old HP Laptop fix help

[Paolo_Villacena]

Hello again, Paul!

Was able to burn W8.1 (basic) and run on the old laptop but it asked for a key, so, no dice. Burning W8.1 SL today and crossing fingers it does not ask for a key. 

Good news is I was able to update the driver for the wireless connection and am now able to use the web on the old laptop but sometimes still getting error messages of some sort.

Bad news is I am still not able to make the USB ports work. I have updated all the drivers on the link you sent (i'm pretty sure) but I don't know which one specifically is for the USB port. Having this would make it so much easier compared to using DVDRs which are very scarce now in my area. Lol. 

To confirm this with you, I need to upgrade to W8.1 because that's the OS that this old laptop came with, correct? But how do I get the key in case W8.1 SL still asks for it?

You've been a lot of help thus far, really really appreciate it. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

With the product key in the BIOS, W8.1 does not need a key as long as you install the right version (Standard, Standard Single language).

Since there is no information on exactly which version of W8.1 your notebook came with you have a 50-50 chance of getting it right on the first try.

So if the plain W8.1 asked for a key, then the SL version should not.

There are two W7 drivers you may need for the USB ports...the chipset driver and the USB 3 driver, both links I have posted below...

Chipset:  Install and restart the PC.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp87001-87500/sp87257.exe

USB3:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp78501-79000/sp78834.exe

[Paolo_Villacena · Accepted solution]

Great news, Paul! 

I was finally able to install windows 10! I actually stumbled upon this vid: https://youtu.be/8Da75csc9bM (ctto) which showed him upgrading to win10 on an unlicensed w7. I figured I don't have much to lose so I decided to try. And voila! 

It's now a working windows 10 laptop albeit an unlicensed one. I think you are still correct that if I had installed win8.1 first, it would not be asking for activation anymore, but since this is just going to be for very light work (online classes for elementary level) I think this might be enough already. We can live with the "activate now" watermark. LOL.

Anyway, I wouldn't have been able to get to this point without all your suggestions/feedbacks/responses and overall assistance, so thank you very very much. 

After everything , the laptop can now connect wirelessly and all 3 USB ports have been tested and found working! Haven't tried ethernet connection yet though but I think everything was put in place once the windows 10 installation pushed thru.

SO AGAIN, WE REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP, PAUL. Stay safe out there and keep up the good work!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

That is only going to work for 30 days and then Windows will lock up and not allow you to do anything.

So what you have done is only a short term solution.  You will have to reinstall W10 every 30 days, or you can do this...

Install this free utility from the Windows Store.

If the unactivated copy of W10 won't let you download and install it, I have also zipped up the program and attached it below.

Get ShowKeyPlus - Microsoft Store

It will show you the Windows product key in the BIOS and the version of Windows the key is good for.

Then you can download the correct version of W8.1 the product key is good for, and have a legal, activated copy of W8.1 that will not expire.

Then you can take the free upgrade by clicking on the blue Update Now button at the link below and get a legal activated copy of W10.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

Here is how/why you can still get the free upgrade to W10...

Here's how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade | ZDNet