recovery disk

[importjz]

My hard drive recently die and I installed a SSD. now i need a recovery disk. Where can i get one with out having to go through microsoft and having to pay them. 

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@importjz

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

The "Recovery Disk" you mentioned is actually a SET of disks, usually 3 DVDs and a driver CD, which are known as HP Recovery Media, and you have to pruchase them from HP, because apparently, you did not use the utility that came with your PC to create your own disks.

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 have to order these from HP; they can not be downloaded.

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". 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 Service:

If you live in the US or Canada, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/phone-assist.html#section1

If you live elsewhere, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-contact-us.html

NOTE: After you get through, stay on the line until you are finally able to talk to some one -- it can take a while!

If you have trouble finding a phone number, then try: 1 (800) 474-6836

If HP no longer provides Recovery Media for your model, another site you can check is: http://www.computersurgeons.com

When you get the media, if it is a USB stick, insert it into your PC, pressing F9 to get a Boot menu, then select the External USB Hard Drive to boot from it.

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @importjz

PLEASE, READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS - THERE ARE DETAILS

Your PC model originally comes with Windows 8/8.1

You have 2 options

-1- use HP original recovery media (official method, costs around 27-30$, slightly easier to perform/use). Restore your original OS Windows 8/8.1

or

-2- perform clean installation of Windows 10 (you wrote above you have Windows 10 ; this may be free of charge, slightly more difficult to perform for an end user)

Here are details below:

-OPTION 1-

You can purchase original HP recovery media from here

>> http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-24904-windows-8-64-bit-recovery-kit-740063-002-for-hp-pavilion-tou...

It's a kit of 4 DVDs

Once you receive it, insert the first DVD from the set and boot from it (F9). Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

If you use it, it will restore the PC to factory default condition - install Windows, drivers, certain preinstalled apps, etc...

If you decide to choose the official way, here are instructions how to use the recovery media

>> http://hp.dezide.com/ts/start.jsp?guide=HPSystemRecovery.net&section=ccweb&sfs=tdoc&lc=en&language=e...

[IT_WinSec]

- OPTION 2 -

Here are instructions how to clean install/reinstall Windows 10:

Video reference >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAvFm52IjI4

Windows reinstallation / clean installation :

- You can directly download Windows 10 ISO from MS site or download >> Media creation tool from Microsoft site, create installation DVD or installation USB  and  proceed with clean installation/reinstallation.

Download:

>> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Make sure you select the proper version (64 bit / Home or Pro) if asked.

Media Creation tool will always provide you with the latest Windows version/build - now 1803 Spring Creators Update.

- When download completes, you will need to write  the ISO image and boot from a bootable media. You will need a blank USB pendrive (min 4 GB capacity). Use the Media Creation tool.

When ready with the USB drive or with the DVD:

Please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

Insert the Windows USB thumdrive prepared previously

Power on the PC.

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

This should open a HP Startup Menu

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

- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10. Perform clean installation/custom installation (not repair).

Delete all existing partitions and install Windows on Disc 0 Unallocated space

- After successful Windows installation, install drivers taken from HP web site or via Windows Update/Device Manager >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03330139

- Make sure Windows is Activated by going to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Activation

- You might want to stop some of the Windows Telemetry by using free tools such as Spybot AntiBeacon or DWS Lite

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes

**** I would appreciate if you click the White Thumb-up+ for encouragement and kudos ****
**** Please mark this post as an accepted solution if it helps ****

[importjz]

Thank you guys for your advices. so I downloaded the Windows 10 from Microsoft website and did the clean install.  They didn't asked for a product key, all i needed was to log into Microsoft account and thats it.  Now the laptop is running much smoother with the SSD on Windows 10.