I have recently lost

[rwilcher]

I have recently lost my hardrive and software. How can I retain the license I had?

Thanks. The license came with the new machine.

[CherylG]

Your Windows 10 license key is embedded in BIOS and you can reinstall Windows without HP Recovery Media. Microsoft provides the free Media Creation Tool to download files and create a Windows 10 usb flash drive.Big advantage is you will have latest updated version of Windows 10. At least 8gb flash drive required:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Select Download tool now, and select Run.
If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.
On the What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, and then select Next.
Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10.
The Guide here shows the steps.Pay attention to Step 5 if you will be using another pc:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html
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When the flash drive is prepared insert it in a usb port. Power on the laptop and immediately start tapping Esc key. From the menu tap F9 key and use the arrow keys to move to and select usb. Tap Enter key.
When installing It should pickup the key from BIOS but if it asks at any point just choose "I don't have a key". It will continue and should activate once you are online.

This will not include the original software from HP but most of it can be installed from your Support page.

[rwilcher]

I seem to remember them starting to do that a while Ago. Appears  they do something with Serial number etc

as a key to index the license. Seems to work great. Replaced hdd and reloaded O.S. without incident.  System has been up

for almost a week. So is fixed. Sure glad thats been dealt with. I have had bad experiences with that in the past.  Created a

Win10 install DVD which worked great.

[CherylG · Accepted solution]

Happy to hear you are back up and running. Please mark this as solved by clicking Accept as Solutiion on the instructions I gave above.