Hard disk broke down and now I need to reinstall windows

Toni102 · ‎03-06-2023

Hi,

My older notebooks hard drive broke down and I need to reinstall windows (original one, not the latest windows) to it. Where can I get the installation media and serial number for it?

Toni

Paul_Tikkanen · ‎03-06-2023

Hi, Toni:

I believe the HP 350 G2 came with W8.1 Professional 64 bit from HP.

The W8.1 product key is in your notebook's BIOS

You can make your own W8.1 installation media by downloading the W8.1 64-bit ISO file from the link below.

Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File) (microsoft.com)

Use the free Rufus utility to transfer the ISO file to a USB flash drive so that it is bootable.

Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Set up the Rufus menu the way you see it in the illustration.

Boot from the installation media and after W8.1 installs you can install the drivers and available software from your notebook's support page.

HP 350 G2 -kannettava Ohjelmiston ja ohjaimen ladattavat tiedostot | HP®-asiakastuki

Toni102 · ‎03-06-2023

Ok. I think I will manage with the ISO creation, but I have a hunch that when installing, it will ask for a serial number and/or CD-Key or whatever they are these days. How do I dig them up from the Bios, or does the installer grab them automatically from Bios?

And Thanks for Your help!

Toni

Paul_Tikkanen · ‎03-06-2023

You're very welcome, Toni.

If the notebook came with Windows from HP, the key is definitely in the BIOS.

Windows will automatically detect the product key in the BIOS and install.

I have a HP 350 G1 and I have reinstalled Windows many times on my notebook and never had to enter a product key.

My 350 G1 came with W8.1 Pro from HP.

Toni102 · ‎03-06-2023

Oh yes, it is a very offical HP&Win laptop. Tried to look for some sort of official serial number sticker, but the only sticker I found was a simple Windows Pro under the laptop and nothing else. Also tried asking from the reseller, but they told me to ask from HP. I will give it a try to do a cold installation to the blank HD. Fingers crossed.

Paul_Tikkanen · ‎03-06-2023

Mine has the same thing.

Just a Windows Pro sticker on the bottom, no key, no nothing.

Toni102 · ‎03-10-2023

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your advices. I now have a running laptop. Except....

When I start up the laptop, it first goes to the blue screen mode and complains something about driver_power_state_failure, collects some info and then starts up like nothing has happened. Have you heard about this kind of weird behaviour? Is the laptop physically broken perhaps?

Toni

Toni102 · ‎03-10-2023

And even sillier thing. I am trying to connect the **bleep** thing to to a mobile network for activating/updating. I was watching this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprXVWAbvOU

There is no darn manually connect option in the window! What is going on here?

Toni

Toni102 · ‎03-10-2023

And the bloody thing worked super nice with linux. I wish I would not need the win on it.

Arrrrgggghhhh.....

Paul_Tikkanen · ‎03-10-2023

Hi:

Did you install the drivers you need for things to work?

If you can't connect to the internet, download the major drivers you need to a USB flash drive, plug the flash drive into your notebook and install the drivers.

Chipset: Install and restart the PC

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp70001-70500/sp70230.exe

Graphics: Install and restart the PC.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp70001-70500/sp70238.exe

Audio: Install and restart the PC

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp70001-70500/sp70229.exe

Ethernet:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp70001-70500/sp70242.exe

Wi-Fi: May be one of these three drivers depending on what model wifi card your notebook came with.

Mine had the Broadcom card.

Broadcom

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp70001-70500/sp70360.exe