Unable to install Windows 8.1

[Lexlie]

Hello, 

I lost my notebook's password so I reset it using recovery mode(Restart→F11 →Troubleshoot → Reset your PC). Before,  the laptop was running Windows 8.

Microsoft website only provides Windows 8.1 ISO files and the laptop refuses to reset with a Windows 8.1 flash drive ("The media inserted is not valid. Try again."). So i reset it with a Windows 8 usb flash drive installer i found online. However, this version is the Enterprise version and it does not support WiFi, touch screen and my built-in keyboard does not work anymore.

Can someone help me to install Windows 8 or 8.1 please ? I still have my Windows 8 activation key.

It is a 32bit laptop.

Thank you.

Leslie

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Leslie:

There is a couple of things you need to do to install W8.1 on a notebook that came with W8.

Download the plain W8 32 bit ISO file from the link below.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

You must use a utility to transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so that it is bootable.  You can use the Microsoft tool that I zipped up and attached below to do that, or you can use a free utility such as Rufus.

If you can boot from the 8.1 installer, you will need to enter this generic W8.1 'Standard' product key in order to proceed with the installation.

334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

When you get to the screen that asks 'Where do you want to install Windows,' delete every partition on the hard drive, leaving just one partition of unallocated space. Click Next, and W8.1 should begin to install.

If you had to enter the generic key, manually change the generic product key to the W8 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 the W8 product key in your PC's BIOS.

Then you can install the available drivers and software from your PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-ENVY-x2-11-g000/5296226

[Lexlie]

Hello Paul,

First of all, thank you for your answer. How can I boot from the 8.1 installer?

I tried to, but I don't manage to do it. I tried to set the USB key in "Boot order priority" as the option 1, but I don't find the USB key. So, I don't manage booting on Windows 8.1 installer.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

See if this works...

Go into the BIOS enable legacy mode and disable secure boot.  See this link for the settings to change.

https://www.support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03736054/

After you make those changes, plug the USB flash drive into the USB port.

Turn on, or restart the PC.

Immediately start tapping the ESC key to get the menu of options.

Select the F9 boot options menu, and from that select the USB flash drive and press the Enter key.

The PC should then boot from the USB flash drive.

[Lexlie]

Hello back Paul, thank you very much.

I succeeded installing Windows 8.1 with cmd in recovery mode.

But I am still unable to use the built-in keyboard and touchscreen.

I need to find a USB keyboard. How can I unable touchscreen? With pilots? 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Glad that you got W8.1 reinstalled.

I suppose that you have to install the driver pack from your notebook's support page to enable those features.

First this package, and restart the PC.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp63501-64000/sp63677.exe

Then this one, and restart the PC.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp63501-64000/sp63665.exe

[Lexlie]

Hello back Paul, 

I installed the softwares you sent me to but it is still not working. I don't understand why. It is the right version (for windows 8.1 32bits) but doesn't work. Do you have another solution? 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Unfortunately, I don't have any other suggestions for you to try.