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- HP Community
- Notebooks
- Notebook Operating System and Recovery
- Re: Recovery download

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04-08-2020 11:25 AM
I am looking for a free recovery download sent to my email that I can load on a USB and restore my laptop
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04-08-2020 11:33 AM
Not going to happen., The recovery software is several GB -- far too large for any email system to allow as an attachment.
You can make a bootable USB recovery drive using the HP cloud recovery tool on a working PC.
The recovery drive can then be used to install Win10 and the HP drivers and utilities that originally came with your PC.
Here is the link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor represent, HP
04-08-2020 11:33 AM
Not going to happen., The recovery software is several GB -- far too large for any email system to allow as an attachment.
You can make a bootable USB recovery drive using the HP cloud recovery tool on a working PC.
The recovery drive can then be used to install Win10 and the HP drivers and utilities that originally came with your PC.
Here is the link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor represent, HP
04-08-2020 11:53 AM
Hi, @JOwen1
The cloud recovery tool isn't going to work on your notebook.
Your notebook is too old and doesn't have the right OS for the tool to work.
Here's how you can reinstall W8.1 for free by using the W8 product key in your notebook's BIOS...
Install W8.1 by creating the Microsoft installation media, using another Windows PC, if yours is not working...You want W8.1 64 bit.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO
Only if you are asked to enter a product key during the installation process, use this generic key.
This is the generic key for W8.1 'standard.'
334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
If you had to enter the generic key, manually change the generic product key to the W8 'standard' key in your PC's BIOS in the PC settings menu.
After you get W8.1 installed, and you had to manually enter the W8.1 generic product key, you will need to run the free utility I zipped up and attached below, that will show you show the W8 product key in your PC's BIOS.
I have also zipped up and attached below, the Microsoft tool which hopefully will transfer the ISO file to a DVD or usb flash drive so it is bootable.
Then you can install the available drivers and software from your PC's support page.
https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-Pavilion-14-Sleekbook/5355021/model/5438123