-
×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
-
×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
- HP Community
- Notebooks
- Notebook Operating System and Recovery
- Re: How to factory resit without administrator permission

Create an account on the HP Community to personalize your profile and ask a question
02-02-2020 05:53 AM
I have recently purchased a second hand laptop but cannot access it due to having no admin rights?! I've tried all the usual f11 and f8 but nothing works. I can no longer get in touch with the individual who sold it me so I'm stuck with a laptop I cannot use. And recommendations?
02-02-2020 07:01 AM
Hi:
You will have to clean install W10 or W8.1.
On the bottom case of the notebook, is there a label indicating what operating system it came with?
The specs indicate it could have come with W8.1 or W10, and that would depend on when the PC was made.
The product key is in the BIOS, so you don't need it to reinstall W10.
02-04-2020 12:07 PM
You won't be able to reinstall W7 Enterprise.
That is just for corporations. Not to mention that Microsoft has discontinued support for W7 as of last month.
Let's just take a chance that the notebook originally came with W10 from HP.
You can reinstall W10 by making a bootable USB recovery drive using the HP cloud recovery client utility from the link below.
https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp85001-85500/sp85318.exe
I have attached an info sheet below for how to use the cloud recovery client utility.
You may also be able to install W7 Professional using the cloud recovery client utility but as I wrote above, support for W7 has ended.
02-05-2020 07:00 AM
Make the W10 recovery media using that tool, or use the Microsoft media creation tool to make a bootable USB installation flash drive from the link below.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
After W10 installs, you can install the drivers and available software from your notebook's support page.
https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-probook-640-g2-notebook-pc/8430730