windows 10 recovery

[Mukesh_Baraiya]

Hello! I am using HP P15 n003tx. I updated it from Windows 8 to Windows 10 but didn't created recovery drive. Currently my Windows 10 is activated. I have few Questions... 1) Can I create Recovery Drive Now for Windows 10? If yes, How and Which USB size I will need for the Same? 2) Can I reinstall Windows 10 from that Recovery drive? And does it require to activate windows again? I dont know my product key, In such case how can I activate windows or find product key? 3) After Creating recovery drive, can I make another copy or copy it to other USB and us it? For example if USB is corrupted and malfunctioned, or lost in such case we will need another copy? I dont know if it is possible or not. Please answer all questions and any extra knowledge, tips, help will be highly appreciated... Thank You in Advance

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @Mukesh_Baraiya

Welcome back to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.

My answers are below:

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@Mukesh_Baraiya wrote:

Currently my Windows 10 is activated. I have few Questions... 1) Can I create Recovery Drive Now for Windows 10? If yes, How and Which USB size I will need for the Same? 2) Can I reinstall Windows 10 from that Recovery drive? And does it require to activate windows again? I dont know my product key, In such case how can I activate windows or find product key? 3) After Creating recovery drive, can I make another copy or copy it to other USB and us it? For example if USB is corrupted and malfunctioned, or lost in such case we will need another copy? I dont know if it is possible or not. Please answer all questions and any extra knowledge, tips, help will be highly appreciated... Thank You in Advance

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1)  You can create a bootable media (USB pen drive or DVD) which is Windows 10 installation media. It can be used for recovery purposes for Windows 10. This is for free. This cannot be used to reinstall Windows 8, for example

2)  Yes, you can.

Activation - it depends how it activated the first time.

When did you perform the upgrade from Win 8 to Win 10.

Did you use a code/key to activate Windows 10 ?

Initially Microsoft offered free upgrade from W8 to W10 but this is no longer valid.  Please, clarify so that I can answer you with specifics.

3) Yes, you can create as many recovery installation drives as you want/need - it's free - Win 10

You can directly download Windows 10 ISO from MS web site

or

download Media creation tool from Microsoft site, create installation DVD or installation USB  and  proceed with clean installation/reinstallation.

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

* How to create bootable ISO on USB device >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

or

* How to write ISO to DVD >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/burn-a-dvd-on-windows

The example with the instructions are with Ubuntu but it is the same with Win 10 ISO

If you decide to restore previous Windows version - e.g. W 8.1, the above instructions will not work. Let me know your preference

 Hope this helps.

[Mukesh_Baraiya]

I have upgraded to Windows 10 from W8. At that time, I have activated my windows through Internet. I dont know my product key!!!😔😔😔

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

OK, thank you.

The above suggestions are valid re. the ISO and the W10 recovery image

Since you previously performed upgrade from Win 8 to Win 10 on this very same computer and if you used Win 10 for a while and if Windows 10 was activated successfully initially (it's licence was activated), then your computer has a Digital entitlement option stored on Microsoft servers. Because of this, you no longer need a code/lic key to activate Windows if you need to reinstall it.  More info:

>> https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation

>> http://www.winbeta.org/news/digital-entitlement-a-new-method-of-activation-in-windows-10

Additionally, starting with Win 10 Anniversary update, you can associate Your Windows 10 License with a Microsoft Account

If you use MS account, you can re-activate Windows 10 by using your MS account authentication. Here is how:

>> https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/55398-link-microsoft-account-windows-10-digital-license.html

>> http://www.windowscentral.com/how-link-your-windows-10-product-key-microsoft-account

Hope this helps and answers your queries