Obtain PC recovery usb drives

[ivc_h]

I need to replace my laptop hard drive because I receive "smart hard disk error 301" and all other resolution failed. My problem is I need to obtain a recovery usb drives for the new hard drive but I am not having much luck. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You can make your own USB recovery drive with the HP cloud recovery tool, that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook.

You will need to have access to another Windows PC running W7 64 bit or newer and a 32 GB USB flash drive.

Here is an info link for how to use that utility...

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 10) | HP® Customer Support

[SayantanRC]

If you are having no luck in creating a recovery USB drive to install windows on your new HDD/SSD, worry not.

If you had bought the laptop with preinstalled genuine windows, you can simply just go to Microsoft website to get the Windows 10 ISO file, flash it on a USB drive, and clean install windows on your new drive. After setting up windows, and on first connection to internet, your windows install will get automatically activated.

Downside is that you will have to manually download and install the required drivers for your model. And HP might consider this as a "non-genuine OS" (whatever that means). But you will not have any usability issue as per my experience.

[ivc_h]

Paul,

Thanks for the information, I checked and my laptop is on the list.

Thanks again

[ivc_h]

SayantanRC,

I will look into that option also, I appreciate the input.

Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.