Help with specific download for HP Recovery Tool download

[PJ03]

To my credit (lol) I really would have thought the un-properly seated RAM would have caused the computer to beep.  😞

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, usually it gives some kind of notice, but I've had that happen to me once as well where I didn't firmly seat the memory in a notebook's memory slot and got nothing.

But I knew I must have done something wrong when installing the memory.

On HP desktop PC's where I didn't mash the memory in firmly, it always beeped 5 times.

The problem is with the newer notebooks there is no easy compartment to remove to access the memory.

You have to go through a lot of work to get the bottom cover off.

[PJ03]

Agree, Paul.  I've removed a lot of laptop bottom covers but this HP Victus was by far the most challenging.  But when I found it so difficult starting at the bottom of cover and then trying the sides (obviously after removing the seven screws) I went to the top of the cover (the area that connects to the screen), then it was quite easy.   

I also do not like that, with the newer laptops, I have to remove the cover to access the battery. 

The HP Recovery Tool is working great now. . .😊

Thank you, again, Paul!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance,

Cheers,

Paul

[PJ03]

I hated to start a new topic and in not knowing if the HP Recovery Tool could have possibly caused this error, I thought I would reply here to this. 

Yesterday, after using the HP Recovery Tool and getting the "new" SSD up and running on my brand "new" HP Vitus that had just been delivered. . .

In allowing my new laptop to do a bunch of updates (obviously needed on new SSD) I clicked to restart and allow updates numerous times.   I don't believe my BIOS and Firmware has EVER been updated "automatically" so I was a bit shocked in seeing that happening. . . but I thought that was cool and would prevent me from having to do it manually. 

The laptop was restarting a couple of times, not loading Windows but rather continuing those type updates, when all of a sudden a BitLocker error came up that required a CODE.  To say the least,  that was freaky!  I know nothing about BitLocker and was clueless as to how to solve it. 

In not knowing what to do, I thought of doing a system restore and was shocked to see that Windows had not even created a restore point.  I thought Windows always created a restore prior to updates.  Anyway, the only thing I could think of was to start all over again with the HP Recovery Tool in being clueless as to what could have caused the error and how to resolve it. 

I have now re-used the tool and my laptop is working again.    WHEW!  In reading, just briefly, about a BitLocker error, I saw that a person would need to sign in to his/her MS account to get the needed key/code but then I read, "You will only get a recovery password option if you have enabled email when you setup Bitlocker."   But I never setup BitLocker, so now I am still freaking out a bit in fear this will happen again.  Thus, I am afraid to start installing all of my software.  I did immediately create a restore point and was shocked to see system restore was turned off.  I've never see that either! 

Anyway, since answering questions about BitLocker seems like a very serious issue (in seeing a few posts about BitLocker just now) I realize my question may need to be directed to HP Support rather than here in the HP Community.  If that's the case I have no problem contacting HP Support. 

Question:  Do I need to "setup" BitLocker to prevent that error from happening again and if so, how do I start that process?  And again, if answering that isn't allowed here please reply and say so and I will direct this to HP Support.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The BIOS updates coming from Windows update is something relatively new (within the last few years).

I don't see a problem with it, as long as you have the option to not check the firmware update from installing until all other updates have been installed and you restart the PC.

Then you can install the update separately.

The Bitlocker thing...Bitlocker is enabled if you see a lock icon on your hard drive in Windows explorer.

If it is not, Bitlocker is not enabled.

If you have a Microsoft Account, you can export the Bitlocker recovery key to your Microsoft account at any time, or save it to other sources/print it out.

Back up your BitLocker recovery key - Microsoft Support

The same thing happened to me.  I set up my brand new HP notebook and I had never used a Microsoft account to set up the PC, which is hard to get around but there is a way (I learned that after the fact).

I use a local account on my W10/W11 PC's.

Anyway...after I created the Microsoft account, during the setup process, it asked me if I wanted to save the Bitlocker recovery key to my Microsoft account.   I figured, what the heck, so I let it save the key.

Then the PC got a BIOS update like yours did, but when the PC restarted, it asked for the Bitlocker recovery key.

Thank goodness I had allowed it to be exported to my Microsoft account.

After I entered the very long recovery key, and got back into Windows, I saw the drive had that lock icon on it, and I have no need to encrypt my files, so I turned off Bitlocker, and periodically I check to make sure it is off, because I never turned it on in the first place.

So, I don't know if the PC came with Bitlocker enabled or the BIOS update turned it on somehow.

Hope that helps.

[PJ03]

Thank you so much for your help, Paul!

 I have never seen this before.  Is this the image that you referred to, and this means it's NOT locked?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome. 

That icon means Bitlocker is turned on. 

The illustration in the link I posted shows you where to turn Bitlocker off if you want to.

[PJ03]

You are a life-saver, Paul!  Your instructions/replies  are ALWAYS so very professional and right on target with all of the needed details.  A+++  Thank you so much for all of your help!  My recovery key has been saved, in addition to it being save on my MS account; BitLocker encryption has been turned OFF, and decryption has been done.  NOW I feel safe to begin installing all of my software programs on my new SSD.  WHEW!   THANK YOU again, and God bless!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're most welcome.

God Bless you too and enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheers,

Paul