What version of Windows 10 on a laptop should I install after a wipe of the computer?

[mrje1]

Hello and good day to you all. 

I am going to wipe my whole laptop and I am making sure I install the correct Windows 10. In my settings on the laptop it says Windows 10 Home, but on my Microsoft Account page online in the devices section it says Windows 10 Core. 

So, my question is can I make my own Windows 10 home disc and use that or do I need to find this Core software and use that one? If so, where can I get this core software to install after my wipe?

Thank you very much for all your help.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You can use the media creation tool to make your W10 Home installation media.

That must be what Microsoft calls W10 Home.

You will not find any W10 core software to download.

Also, the product specs for your model indicate that it comes with !0 Home 64 bit.

https://support.hp.com/za-en/document/c05987731

[mrje1]

@Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

Hi:

You can use the media creation tool to make your W10 Home installation media.

That must be what Microsoft calls W10 Home.

You will not find any W10 core software to download.

Also, the product specs for your model indicate that it comes with !0 Home 64 bit.

https://support.hp.com/za-en/document/c05987731

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Thank you very much Paul for your help. I really appreciate it. Excellent!!! Will do. 

Also, will I be breaking any warranties etc. if I were to do a wipe of my computer and do my own clean install?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

You may void the software warranty if you have issues with Wndows.

HP will require that you install the original HP factory image to get software support.

Personally, I feel you will find that your notebook will run much better with a clean install of W10, and install the drivers and software yourself.  No bloatware, unwanted programs, problems with the HP image, etc.

The first thing I do after I make the HP recovery media is to delete all partitions, format the hard drive for one large C:\ partition and install Windows and the drivers and software I need.

Many folks that come to my house want to know how I am able to have such old PC's running so nice, and I tell them it is largely because I install my own operating system.

The only reason I make the set of HP recovery media is in the eventuality I donate or give away the PC.

I give it away with the original software it came with, and give them the HP recovery media too.

[mrje1]

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@Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

You're very welcome.

You may void the software warranty if you have issues with Wndows.

HP will require that you install the original HP factory image to get software support.

Personally, I feel you will find that your notebook will run much better with a clean install of W10, and install the drivers and software yourself.  No bloatware, unwanted programs, problems with the HP image, etc.

The first thing I do after I make the HP recovery media is to delete all partitions, format the hard drive for one large C:\ partition and install Windows and the drivers and software I need.

Many folks that come to my house want to know how I am able to have such old PC's running so nice, and I tell them it is largely because I install my own operating system.

The only reason I make the set of HP recovery media is in the eventuality I donate or give away the PC.

I give it away with the original software it came with, and give them the HP recovery media too.

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Thank you again for your response. Great info! Here is the thing, I think I should of first posted the question, but I already did a fresh start on the laptop via the recovery section of the PC Settings. With that said, am I still ok in terms of software warranty? How could I find and reinstall the HP factory iimage and any of the preinstalled software, if needed? Also, how to make that HP recovery media via what option?

What would be the best method of wiping an HP laptop for a secure erase?

Thank you for sharing your example. Thank you again!

[mrje1]

Also, I am having problems booting from my DVD Rom. I am seeing if my ISO DVD with the most updated Win 10 and it won't boot from there. Any ideas on that as well?

Thank you very much!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

There should be a recovery manager program. 

See if you can find it with Cortana, or it should be in a HP folder in the programs list.

That should allow you to make one set of recovery media.

You only get to make it once, so make sure you follow the instructions to the letter.

In order to boot from a DVD you need to go into the BIOS and change a setting.

See this link for what setting to change.

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

As far as you other question regarding a secure wipe.

I don't do that.  I just delete the partitions, format the partition and install Windows.

[mrje1]

Thank you! I found by typing in recovery in the search field and the Recovery drive dekstop app showed up, but the thing is I already refreshed my computer, and it removed the software that was installed by HP. With that said, do you still recommend making this HP recovery media backup or even deleting the partion and reinstalling windows or should I download the HP software reinstall it then make the Rocevery media?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Yes you should make the recovery media.

It does not matter what you removed from the current installation.

The recovery manager software somehow puts a copy of the recovery partition on the recovery media, and makes it bootable.

So, what you make will restore the PC's hard drive to its 'out of the box' condition they way you bought the notebook.

[mrje1]

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@Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

Anytime.

Yes you should make the recovery media.

It does not matter what you removed from the current installation.

The recovery manager software somehow puts a copy of the recovery partition on the recovery media, and makes it bootable.

So, what you make will restore the PC's hard drive to its 'out of the box' condition they way you bought the notebook.

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Awesome! Interesting to know that for the future. I have some good news though. I found some info about restarting the computer and press and holding  f11, which takes you to a option screen where I can select the recovery process and it set my laptop back to it's original factory settings with everything installed as it was when I bought it. So, at this point I am not sure if I am going to start from scratch or not. Please, let me know if you have any more thoughts on that or is it still worth doing so, but I will at least go ahead and make the disc you were talking about.

Otherwise, I really do appreciate you taking the time to help me. You have been great.