Win10 reset asks for password. Doesn't go into recovery or safe mode on bootup,

[findingzzero]

My i3 win 10 notebook was slow so I did a reset. I left and came back later.  Instead of my usual pin it asked for a password. Don't know it and if i saved it can't find it. Can't get into safe mode with any F key. Once got into recovery mode by booting up while holding shift key.  Played there with recovery but ran into the password issue. Wanted to try a reset from that screen, but  bootup holding the shift key now does nothing but get me to the password sign in screen, I have access to another newer notebook and have been trying to use it to recover password. I believe I synced it to the i3 when I first fired it up. I can change the password on the newer rig, but not sure if i should do that. The i3 is on my network, but location unknown,

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I recommend that you use the HP cloud recovery tool and a 32 GB USB flash drive to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall Windows, the drivers and the software that originally came with your PC.

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

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

Since you will have to use the utility on another PC, you will need to enter your notebook's product number in the tool's search window in order to proceed to make the recovery media.

Your PC's product number is: 5JV97UA#ABA

[findingzzero]

I will keep that in mind as plan B. In the interim I've found I CAN get into recovery mode again holding 'shift' and restarting, but can't get past Admin password. The reset lost my 'pin' option. Found an old 500G hard drive which I can use as a bootup option if I have to reinstall Windows, What's weird is I can't find the box the rig came in. If I had an admin pass it might be there. I have content I don't want to lose.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Your notebook comes with a M.2 2280 'gumstick' SSD.

You won't be able to use a 2.5" hard drive in there.

If you need to recover files clean install W10 by making a bootable USB installation flash drive with the media creation tool from the link below.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

Boot from the USB installer and when you get to the section 'Where do you want to install Windows,' install it over the existing Windows partition and it will create a Windows.old folder.

After W10 has installed, you can explore the Windows.old folder, find your old user profile and copy and paste the folders from your old user profile to the new one or onto a portable hard drive.

Then you can either use the notebook as is or go back and use the cloud recovery tool to factory reset the notebook.

If you keep the clean install, you can install the drivers and available software from your notebook's support page.

HP Notebook - 14-df0023cl Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Customer Support

[findingzzero]

Thanks Paul. So an old hard drive (simple drive) can't talk to an SSD? Or a 'gumstick' SSD?
 I will work on your solution if I can find an MT flash drive lying around. There may be one sticking out of my old PC. Can I use the cloud instead to do all this? One drive or somesuch? Thanks for the extensive info!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I don't understand what you want to do with the 500 GB hard drive.

How do you install Windows on it if it isn't installed inside the notebook?

How do you boot into Windows from an external hard drive?

If you know how to do that (I sure don't), then by all means that should work if you can explore the 128 GB SSD.

You can also remove the 128 GB M.2 SSD and plug it into a USB to M.2 adapter and see if you can read/copy the files from the SSD to the PC you plug the drive into.

Amazon.com: SSK Aluminum M.2 to USB NVMe SATA SSD Enclosure Reader, Tool-Free USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps N...

[findingzzero]

This ?
If you need to recover files clean install W10 by making a bootable USB installation flash drive with the media creation tool from the link below.
The Big old external HD was the only place I had at least 32 GB's to do this. This won't work you said.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You can try it but I don't think it will work.

You can't have any files on the external drive because the media creation tool will format the entire drive.

The Microsoft tool only needs an 8 GB USB flash drive.

It's the HP cloud recovery tool that needs a 32 GB USB flash drive.

[findingzzero]

I found your HP recovery zip file and extracted it to a flash drive on my working rig. Didn't have much luck getting it from the MS store as it told me it was installed, but I could not find it anywhere.  I then went to that drive and right clicked on the tool that said HP recovery file to run as admin hoping it would tell me what to do next. It said 'Allow this to make changes to this computer.' Wait..What? No not this computer!

  I hesitated, but said yes. I heard some spinning but nothing much happened. I then inserted that drive into my ailing rig and tried booting up normally. I get the same screen asking for admin pass. I then booted up my ailing one into recovery mode (by holding down the shift key) where one option is to boot from a

UEFI? flash drive. I just get a black screen and after some time a fail and restart message.  I kept waiting and  suddenly I'm in Boot Manager with 2 choices. The one that failed, and the one that says boot from EFI file. I tried that and no joy. I changed my admin pass and that didn't work eithe. Back to square 1. I know just enough 2B dangerous. Thanks so far for your help. Cheers, julian

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If you used this cloud recovery tool on another PC that I attached below...

As you indicated, you have to run it as administrator by right clicking on it, and it is normal you get that warning.

But then the tool should launch and bring you to a screen where you input your PC's product number...5JV97UA#ABA

Follow the on-screen instructions and it should take at least 15 minutes or more to create the recovery media.

If the tool reports success, then you plug it into your ailing PC.

Turn it on or restart it.

Immediately press/tap the ESC key to get the menu of options.

Select the F9 boot options menu and from that, select the EFI USB flash drive from the list.

If you do not see a EFI flash drive, go into the BIOS (ESC, F10) and disable the secure boot setting and enable the legacy mode setting--if your notebook has a legacy mode setting.

This link has pictures of the BIOS settings to change.

HP Notebook PCs - Cannot Start Notebook Computer From a Bootable CD or DVD | HP® Customer Support

Save the settings and repeat the steps to boot from the flash drive (ESC, F9).

Now it should be listed in the EFI boot options menu.