i cant completely reset my laptop

[IT_WinSec]

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@JOEZM wrote:

Hi mate, yeah ive just done the hardware test, and it passed.  Im fairly sure i can boot to desktop. By that do you mean simply be able to turn off and on my laptop, and logging in as normal? Could you guide me on the unoiffical procedure? Thanks again

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Thank you for the update. It's good the tests passed.

Here is the unofficial procedure:

You can use this free utility from Heidoc

>> https://www.heidoc.net/php/Windows%20ISO%20Downloader.exe

>> https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-downl...

Download and run the tool. It can download ISO images from Microsoft and has lots of options for many Windows versions including OEM. If you use it, be careful to select the correct Windows ISO for the OEM, x86 or x64 edition, Home or Pro, etc... Downloads are big, ensure stable Internet connection.

When download completes, you will need to write or "burn" the ISO image and boot from a bootable media.

** How to create bootable ISO on USB device >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

or

** How to write ISO to DVD >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/burn-a-dvd-on-windows

 instructions are for Ubuntu, but you need to use the ISO image of Windows. Use the Windows ISO and Rufus (3rd tool you will need)

 Write FAT32 file system, MBR for BIOS/UEFI

When ready with the USB drive or with the DVD:

Please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

Insert the Windows USB thumdrive or the DVD prepared previously

Power on the PC.

As soon as you press the power-on button, start hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu

Choose F9 to open Boot options. Select the thumb drive or the DVD as a boot option.

Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows.

During the installation you might be asked to enter a product key - skip it.

Post installation : Install drivers taken from HP web site when Win installation completes

It is 100% sure you will have to activate Windows (10). During the installation of Windows (method above), you may be asked for a product key but this can be skipped.

There are several ways to activate Windows 10 - in your case specifically - and it depends on the way it was activated initially. Here they are:

1) No code - no key - just Digital entitlement  - if you previously performed upgrade from Win 8 to Win 10 on this very same computer, if Windows 8 was activated fine and if you used Win 10 for a while, and if Windows 10 was activated eventually (it's licence was activated), then your computer has a Digital entitlement option stored on Microsoft servers. Because of this, you will no longer need a code/lic key to activate Windows if you need to reinstall it.  It will activate itself without you entering any key - it will connect online and detect your PC hardware.  More info:

>> https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation

>> http://www.winbeta.org/news/digital-entitlement-a-new-method-of-activation-in-windows-10

2)  Use of key - if Windows 10 was activated initially with a Microsoft licensing key, you will need to enter this key again and re-activate this Windows using the key again. Only retail type of keys are accepted, aka retail licenses - not OEM/DSP types.

3) Activation using Microsoft account - Digital license - starting with Anniversary update built from last year, if you used MS account to login to the PC and if you enabled a special option, you no longer need a license key to activate your Windows - just login and use your Microsoft account - here is more info >> http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

Based on your specific case scenario, you need to active Windows your method.

In case method (2) is used and the BIOS key is not detected, you can try to download ProduKey from Nirsoft >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

x86 Windows >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey.zip

x64 Windows >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey-x64.zip

Extract the archive and run the program.

It will open and show you the available keys it detects. Does it detect your BIOS and Windows key(s) ? Does it says Windows version ?  Take a picture of the codes and write them down. Do not post them here, just keep them for yourself. Use this BIOS key to activate Windows

Hope this helps 🙂

[JOEZM]

Cheers for that! But before i do this id just like to know the risks obviously. At the moment my laptop is still functioning, and i can still use it fine, but i feel it needs a reset. 

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @JOEZM

You are welcome !

Well, I don't think there are big risks. You definitely need to reimage it if you would like to fix this.

Risks are some situation might occur which you won't know how to fix yourself.

Windows reinstallation (standard way posted above) involves erasing/deleting all of the existing info and partitions, therefore you need to backup your info prior to the procedure

You will need to manually install the OS drivers after Windows is reinstalled

If you face some difficulty you cannot fix, I guess you will end up using the official HP Recovery disc (this is rarely needed) because it install Windows automatically, installs drivers automatically and installs some preinstalled apps automatically.

Hope this helps.

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@JOEZM wrote:

Cheers for that! But before i do this id just like to know the risks obviously. At the moment my laptop is still functioning, and i can still use it fine, but i feel it needs a reset. 

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[JOEZM]

Hi again. Ive decided im going to purchase a repair disk, because it is a lot simpler. Would this product work for me, and is it suitable for my model of laptop?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/INSTALL-Repair-Restore-WINDOWS-Computer/dp/B0182CSQ62/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qi...

Also, what information will i need to have when i go about doing this (eg product key)? Where can i find this before i do it?

Thanks again

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @JOEZM

If I were you I wouldn't buy this recovery from Amazon because who knows what is has. Based on its description this is just some sort of generic Windows installation media but nobody can guarantee you this is legitimate,  It may also be very old one. If you want to go cheap, follow the unofficial procedure above where you create your own installation media with files directly from Microsoft.

However, if you want to go slightly more easy, the only disc you need is the original one I referred to - from Best2Serve - this is the official HP partner for Europe which provides recovery media (and other) >> http://www.best2serve.com/page/rcd_hardware_related_products/?product_type_id=4&hardware_product_id=...

Recovery media are model specific - they include information for your PC model, designed drivers, etc - they are not generic.

Your product key is built-into BIOS (as per Microsoft decision > info < since Win 8 ). It can be extracted with a tool I posted above but if you will use original recovery media, this will not be necessary.

Hope this helps