reset and windows activation problem

[sam_naomi]

So basically one day my whole screen turned black and was unresponsive, so i turned it off and turned it back on and all i got was the HP loading screen over and over again. So i pressed ESC as it was turning on and reset my whole compuuter manually because there was really no other option to fix it. I ended up with the computer being the same way i purchased it, with windows 8, and now i cant return to windows 10, and my laptop can't even download or connect to servers even with internet connection. I dont know what to do to return it back to normal. Not just that, frequently my laptop tells me to activate windows ???? i ddint need activation when i first bought it.

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @sam_naomi

Welcome to the HP Support forum.

Please, let me know which OS you prefer - Windows 8 or Windows 10.

I suspect you prefer W10, so I will provide you with instructions for Windows 10 but if you prefer using Windows 8, let me know and I will think of different troubleshooting steps

Since you previously performed upgrade from legacy Windows to Win 10 on this very same computer and if you used Win 10 for a while and if Windows 10 was activated (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 on this:

>> 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

You can directly download Windows 10 ISO from MS site or download Media creation tool from Microsoft site,

you can create installation DVD or installation USB  and  proceed with clean installation/reinstallation of W10.

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

or

>> Media creation tool >> http://bfy.tw/AGwE

How to create bootable ISO on USB device if not using Media Creation tool >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

or

How to write ISO to DVD if not using Media Creation tool >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/burn-a-dvd-on-windows

When ready with the Windows 10 USB drive or with the Windows 10 DVD:

* Ensure Secure Boot is disabled.

* Ensure Legacy mode is enabled.

* Save the UEFI/BIOS changes.

Details>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03653226

Eventually, please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

Insert the Windows USB thumdrive or the DVD prepared previously

Power  on the PC.

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

This should open a HP Startup Menu which may look similar to this one

Choose F9 to open Boot options. Select the thumb drive or the DVD as boot option.

Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10

Format/delete all existing partitions, install on unpartitioned space

Install drivers taken from HP web site when Win installation completes or via Windows Update/Device Manager >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03330139

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes.

[sam_naomi]

Thankyou for replying to me,

Unfortunately, It did not work for me. I tried downloading the Windows 10 media creation tool but I ended up getting an error message that said " We're not sure what happened. but we're unable to run this tool on your PC. error code: 0x80072EFD - 0x20000"

I also want to mention that even though my computer says it is connected to wifi, none of my applications connect to the connection outside of browser.

[IT_WinSec]

Hello,

In this case you can directly download the ISO and use Rufus to write it on the USB device >> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Instructions above