im having trouble factory resetting my device. it keeps saying i need to free up space to do so

[staciee]

im having trouble factory resetting my device. it keeps saying i need to free up space to do so. 

[Raj_05]

Hi @staciee,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

This issue is common on devices with limited storage, such as the HP Stream 14, especially when trying to factory reset or reinstall the OS. The system requires a certain amount of free space to reset properly. Here are steps to help resolve the issue.

Free Up Space

Delete Unnecessary Files:

• Open File Explorer and remove unnecessary files from Downloads, Documents, and Desktop.
• Empty the Recycle Bin.

Uninstall Unused Applications:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps (or Programs and Features on older systems).
• Uninstall applications you no longer need.

Use Storage Sense:

• Open Settings > System > Storage.
• Enable Storage Sense to automatically free up space.
• Click Free up space now and follow the instructions.

Transfer Files to External Storage:

• Connect an external drive or USB stick.
• Move personal files to the external storage temporarily.

Reset with External Media

If freeing space isn’t enough, use a USB drive to perform the reset:

Create Windows Installation Media:

• Use another computer to download the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website.
• Insert a USB drive (minimum 8GB) and create bootable installation media.

Boot from USB:

• Plug the USB drive into your HP Stream 14.
• Restart the laptop and press the ESC or F9 key during boot to access the boot menu.
• Select the USB drive to boot from.

Reinstall Windows:

• Follow the on-screen instructions to reset or reinstall Windows.
• During setup, choose Delete partitions (if necessary) to free up space and reinstall.

[Raj_05]

Advanced Troubleshooting

If the above options don’t work:

Perform a Cloud Reset:

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
• Select Reset this PC > Cloud Download (this requires an internet connection).

Use Command Prompt:

• Boot into recovery mode by holding Shift while selecting Restart.
• Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
• Use commands like diskpart to clean up space manually (let me know if you need details).

HP Recovery Manager:

• If available, access HP Recovery Manager from the boot menu (press F11 at startup).

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support