HP Stream 13 won't reset!

[Taffpike]

Hi All,

My Sons Notebook stopped booting up, it starts, we get the HP logo it waits about 40 seconds and then goes black then go's into boot again. I have tried F11 reset. It gets to about 40% and then stops! I get a message saying that this reset could not be performed. I do not have a restore USB. We do have an external back up of all folders and files so a complete restore is fine! All help appreciated.

[TheOldMan]

That line of PC's uses a 32 GB eMMC for a hard drive.There is typically not enough room to go through the reload process, depending on the procedure used.  Kudos to you,  since you have external backups of the important data.  Many users do not do that step.  You can install Windows 10 cleanly by using the media created from here, made with a working PC

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

Scroll down to the "Using the tool to create installation media" and follow the directions to make the USB.

[Taffpike]

thank you for your reply, I followed your advice and created a Windows 10 installation USB. the problem I have now is that when I try to use it, it won't let me do it as it states "there is insufficient space on the system partition to install this." There is the option to format the partition! should I go ahead and do this? also after installing the new version of Windows 10, will I need a new activation key? I don't have that information on the notebook and it's not on the box or any of the other paperwork?

Thanks again for your help and hope you can assist further?

[TheOldMan]

Yes, that is the problem with those PC's and the 32Gb SSD of sorts hard drive.  There is not enough space for the install to run.  That is why I said to install "clean", which means allow Windows to delete the old install.  Boot to the new install media that was made from the MS site.  When you get to the opening screen, pick the language you want and then "Install Now".  When you get to the nest screen pick I don't have a product key and then "Next".  For this next screen only pick Windows 10 Home edition (most OEM installs are that, but check on the about screen for the existing install to confirm), then accept the license terms.  On the next screen, pick "Custom Install".  The next screen will show the existing partitions of the Windows install.  Click on each one individually and pick "Delete" on the section list directly under the Window, until all of them are deleted.  Once completed, it should then show a single space with an empty list other than the now empty hard drive.  Click the "Next" button.  It should now complete the install.  When the Windows install is completed, it is a brand new Windows 10 and needs to be set up with all the user choices, just as when the PC was new.  If you need some drivers after the install is completed, you can get those from the support page for the model you have from the link below.  Windows is fairly good at getting the correct drivers to get you running, but if some are missing. find then here:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

Let it detect the model number by selecting "Laptop" from the selection list.  Then add the ones listed as missing in Device Manager.

Hope that helps