Need media of some kind to do a clean re-install of Windows 11 Home

[zVMJedi1951]

I "bricked" my new HP Laptop and can't even get to the Recovery Partition.   Where do I find or obtain media in the form of either a DVD or a USB Flash drive that contains the HP OEM version of Windows 11 Home to do a complete, clean re-install of the Product? 

[tk_srq]

@zVMJedi1951,

HP Cloud Recovery Tool will bring your notebook to the factory state. Click the link below and type in your entire product number including #xxx to see the recovery tool is supported.

Cloud Recovery

You can click this link for how to use the recovery tool.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Support

If the cloud recovery is not supported, you can clean install Windows from Microsoft download center. Use Microsoft Media Creation Tool to create an installation usb drive. You need a min 8 GB usb drive.

Download Windows 11

[zVMJedi1951]

Well, that helps, thank you.  I tried to get the HP Tool, but Microsoft Store shows me a blank page clicking the link directly to the HP Tool.  It apparently is because I'm still on a Windows 7 Enterprise system, and the Store detects this, and since Windows 7 is no longer supported I'm SOL for this route.  I have gotten to the Tool for Windows 11 on the main Microsoft site, so I'll go that route, but now I have one more catch-22:  I didn't record the Product Key while my Windows 11 was still alive, so where do I find the Product Key for this specific Install on this Laptop?  It's not on the box, it's nowhere on any label on the laptop, unless it's "inside" if I take the back cover off.  I hope I don't have to buy a new Key.  Is there a lookup here in Support that will provide the Key if I give it my Product ID?   Thank you. 

[tk_srq · Accepted solution]

If your notebook came with W11 factory installed, the product key is stored in the BIOS chip on the motherboard.

When you install Windows and go online, Windows will be automatically activated.

[zVMJedi1951]

Gee, that sounds almost "too easy" < /snark > .  Seriously, thank you, I think I'm good to go then as soon as I finish making the USB Media, and there... it just finished.

[zVMJedi1951]

Well, I got the Media USB created, put it in, started the install.  All went fine until it restarted from the SSD, asked for Country, asked for keyboard, then wanted to install Network Drivers, apparently the Realtek weren't on the install media.  So, I come here to the HP site, find the right drivers, put them on a USB, and the little Explorer window that opens can't see any FILES on the USB.  It sees Folders, but not the files inside them.  I've tried TWO different USB sticks, I've tried making the Driver .EXE the only file on the USB,  this Explorer window at the 'Install Driver' step can't see FILES.    I even tried a real Hard Drive via a USB connection.  Same thing, sees Folders, can't see Files.  Any suggestions?   This is looking like a 'bug' in the process at this point.   There's only wireless on this Laptop, no RJ-45.  I guess my next trick if I can't get past this 'Install Driver' is to get a USB-to-RJ45-ethernet adapter and hope that works to get me 'Network', that's IF Windows 11 can 'see' the adapter during install.  Edit:  I forgot to add, there is NO WAY to get past the 'Install Driver' step, so the install can at least keep going until some other network access can be provided.   ALSO:  is there ANY other source for the HP Cloud Recovery Tool other than the Microsoft Store ?   Is it not HERE 'somewhere' on HP's own site ?  Why not?  Here's a good reason why it SHOULD be. 

[tk_srq]

The W11 setup forces you to connect to the internet to have you use a Microsoft account, but you can bypass the internet requirement and use a local account.

Click the link below and follow the instructions to set up a local account.  You can switch to the Microsoft account later if you wish.

How to bypass the internet requirement during Windows 11 setup? - Smartprix

Upon a completion of the initial setup, you can install a Realtek driver from your driver support site.

[Edit]

Aren't you actually seeing a message that says you need to load media driver not network driver? Does your model come with an Intel Core 11th, 12th or 13th gen processor?

[zVMJedi1951]

That did it!  Thank you.  I'm all the way home, except the Laptop isn't "seeing" my external monitor via the HDMI port, but I see it's doing a ton of updates, so perhaps that's among them, I see several items identified as being HP-specific updates.     To answer your "Edit" question, no it was at the network step where it wanted network drivers, I'm sure of that.  My Laptop say it has Intel Core i3-1215U whatever "Gen" that is.  I'll guess '12' since '12' is part of the ID.  And THERE IT IS!   The external monitor has come to life now!  WHEW!  Thank you, sincerely, I think that does it!   I'm writing this from my desktop still on W7, that's how I'm able to give this play-by-play.