Restore Probook 440 G8 to factory default SW without USB Stick

[ceb004]

This device was delivered to me on Saturday, I naively followed the setup screens, put in my Microsoft Account when required.

I want to copy settings from an older HP laptop that was initially setup without Microsoft account, so the directory structure is different.  When I look in HP support forums, it tells me the easiest way to fix this is to restore default software, then rerun initial setup with a local account, and add my Microsoft account later.   I see there is in fact a recovery partition on the disk, even though the new manual doesn't mention this.  Would there be an easier way of restoring original software than using the USB stick generated by the Cloud Recovery Download Tool?  If I could fix this problem without reinstalling Windows, that would be preferable.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If there is a recovery partition, you can usually factory reset the PC by restarting it, Press the ESC key to get the menu of options, and then select the F11 Recovery option.

There is a trick you can use to bypass setting up a Microsoft account when you first get the PC. 

Don't connect to the internet. Skip that part of the setup.

Then an option will appear to set up the PC using a local account.

Once you have created a local account and step through the rest of the process, then you can connect to the internet.

[ceb004]

Thanks Paul.   I wasn't sure how to get the local account option to appear.  I'm having trouble getting the ESC key to work in conjunction with the power-on button. 

The manual says push F10 to get into the BIOS, and Esc+F9 to change the boot order. 

In point of fact, I can *sometimes* get F10 alone to get me into the BIOS, and *sometimes* get F9 alone to show me the boot order, but I have to hit the Fxx keys repeatedly and fast *right* after pushing the power button.  But the same approach doesn't seem to work with the Esc button.   However, I did notice that on the F9 menu, there is an 'Esc' button off to the left, which seems to lead to the same menu you implied would be available with Esc alone, and was able to proceed with F9 as you suggested.   Your suggestion was much shorter and had far fewer failure points than the one I got from HP Swiss Customer Service this morning.

Things do not work as documented in the manual, and the manual is a bit sparse compared to my old HP, I must say.  I do wish there was articulate and competent documentation on how to get the computer into the system menus.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

If you are having intermittent success going straight to the applicable Fn keys, then I guess you can try the F11 key that way too.

[ceb004]

Hello Paul,

I meant to write F11 in the latter part of my answer, but somehow edited it to mean F9.   I apologize.

I restored the laptop to something like original condition the same day as your answer.  I didn't get the choice of which language to use, but all the other choices were presented to me.

I may have to do this again -- it would see that Laplink PcMover Pro doesn't work, and failed 1/10th of the way through.   The Laplink people can't even undo the partial transfer.   It has been days, and they're so far a no-note response.   Rather than having to hunt and find all the little incomplete droppings they've left here and there, it may be safer just to start over.  

It's starting to look as if marketing has become everything, while value add no longer has importance. 

Ch.