How to remove readonly attribute on HP supplied recovery USB

[gpeaslee]

Does anyone know how to remove the readonly attribute on the recovery media from HP? It will run and the program errors out saying it can't write to the media. I can't get it done from the command line though I can show the problem. See below.

DISKPART> attributes disk clear readonly
Disk attributes cleared successfully.
DISKPART> attributes disk Current Read-only State :
Yes Read-only :
No Boot Disk :
No Pagefile Disk :
No Hibernation File Disk :
No Crashdump Disk :
No Clustered Disk : No

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Hi @gpeaslee

Thank you for posting in the HP Support forum.

I checked your previous posts here in the forum and I noticed that you are having issues reinstalling Windows 10 from HP Recovery media.

There is an easier way of fixing this issue and reinstalling Windows (10) on this computer without using the recovery media. You can make a clean installation of Windows, the so called vanilla installation which is the default Windows 10 installation for Home or Pro edition. It includes Microsoft drivers only, drivers built-into the Windows.  During the installation, you may choose to delete all existing data/partitions on a disk.

Video reference >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAvFm52IjI4

Windows reinstallation / clean installation :

- You can directly download Windows 10 ISO from MS site or download >> Media creation tool from Microsoft site, create installation DVD or installation USB  and  proceed with clean installation/reinstallation.

Download:

>> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Make sure you select the proper version (64 bit / Home or Pro) if asked.

Media Creation tool will always provide you with the latest Windows version/build - now 1803 Fall Creators Update.

- When download completes, you will need to write  the ISO image and boot from a bootable media. You will need a blank USB pendrive (min 4 GB capacity). Use the Media Creation tool.

When ready with the USB drive or with the DVD:

Please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

Insert the Windows USB thumdrive prepared previously

Power on the PC.

As soon as you press the power-on button, start hitting the Esc button repeatedly (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu

Choose F9 to open Boot options. Select the USB thumb drive as a boot option.

- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10. Perform clean installation/custom installation (not repair).

Delete all existing partitions and install Windows on Disc 0 Unallocated space

- After successful Windows installation, install drivers taken from HP web site or via Windows Update/Device Manager >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03330139

- Make sure Windows is Activated by going to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Activation

- You might want to stop some of the Windows Telemetry by using free tools such as Spybot AntiBeacon or DWS Lite

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes

[gpeaslee]

Thanks, this is effectively what I did. The only difference is I retained my Linux Mint partition and use it's boot loader (secure boot disabled) instead of the windows boot loader.

I'm looking to see if I can repair the media I bought. It's write protected and the program it runs at boot up fails complaing it can't write to the drive. I may just need to try to get a refund.