Wiped Hard Drive

[Spaz009]

OS Info:

The lastest OS system installed was Windows 10.  I believe the original OS was Windows 7 Home Premium

I had my laptop stolen a few months ago, well the good news is that it's been recovered.  When I got it home I did a factory reset to remove anything this person may have used it for or done to.  Once the reset was completed I started configuring it to how I like things set up, down loaded things that I used, etc.  One of the software items that I use is Bitdefender, great antivirus program (in my opinion).  So the download was proceeding as it should, then I looked at the screen again and the message read, hard drive is being wiped.  BAM I just remembered that when my laptop was originally stolen, I had sent a wipe command to have it wiped but the little theif was just one step ahead and had removed Bitdefender before I could wipe the laptop.

Now nothing will work.  I was in the process of making back up discs, etc but the thief beat me to the punch.  So I don't have anything except for a Windows 10 and the Windows 7 Home Premium which was the original windows that came with the laptop.

So far I've run the memory test from the bios and everything appears to be okay.

Can someone please let me know what the next steps will be?  I've attached two  pictures - these come up soon after you push the power button on.  And if you have any questions plwasw ask and I'll try my best to answer them.

Thanks

[Huffer]

If Windows 10 was ever installed and activated on the laptop you can restore it to Windows 10 and it will just activate the first time it is connected to the internet. All you need to do is go to the Windows Media Creation Tool site:

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

You want to select the option to make a disk either DVD or thumb drive and reinstall Windows 10. Then we can get whatever drivers are needed and some HP apps from this site. 

You are correct in your diagnosis that the software on that laptop is now competely useless and it needs to be wiped clean and given a new lease on life. 

Post back with any more questions. 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[Spaz009]

Hi, so the download is in progress.  What will be my next step?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Make the media...boot from it. Tap F9 as you power up or esc and f9. Follow the prompts. Choose to wipe the hard drive and install on a "new" unallocated space.