-
×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
-
×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
- HP Community
- Notebooks
- Notebook Operating System and Recovery
- i have tried to do a system restore that will erase everythi...

Create an account on the HP Community to personalize your profile and ask a question
01-03-2021 09:55 AM
The term "system restore" most accurately applies to the Windows function that resets the Windows Operating System, NOT the entire computer system, to a previous date by overwriting the current system files with older files previously saved. This does NOT restore your PC to a former date and does not erase anything other than recent system files.
I think more accurately, what you are trying to do is a factory reset -- and that does erase everything on your PC -- but in its current state, you would probably have to use external media to do this.
The two ways to accomplish this are the following:
- Factory reset using external HP image you make
- Factory reset using external HP image you buy
Each of these is discussed in some detail below ...
---------- Factory reset using external HP image you make ----------
HP provides a Cloud Recovery tool that you can use, together with a 32GB USB stick, to create your on HP reset media.
Here is the link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205
This works the same as the factory reset described above.
---------- Factory reset using external HP image you buy ----------
For those PCs not supported by the Cloud Recovery, in some cases, HP offers Recover Media for sale. This can not be downloaded; instead, it must be ordered from HP.
HP Recovery Media is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities.
In some cases, you may be able to order a USB stick instead of disks.
You can look online for Recovery Media starting with the linked paged: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers
Once there, input your Product name or number. On your Software and Drivers Download page, select your Operating System and and Version. Click "Update".<br><br>If HP Recovery Media is available for your machine, down near the bottom of the page, you will see an entry for Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB. Click the "+" symbol to expand that entry and click on Order Media for details.
Or, if you prefer, you can do the same by contacting HP Customer Support.
HP contact info: https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true
If HP no longer carries the media you need, another site you should check for HP Recovery Media is: http://www.computersurgeons.com/
These work the same as the factory reset described above.
I am a volunteer and I do not work for, nor represent, HP