recovery issue

[Hubnotch]

Out of ignorance (I never created a recovery media CD/USB), A friend formatted my laptop with a windows 8.1 iso image i downloaded from microsoft. The laptop (The laptop is an OEM pc, hp notebook-15-r106nia)had a window 8.1 preinstalled in it when i bought it (He formatted because it freezes all the time he run heavy softwares like solid works, Auto cad, photoshop etc).

After the clean installation, many things went wrong,

1. It could not be automatically activated

2. It can't run windows recovery.

3. If i try to run recovery to erase the whole file in the hard drive, it reports an error, "your pc needs of be repaired. A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed. Error code: 0xc000000f. You'll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media...". I contacted hp, they said the recovery partition is not recoverable since i did a clean install of the OS (I searched for the recovery media online, it was abortive. It seems like my laptop was the only unit that was manufactured in its series)

I've been searching online to see if there is a line of command i can run on command prompt to get things the way it was or almost was when i bought the laptop without downloading much of the unnecessary software's everywhere online. I ran some codes on command prompt to check if the revovery partition is corrupted but nothing happened to the recovery drive,😧.

I ran the following command in command prompt: SFC /scannow /offbootdir=D:\ /offwindir=D:\windows And i got the following error: Windows Resource Protection Could not start the repair service.

Ho do I fix this problem? OR How can i get the recovery partition functioning again to erase everything in the hard drive C: ?

How do i fix the whole issue without having to order a recovery media?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I's surprised the clean install didn't activate. 

Did you download the right version of W8.1?

Folks that live in EU countries should install the W8.1 N ISO file version.

If you know you installed the right version of W8.1 and it won't activate, I think you are going to have to order recovery media to fix it.

You can try this method to clean install W8.1 again assuming you make the right ISO file...

You should be able to reinstall W8.1 by using the W8.1 product key in your notebook's BIOS.

Install W8.1 by creating the Microsoft installation media, using another Windows PC...You want W8.1 64 bit.

If you live in an EU country, you probably have to use the W8.1 N ISO file download.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

Only if you are asked to enter a product key during the installation process, use this generic key.

This is the generic key for W8.1 'standard.'

 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

If you had to enter the generic key, manually change the generic product key to the W8 'standard' key in your PC's BIOS in the PC settings menu.

After you get W8.1 installed, you will need to run the free utility I zipped up and attached below, that will show you show the W8 product key in your PC's BIOS.

I have also zipped up and attached below, the Microsoft tool which hopefully will transfer the ISO file to a DVD or usb flash drive so it is bootable.

Then you can install the available drivers and software from your PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/emea_africa-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-15-r100-notebook-pc-series/7234951/mode...

[Hubnotch]

Thanks a lot for the information. I really appreciate. Please I want to know  which edition of Windows 8.1 should I download. I live in Nigeria, Africa. There is a lot of edition for 8.1 alone. They include:

Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 K

Windows 8.1 KN

Windows 8.1 N

Windows 8.1 Single Language 

I downloaded the 8.1and used it but it couldn't activate. Please which one works well with hp notebook-15-r106nia?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Run that showkey plus utility I attached and it should tell you what version of W8.1 the key is good for.

Post exactly what the showkey plus report gives.

If you can't get into windows, reinstall whatever version you downloaded.

What we need right now is the information from that showkey plus report, so it doesn't matter if W8.1 doesn't activate.

[Hubnotch]

Honestly, @Paul_Tikkanen, I love what i saw. Take a look....Please , How do I get the win8.1 RTM CoreSingleLanguage Edition?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

HI:

So, what it sounds like is you installed W8.1 retail and it has a key, but it won't activate...That is the top key listed.

OK, then you want to download W8.1 single language ISO file from that list you posted above, and it should work with the bottom product key in the report.

[Hubnotch]

A million thank you Paul_Tikkanen

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.