Restoring windows after installing ubuntu

[RyokSec]

Hello there i have installed  Ubuntu - linux os and i iave deleted the C drive which is where was my windows os Installed but after trying linux u found that it isn't the right os for me it lacks a lot of stuff so i want to go back to Windows  but how should i do that ?

When i open recovery then advanced settings i find this reset system button but when clicking it and choose keep my files the windows respond with an error occurred nothing have been done or smthg like that 

So can i use this feature to get my windows back although it has been deleted from the harddisk

And if there isn't a way then how can i get my windows product key ? Because when i bought my device it came with windows 10 installed 

Thanks in advance

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

If your notebook was built in 2016 or later, you should be able to use the cloud recovery tool to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook.

Here is an info link for how to use that utility.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

If your notebook is not supported by the cloud recovery tool, you can use the Microsoft media creation tool to create bootable installation media to reinstall W10.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Since the W10 product key is in the BIOS, you will not need it to reinstall W10.

[RyokSec]

Great but i have some questions

1 - i have two partitions c and d , all my files are in d and the system is in c i want just to format c drive but by doing this way the device is reset to factory so that all of my data will be lost am i right ?

If i i am wrong then great the second q is

2- Does it really have to be 32 giga flash is it ok if i but it to 16 giga ? 

If the first condition is true then please provide me with an alternative way if it is false then answer 2nd question please

Thanks for your time 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

You will need to use the second option (media creation tool), and install Windows on the C:\partition, when asked 'Where do you want to install windows,'

The cloud recovery tool will format the entire drive.  You have no options with that.

The cloud recovery tool requires a 32GB flash drive.

The media creation tool requires an 8 GB flash drive.

If you get your files off the drive once you reinstall W10 using the media creation tool, then you can use the cloud recovery tool to factory reset the notebook if you want.

[RyokSec]

great so i think the media creation tool is the best option for me i still have a tiny question *_^ 
what is the difference between the media creation tool and the cloud recovery i just want to install windows 10 and get back my product key without using the illegal methods such as installing windows from ISO then cracking it 

so if i will get my product key + windows 10 working perfectly by using the media creation tool then this is everything i want 

and also from what i see the media creation tool is windows 10 iso this isn't different from the old school way 

the most important question is 
if i installed windows using iso will i get my product key back or will it ask me for it ?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

If you use the media creation tool to reinstall W10 on your C:\ drive only, you will get a genuine activated version of W10 which automatically finds the product key in the BIOS.

Since your PC came with W10, you will not be asked to enter a product key.

Your PC will work fine after you install the drivers and available software from your notebook's support page.

After you get Windows installed, run the free utility that I zipped up and attached below, and it will show you the product key in the BIOS and the version of Windows the key is good for.

You will be able to print or save the report as a text file.

If you don't like the clean W10 installation, you will have the opportunity to get your files off the D:\ drive, and then you can use the HP cloud recovery tool to factory reset the notebook.

[RyokSec]

Thank you very much sir i really appreciate it and i will use the media creation tool for that 
thanks again good luck.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.