How to reset my computer using my startup USB thumb drive from the BIOS Startup Menu?

[DreaD7]

I want to use the Startup USB thumb drive I created when I first purchased my laptop to wipe it clean and restart it so that I can start as if I just brought it home from the store.  I.E. create account, choose login method, install my Office 365 subscription, etc.

I want to wipe it clean; remove all files, remove all apps, and go back to default personalization settings.  Under other circumstances, I would take care of this from going to SETTINGS, SYSTEM, RECOVERY, RESET THIS PC but I cannot do it this way because I cannot log in. The login screen does not present after starting my laptop. When I boot up my laptop by pressing the POWER button, it shows the logo then a screen with a wallpaper background picture with the clock appears and that is where it stays...the login screen never presents so because I cannot login I cannot go to SETTINGS. which is why I must do the reset from BIOS.

Over the years I have worked in BIOS for a variety of reasons, but it has been a very long time, so I am seeking guidance/ direction to where I might find step-by-step instruction...I am comfortable following instructions but am afraid to rely on just my own memory...I'd really hate it if I did something to make my situation worse.  I am not in a position to pay someone to repair my laptop, and I REALLY, REALLY cannot afford to buy a new one.

I've looked for answers on both HP and Microsoft' websites in their self-help pages and I tried searching on both Google and Bing, but I must not be using the right terms because no matter how I word my question, I am coming up empty-handed.

In the BIOS Startup Menu my choices are:

F1 System Info

F2 System Diagnostics

F9 Boot Device Options

F10 BIOS Setup

F11 System Recovery

Thank you in advance for any education you may provide or any instructions that I can follow!

Product Info:

HP 15-f272wm

Windows 10

Intel PentiumN3540 Processor

4 GB system memory

500 GB hard drive

[tk_srq]

@DreaD7,

I suggest you try to boot the recovery usb drive from F9: Connect the usb to the laptop. Start it and immediately tap F9 key for boot option menu. Select and click on usb diskette drive/hard drive (or you may just see usb model number) for it to proceed. This should work if the usb drive is bootable. 

[DreaD7]

Thank you!  I will give it a try.

[DreaD7]

@Tk_srq,

Is it safe to assume that when I created the startup disk that Microsoft would not have allowed it to be used as a startup disk unless it was bootable, or is this something I should've done prior to using the thumb drive?

Should I confirm it is bootable before putting in the laptop and turning it on?  If so, how do I do that?

I do know that when I selected the thumb drive as the location for MS to put the startup info, I was asked to confirm that I wanted the USB to be wiped clean and if I wanted to format it for the purpose of being a startup disk.

Thanks again!

[tk_srq]

@DreaD7,

What you call a startup USB thumb drive is actually referred to as a recovery media by HP. Pages 83-87 of your user's guide below explain how to create a recovery usb drive and how to execute it.

HP 15 Notebook PC Maintenance and Service Guide

Most likely you created a bootable recovery usb drive via HP Recovery Manager. See the screenshot below of page 87 that describes how to run a recovery drive. It is basically the same as what I said earlier.

As long as your recovery drive is correctly created, it should be launched from F9. This recovery process will erase all the data on the hard drive, and there may be something else you may need to be aware of so read those pages before starting the recovery work.