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- HP Community
- Notebooks
- Notebook Operating System and Recovery
- Windows can not be reset because there are 0 bytes free

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06-23-2024 08:41 PM
I have tried to reset my HP Stream but I can not because there are 0 bytes free. How can I start fresh using a USB drive? I dont' have a backup of the Windows activation key?
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Accepted Solutions
06-24-2024 06:38 PM
Stream laptop can not perform an internal reset because the internal "drive" is WAY too small to hold the working files needed plus have room to reinstall the OS.
The Windows key is embedded into the BIOS firmware, so if you reinstall the OS using an HP OEM version of Windows, it should reactivate automatically.
If your PC is a 2016 model or newer, you should see if you can make a bootable USB recovery drive using the HP cloud recovery tool on a working PC.
The recovery drive can then be used to install Windows and the HP drivers and utilities that originally came with your PC.
You will need a working PC and a 32GB USB stick to hold the recovery files. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtXOU40vxk
You use the Microsoft Store to download the actual tool:
https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9mtks9pr7r3n?rtc=1&hl=en-us&gl=us
If you use a different PC to run the tool, you will have to provide your PC's product number. Here is an HP link for finding that information:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_2039298-1862169-16
Here's a video from HP Support about using the Cloud Recovery Tool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7AwuKNJKS4
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor represent, HP
06-24-2024 06:38 PM
Stream laptop can not perform an internal reset because the internal "drive" is WAY too small to hold the working files needed plus have room to reinstall the OS.
The Windows key is embedded into the BIOS firmware, so if you reinstall the OS using an HP OEM version of Windows, it should reactivate automatically.
If your PC is a 2016 model or newer, you should see if you can make a bootable USB recovery drive using the HP cloud recovery tool on a working PC.
The recovery drive can then be used to install Windows and the HP drivers and utilities that originally came with your PC.
You will need a working PC and a 32GB USB stick to hold the recovery files. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtXOU40vxk
You use the Microsoft Store to download the actual tool:
https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9mtks9pr7r3n?rtc=1&hl=en-us&gl=us
If you use a different PC to run the tool, you will have to provide your PC's product number. Here is an HP link for finding that information:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_2039298-1862169-16
Here's a video from HP Support about using the Cloud Recovery Tool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7AwuKNJKS4
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor represent, HP