Please install an operating system on hard drive. It vanished when doing a clean up of the C disc

[nebeluk]

I was trying to take the pc back to factory settings, but windows 10 has completely disappeared. I do not have a rescue disc (my sister, whose machine it is) has misplaced it! I keep getting a msg no operating system installed. What can be done? TIA

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can use the Microsoft media creation tool to create a bootable USB installation flash drive to reinstall W10.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

If your notebook was made in 2016 or later, it may also be supported by the HP cloud recovery tool which you can use to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with the notebook.

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

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 10, 7) | HP® Customer Support

You will need to have access to another Windows PC running Windows 7 64 bit or newer to use either method to reinstall W10.

[nebeluk]

I need help. My sister's HP 15 Notebook, was running very slowly. I tried many different things to to try and get it back to its normal speed but no luck. So I went to try and re-install windows saving only her files. During this process, it just refused to and the system crashed, and I lost the Windows 10 operating system completely. I tried to restore the system but no luck. I tried to download and install a new copy of windows from the Microsoft site from my own HP 15 Notebook, but the system crashed and I lost windows 10 on this machine too. I have finally had to reinstall a clean Windows 10, but it refused to save my files, and just simply reversed the installation when it finished, and then turned the installation back on itself to the inoperable Windows 10. It did however complete a fresh clean install but I lost all my files. Fortunately I have a backup copy, but what I need is the licence key number for my sister's HP 15 Notebook, which came originally with Windows 8.1 with a free upgrade to Windows 10. If I supply the model, serial number etc can HP tell me the details of the key?  

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The W8.1 product key is in the BIOS.  You don't need it to reinstall Windows.

If you want to reinstall W10, you can clean install it, and you will need to do two things during the installation process.

1. You should be presented with a list of Windows 10 versions to install.  Select the correct version that the PC was upgraded to.

2.  Then you will be asked to enter a product key in the next window, I believe.

Select the 'I don't have a product key' option, and Windows will install and automatically activate once the PC is connected to the internet.

[nebeluk]

I have tried now 3 times to install the new version of windows 10. When it comes time for the operating system to be chosen, the time allowed is too short..in fact very quick. It is showing on my laptop that there are 3 versions of windows 10 to choose from, but it gives no details, so therefore it is impossible to choose. In one of my attempts to install windows 10, when it came to the choice of drive partition, I actually formatted the drive it was listed under. At my next attempt, there were showing 3 versions of windows 10. As I have already said, no details were given and the laptop made the decision.. If I am lucky enough to actually continue with an install, at the final stage I am left with "getting ready" revolving on my screen, and nothing happens. I would appreciate your assistance. Thank you.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to help you with why W10 is not completing the installation.

If the notebook did not come with W8.1 with Bing, you could try reinstalling W8.1 for free, and then upgrade back to W10 for free.

Download the plain W8.1 64 bit ISO file from the link below. 

Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File) (microsoft.com)

Use the Microsoft tool that I zipped up and attached below that you will need to transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so that it is bootable.

You should not have to enter a product key.

If W8.1 successfully installs, you can click on the blue Update Now button at the link below to upgrade back to W10.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)