New

[PC60]

1.  The information for restoring a laptop is contradictory and unhelpful.  There are posts saying new machines post 2018 don't have recovery installed. (mine has something, but no obvious recovery partition as used to be used).

2. I wanted to prepare windows recovery media ( a stick or disc ) but there is zero support walk through for this.  

3. Most importantly how the hell do you ensure you can ACTUALLY reinstall when there is no MS Windows Install key provided with the NEW laptop with preinstalled Win 10?

4. I phoned support who pointed me at MS media creator tool, but if you make a stick or disc IT WILL STILL ASK FOR an MS INSTALL KEY.

I have searched for ages for a walkthrough so I can do this BEFORE doing  anything with the LAPTOP so I know everything is secure before using the machine or connecting to internet but can't find anything.  

At present I think I have made a serious mistake buying HP.  Can anyone help please?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

What Microsoft told you is incorrect.

The windows product key is in the BIOS and as long as you install the version of W10 your PC came with, it will automatically detect the product key, and activate once the PC is connected to the internet.

It appears your notebook is supported by the cloud recovery client utility which is now used on newer notebooks to create recovery media.  Enter the product number of your PC in the Product ID search box at the link below.

http://hpcps.support.doc.s3-website-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/

Here is an info link on how to use the cloud recovery client utility, which for some reason, does not appear on your PC's support page...

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

[PC60]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your rapid and informative reply.

Storing the MS Windows install key in the bios is a new one, I haven't read that anywhere.   It is the MS media creator and reinstall webpages that say you need a key to install windows 10, that and when I built a win10 Pro machine from parts.  That is why I've been trying to locate it for this new pavillion laptop.

As for 'cloud' recovery that sound horrific, I don't have MS accounts and don't store anything online if I can avoid it.   

I can't work through the full links you sent on my phone (currently only intetnet connect) so I can't say if it has solved the problem.

Unless I can get a set of recovery media and drivers to hand locally without need for internet then, it appears my purchase was a grave error.

Kind regards

Phil

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Pahil:

Beginning with the release of W8, Microsoft requires all PC manufacturers to put the Windows product key in the BIOS.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/Windows-8-OEM-OA-3.0-Piracy-Genuine-Microsoft,16636.html

No more product key stickers since W7.

They did that to prevent the illegal use of OEM product keys on other PC's.

All the 'cloud' recovery client is, is a utility you use to create recovery media.

You don't need to log in, create accounts, store anything in the cloud, etc.

That's just what HP decided to name the thing.

You need a 32 GB usb flash drive, you download the cloud recovery client as indicated and it will check your PC's product number to see if it is supported (which according to that support matrix it is), and the utility will create the same recovery media you would otherwise shell out money to HP to buy.

[PC60]

Sorry Paul but this hasn't helped.

The link to the amazon ? document was dead.

[Edit] Finally got the link to work, its horribly slow and only listed what I presume is an ISO file name but gave no options to get it, so no good at all{/edit]

The link to the Microsoft site is where I have been before.  This on lets you DL the media creator and, I presume create  stick or disc, the problem is ir DOES NOT address the install code key issue.   So I can't safely make a windows 10 home fresh install stick that I can use in the event the machine gets 'snarfed up' with with windows it inevitably will at some point.

Very dissapointed, wish I had not bought the laptop now.  I can't get sense from HP support by phone either.  Big bad waste of cash. Will never buy HP again.

Phil