Restore Compaq Presario CQ61-440SA

[Jaseace]

I would like to restore my laptop, is there any instructions to follow?

I have the Recovery Partition but the Windows Product Key (on base of laptop) is worn.  Will I need to enter a product key or will it automatically install?

Thank you for your help.

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Hello @Jaseace

Welcome to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.

If you can boot to Windows now, you can run a software app which can obtain your Windows product key. It's small and free, and is called ProduKey

Download ProduKey from Nirsoft >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

x86 Windows >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey.zip

x64 Windows >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey-x64.zip

Extract the archive and run the program.

It will open and show you the available keys it detects. Does it detect your BIOS and Windows key(s) ? Does it says Windows version ?  Take a picture of the codes and write them down. Do not post them here, just keep them for yourself in case it is needed in future.

No, you don't need to enter Windows key if you restore your Windows for the built-in HP solution (recovery partition). If they are present and intact, start the recovery using F11 option.

- Please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

- Power the computer back on.

As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap) before any logo appears. This should open a HP Startup Menu

- Choose/press F11 for System Recovery options.

Details >> http://hp.dezide.com/ts/start.jsp?guide=HPSystemRecovery.net&section=ccweb&sfs=tdoc&lc=en

Hope this works for you. Let me know how it goes

[Jaseace]

Thank you. F11 worked. It was preinstalled, so had no worries about the product key code.
Cheers

[IT_WinSec]

You are welcome, @Jaseace

Feel free to post again if you come across an issue.