How to reinstall Windows 10 on a sdd replacement HP laptop

[SavageOwl]

Hello, I just bought a new HP 15 laptop from Walmart. It only has a 256gb ssd and I thought about upgrading to a bigger ssd in the near future.  After looking thru the included paperwork and on the laptop itself, I couldn't find the windows 10 key.  So that got me thinking, how would I reinstall windows 10 home if I do not have a windows key.  

  I haven't had a laptop in many years, and just now getting back into it, so I am deff out of the loop.  I wanted to get all the information first before deciding when to upgrade the sdd.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Starting with PC's that came with W8, Microsoft requires that the PC manufacturers put the Windows product key in the BIOS.

No more product key stickers like there were for W7 and older operating systems.

As long as you install the correct version of W10 that came with your PC (Home, Pro...), you don't need the product key.

Since you just bought the notebook, it is probably supported by the HP cloud recovery client utility which you can use to create a bootable USB recovery drive.

Here is an info link for how to use that utility...

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

[SavageOwl]

Awesome, thanks for the fast reply!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[SavageOwl]

Also, since I do have someone to ask some questions for, if I list the i5 I have, could you tell me what the equivalent would be for some indie games?  I wouldn't mind playing some light games, but when I look at the requirements on steam and such, Im not sure what to look for in games that this laptop could handle.

  this laptop has an i5-1035G1 10th gen, with intel uhd graphics.  I was told I would be able to play a ton of indie games, but im not sure what the equivalent would be when looking at requirements.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Unfortunately, I wouldn't know the answer to your question regarding video games because I don't play any.

I do know that the onboard Intel graphics will not provide a good gaming experience like the discrete Nvidia graphics adapter would.

I suggest that you start a new topic regarding your video games questions.