Laptop is in a mess please help

[CharlieTanner1]

Hello all 

I am in desperate need of assistance as I am not a techy person. 

So to start I have hp ProBook 450 g2, 8gb ram, 128 ssd. Windows 7 operating system and It all started as I wantes to install Windows 10 and Ms office but I discovered the operating system was not legitamite and caused a few issues as follows.

Hp recovery system looks to be deactivated and the f11 way to do a hp recover does not work. I am not able to do a Microsoft recovery or reset either.  

I am unable do a USB reset so it looks as if a hp disk reset is the option but before I commit to buy these I would like to know which disks to purchase as I cannot find them on the hp website and I thought someone could maybe have a last option for me to be able to wipe and reboot the entire computer another way as I need to have this sorted asap.

Any help would be appreciated thank you.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

W7 may be an OEM version and not recognised/accepted at the MS download site (try Heidoc).

PLEASE POST ANY RESULTS.
First:- Turn off the computer, press and hold the PWR button for 4 seconds.

Then - Leave only keyboard and mouse connected, disconnect all externally connected
devices such as Docking Station, USB storage devices, displays, and printers.
Unplug the AC adapter from the computer.

Next - Press and Hold the Power button for 15 seconds to Hard Reset.
Rinse and Repeat; Re-Connect the AC adapter.

NOW begin checking/testing/proving the Hardware is fit for purpose.
Power on your PC, press ESC (repeatedly), then F2 at the prompt.
Choose System Tests (Fast Test does a 4 minute hardware check).

If the hardware passes, and you want to buy a set of install disks, I suggest http://www.computersurgeons.com/ who may it.

Next.....

From 2016 onwards there is a possible recovery option via the cloud...
HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 7 & 10)
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

OR
This First part only works when a valid Recovery Partition is enabled.
If it displays an error message then move onto the Second part,
OR if you have data you wish to try and save using the XCOPY command.
Then create your own Repair/Recovery/Rebuild/Re-install media or buy a set from HP.

Turn off the computer.
Disconnect all connected devices and cables, Media Drives, USB drives, printers, & faxes.
Remove media from internal drives, and remove any recently added internal hardware.
Do not disconnect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, or power cord.
WARNING - ONE WAY ONLY, WIPES ALL DATA - NON-RECOVERABLE
Turn on the computer and repeatedly press the F11 key, about once every second,
until the Choose an option screen is displayed, and then continue.

On the Choose an Option screen, click Troubleshoot, and work your way through the screens.

Second Part:-
This may require another PC. Find and Download your .iso from…
(You will need a NON_OEM key for W7;
W8.x and W10 should activate automagically from their embedded licence key.)

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Expand/Extract/Burn the iso Image onto a DVD/USB as needed.
Microsoft’s Creator Tool will make the required DVD or USB.

  Or search Heidoc

Even though it has NO actual HP software/drivers included, you may be able to
XCOPY the C:\Users\* area onto a ‘large’ USB stick, via the Command Prompt.

You’ll need to try various drive letters; D:..-..Z: until it’s matched - could be G; mine’s S:

C:\>XCOPY C:\Users\* S:\ /e /i /h (then files like those 3 listed below get copied over)

C:\Users\desktop.ini
C:\Users\All Users\agent.1509128044.bdinstall.bin
C:\Users\All Users\HP Deskjet 2540 series\Help\flash\zoom.swf

Then you can try System Recovery Options / Advanced Options shown in the screenshots.

NB:- W7 Try running a Startup Repair more than once for a full fix.
NB: - W10 Begin with the Automatic Repair, then Startup Settings etc.

From either the C:\ or the X:\ prompt try the following

cd boot
bootrec /FixMBR
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBCD

If the above FAILS then please try:-
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/repair-master-boot-record-mbr-windows
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/install-windows-7-from-usb
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/install-windows-10-from-usb

~~~~~~~~~~~

ShowKeyPlus from the Microsoft Store (probably the best choice).
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/showkeyplus/9pkvzcprx9nv?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

The output is like this....
ShowKeyPlus - Windows Product Key Information

Product Name: Windows 10 Home
Version: 12345.678 (64-bit OS)
Product ID: 00000-00000-00000-AAOEM
Installed Key: 12345-67890-09876-54321
OEM Key: MICRO-SOFTY-WINDO-WSTEN-64BIT
OEM Edition: Win 10 RTM Core OEM:DM


ALSO
KeyFinderInstaller may help.…
It gives this…. – CD Key: 12345-67890-09876-54321

ELSE
There is a possibility of finding the same value in the Registry....
USING RegEdit the key is listed below and it’s content also shown.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

BackupProductKeyDefault 12345-67890-09876-54321

Three different names for the same value in 3 different software methods.

If in doubt please ask.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @CharlieTanner1 

Since it is a business class notebook, many 450 G2's came with a W10 Pro license with downgrade rights to W7 Pro.

If that is the case, there should be a W10 Pro product key in your notebook's BIOS.

Run the free utility that I zipped up ad attached below and see if it reports a Windows product key in the BIOS and the version of W10 it is good for.

If you get a report, post the version of Windows the key is good for.  Do not post the product key itself. 

For example:  This is what the Showkey Plus report provides for my desktop PC...

OEM Edition: Win 8.1 RTM Professional OEM:DM