Users\desktop.ini
C:\Users\All Users\agent.1509128044.bdinstall.bin
C:\Users\All Users\HP Deskjet 2540 series\Help\flash\zoom.swf

Then you can try System Recovery Options / Advanced Options shown in the screenshots.

NB:- W7 Try running a Startup Repair more than once for a full fix.
NB: - W10 Begin with the Automatic Repair, then Startup Settings etc.

From either the C:\ or the X:\ prompt try the following

cd boot
bootrec /FixMBR
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBCD

If the above FAILS then please try:-
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/repair-master-boot-record-mbr-windows
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/install-windows-7-from-usb
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/install-windows-10-from-usb