Problem with factory reset on Stream 11

[FrugalGranny]

Like others, our Stream hard drive is full and the computer is now nothing more than an expensive paperweight. I was attempting to do a hard reset. However, due to a bad battery, this has been impossible. I turn on the machine and start tapping f11, but a warning about the battery appears and disrupts that making it impossible to get to the proper screen.  If not for the Windows updates eating up the hard drive, it would still work as long as it's plugged in,  bad battery or not. 

Is there a way around the stupid message or a way to kill it?

I will not be buying another Stream. We've loaded no programs on it. It was just for web browsing and watching Netflix. 

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Thank you for posting in the HP Support forum.

I'm sorry about the issues you experience.

Personally, I have no experience with battery issues on HP Stream 11 but I have experience with battery errors on another HP models and it should/can be skipped. HP has an official article about this matter >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01443470

Once the alert appears, just press ENTER and the message should fade away.

In order to trigger the recovery process for HP Stream 11, there might be some specific. I have noticed that users need to be very fast during start up to load the HP StartUp menu.

1. Please, shutdown the computer using the power button

2. Power it on.

2.1 Immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu which may look similar to this one

3. Press F11 for System Recovery

4. Follow the on-screen instructions.  Here is a video example:

>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC3sUc3lr3E

>> https://youtu.be/PC3sUc3lr3E?t=109

Another way to begin recovery is from inside Windows. Here is how:

OPTION TWO >> http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html

Once you boot to recovery, begin the full reset with erasing all or reset to factory default  (e.g. Recovery Manager or Reset).

Tips re. updates and free disk space:

- You can skip/stop all Windows updates after recovery to preserve space. I guess Win 10 might have been downloaded on your PC from Microsoft preparting it to be installed which is very huge download

Go to Control Panel > Windows Updates and configure the option to never check for updates

Go to Control Panel > Administrative tools > Services

Find Windows Update service (usually at the bottom), right click it, choose "Properties". From Automatic startup, choose it to "Disabled". Confirm with OK

It is also recommended that you stop Windows Defender and use 3rd party antivirus / browser to ensure higher security online. Fast, effective and lightweigth protection I recommend is from ESET - NOD32 AV.

You can use free disk space analyzer software such as the great TreeSize >> http://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/

It can tell you which stuff you have on your computer uses the most space.

You can run programs such as CCleaner (www.piriform.com)  or

the built-in Disk CleanUp  to delete unnecessary temporary files

>> http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3012-disk-cleanup-open-use-windows-10-a.html

You can move some personal files (e.g. documents, pictures, videos etc.) to external device (e.g USB pen drive  or  SD memory card). Please, do not directly move/cut program files or important Windows stuff unless you are 100% sure what you are doing.

Let me know if this helps you. Do not hesitate to post again if you face difficulties.

[FrugalGranny]

Thank you so much. I managed to get around the battery message and get to the proper screen. Your instructions were very good and easy to understand.  Thanks again. 

How much success I have now remains to be seen. We had no personal files on this thing. We keep those on the bigger laptop. This was just bloat from Windows updates on a hard drive that is much too small. It's sad because aside from that, we like our Stream.  I'm hoping this will be a temporary fix until we buy a new laptop. 

Note to anyone from HP: We don't dislike HP at all. I love my Pavilion. However, this Stream was a very bad idea. 

Edit: The reset was successful. I'm very happy. 

[IT_WinSec]

@FrugalGranny

You are most welcome! I'm glad the issue is solved. 🙂 Please, mark the initial reply as an accepted solution in order to help other users with similar issues when they search through the forum of via Google.

With regards to the Stream 11, a relative of mine has similar device and we have stopped Windows Updates completely, we keep personal files on USB thumbdrives and it runs fine now almost 2 years. Just follow the steps above to stop WU and you will enjoy it much longer.

[FrugalGranny]

Thank you for the reminder. I have now marked it as solved. 

[erinw30]

thank you! this was very helpful. i spent all day searching through answers and videos...this worked like a charm. great details!