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- HP Community
- Notebooks
- Notebook Operating System and Recovery
- New Windows Installation on Elitebook Folio

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02-17-2020 04:07 PM
Hi, my neighbour asked me to help her set up a second-hand Elitebook Folio she bought ex-company. They have wiped it entirely, I can only open the HP BIOS. Originally, it came with Windows 8 Pro (judging from the sticker on the back); I imagine it was a company licence, so this can't be used (no installation keys etc. were provided). Is it possible now to buy a new Windows 10 licence and install that or do I need to go back to Windows 8? Thank you so much!
02-17-2020 07:17 PM
Hi:
The W8.1 Pro product key is in the BIOS.
You can reinstall W8.1 Pro for free by downloading the W8.1 Pro 64 bit ISO file from the link below.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO
Use the Microsoft tool that I zipped up and attached below to transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so that it is bootable.
After W8.1 installs, you can install the drivers and available software from the notebook's support page.
https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-elitebook-folio-1040-g2-notebook-pc/7393377
Then you can try to get the free upgrade to W10. See the info at the link below for how to do that...
https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/
You can get the upgrade to W10 by clicking on the blue Update Now button at the link below.
If you are asked to enter a product key during the upgrade process, select the 'I don't have a product key' option.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
02-22-2020 02:58 PM
Hi Paul,
thank you so much for your help! I have downloaded a Windows 8.1 ISO file (English and also English International) and ran the Windows Creation Tool on a Windows 7 laptop, but when I choose the file (in the download folder) it says that the ISO file is invalid.
The internal setting is English (New Zealand), but I cannot download such an ISO file.
I do have a Windows 10 laptop available which I could use to try to create a bootable USB from.
Would you have any more suggestions on this?
Thank you so much!
02-22-2020 04:48 PM
You're very welcome.
If the Microsoft tool that I attached doesn't work, I would use the free Rufus utility to create a bootable installation flash drive.
The ISO file must be made bootable.