Re-install Windows on New Hard Drive

[PGen]

Hi, 

My dad's HP Envy 15 x360 has had a catastrophic hard drive failure, so I have had to replace the hard drive completely.  I tried to find the recovery disks in the box his laptop came in, but this laptop does not have an optical drive, and apparently that is no longer how recovery is done, and the Windows Key is now stored in the BIOS.  Is there a way to get Windows back on this laptop, with the key that came with the product already?

I have flash drives, but no Windows and no way to get to the Key.  I tried the contact support option, but because the warranty is apparently expired there's no help available there, or that's the impression I got from the automated screen I went through.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[visruth · Accepted solution]

Hi,


Can you connect an external DVD reader, insert the recovery discs and boot from it to do the factory reset.

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Portable-External-SE-218CB-RSBS/dp/B00DBV28TG/ref=zg_bs_1292113011_17...

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01443326


Else,
I assume your notebook came with Windows 10 Home 64 bit? Or you've successfully did upgrade installation and activation of Windows 10 previously?

What you can do is clean install of Windows 10 by creating UEFI bootable USB of installation media using windows media creation tool. Get the exact version of Windows 10 as already installed in your system. After OS finishes installation, it'll get automatically activated while connected to internet.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-windows-10-clean-install.html

There is no need to retrieve activation key. It is embedded in the BIOS chip on the motherboard. Windows installation automatically get activated using this and connecting to Microsoft servers through internet.


Regards

Visruth

[PGen]

Hi visruth,

Thanks for the quick response!  I do have an external optical drive, but do not have any recovery disks. 

The laptop initially came with Windows 8.1 and was upgraded to Windows 10.  When you say get the exact version of Windows 10, are you referring simply to Windows 10 64 versus 32 bit, or do you mean with the exact patches and updates applied?  I don't know the specific patches and udpates that were installed (as I said, it was my dad's laptop, so he was in charge of that side of things), so will just installing Win10 64 bit be sufficient?

Thanks for your help!

[visruth]

Hi,


OK I got it.

Just follow the instructions given in that tutorial. By using Microsoft windows media creation tool you can make UEFI bootable USB installation media. Then boot from it by changing boot order from BIOS by tapping f9 as soon as you power on machine. Then follow instructions on screen (refer tutorial) to finish installation.

By version I meant, Make sure you get 64 bit Windows 10 Home (Single Language) from the drop down menu on running media creation tool. It's not about patches.


You're welcome.


Regards

Visruth

[PGen]

Hi Visruth,

Thank you so much for your help, it's greatly appreciated.  I have the installation media and have Windows 10 installing as we speak.  Your help was invaluable!

[visruth]

You're very welcome 🙂

Good luck!

Do chip in here if you've any issue with you HP machine, we're all here to help.