Replacing failed hard drive, how to get OS up and running

[RickyRockstar]

Hey there, was hoping maybe someone could help me out

my hard drive failed last week, I am unable to boot up on that laptop, I was able to clone the bad hard drive to an external hard drive and recover my data

i have ordered a SSD to replace my failed hard drive, but I’m not sure what to do next 

as far as I know you need a windows cd and a key code to be able to reinstall windows?

my laptop was built on the HP site, so does that mean it’s a OEM (not really sure what this term means) and doesn’t have a regular key code? And I don’t think a cd was provided to me, as I think Windows was preinstalled 

im pretty sure I was running Windows 8, that’s what the sticker on the back of  it says, and I know it was 64 bit 

So what, if anything, can I do to get my computer up and running again? 

Any help would be really appreciated 

[visruth · Accepted solution]

Hi,


What I could suggest is to do a clean install of Windows 8.1 Single Language 64 bit, by creating UEFI bootable Windows 8.1 installation USB using Microsoft windows media creation tool

Windows will be automatically activated upon installation while connected to internet, provided your laptop came with Windows 8/8.1 from factory.

P.S.: Windows activation key is embedded in the BIOS chip on the motherboard in all consumer laptops released with Windows 8 onwards. So there is no stickers. It'll automatically activate Windows 8.1 upon installation fetching the key from BIOS chip.

Tutorial: Create bootable USB
https://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

Disable secure boot:
https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c03653226

Change boot order to USB:
https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c01443326

Plug in USB, not from it.

Clean install: https://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

Additional drivers you can download from your HP support page later on.


Regards

Visruth

[RickyRockstar]

Thank you for the fast reply, and everything looks very helpful and easy enough to follow 

[visruth]

You're welcome.

[RickyRockstar]

I actually have a quick question, for the step of disabling secure boot the example on the page you linked, (my computer has the legacy and secure boot like in the pictures on the page under the “Using Secure Boot on newer notebook computers with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1” title) the walkthrough says to disable legacy and enable secure, is that correct? Or should I do it the other way around with disabling secure boot like you wrote?

i just wanna make sure I have it right 

my legacy is currently disabled as it was the only way to get the USB to load (which had the ddrescue that I used to clone my hard drive)

[visruth]

Disabling secure boot would be enough.

[RickyRockstar]

Hey, I ran into an issue,

i got my new hard drive and put it in, I have the usb and it’s running currently with the windows setup,

but it’s asking me for a product key, should it have automatically have found it now? Or do I enter one of those generic codes like on the page you linked me to and then it finds my real product code later on?

i know I had my computer built on the hp website, so shouldn’t my code be found automatically?

[RickyRockstar]

I don’t see my last message posted, so I’m going to add it again:

i got my new hard drive, installed it and am running the USB with the window iso on it, I am currently doing the set up, but I am stuck on the product key screen, it’s telling me to enter a product key

if my computer was built online on the HP site, shouldn’t the code be automatically inserted or something?

or do I enter one of those generic keys that are listed on the one page you linked me to? And then later windows will find my real key?

I appreciate any help you can give me 

I also found my email with my order confirmation, and my version of Windows was 8.1 (I dunno if having this email would help me in any way of receiving my product code from HP?)

[visruth]

If this notebook came with Windows 8.1 from factory, no need to enter any product key in the column. Just skip that step. Lapto Windows would be automatically activated by fetching the key from BIOS chip on the motherboard.

Hope you've made Windows 8.1 Single Language edition ISO file in USB for installation.

[RickyRockstar]

Thanks for replaying so quickly 

I did make a iso of 8.1 single Language (64 bit)  like you instructed 

I’m just stuck on the activation key screen, it won’t like me press next without entering a key, and if I press the red X, it just brings me back to the start of the installation