Can't install Windows 10 on HP Spectre x2

[jh42]

I have a Spectre x2 with a corrupted hard drive. No amount of repair or recovery would fix the OS so I tried reinstalling Windows 10 from a usb stick created from Microsoft's 'media creation tool'. Every time I try installing Windows it fails. I have ran multiple diagnostics on everything I can, so I do not believe it is a hardware issue. I have turned off HPs secure boot and have tried both legacy and UEFI settings in Bios.

The error that displays when trying to install Windows:

"Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x8007025D"

I've tried different usb sticks and different computers to create the install media.

Is there a trick to do a fresh install of Windows on these tablets? Has anyone else been able to do a fresh install to at least let me know that it is possible?

[Flying_Kiwi]

If this device is still within warranty, it'd be worth contacting your countries local HP Tech Support dept as they may do what happened with my Stream 7 tablet under warranty and send you official recovery media for the device for free. Its a memory stick with files specifically customised on it to get the device back to an 'as from the factory' state. There's also a storage testing function within HPs PC Hardware Diagnostics tool. On my Stream 7 and 8 Tablets this can be accessed by holding down the volume - button and then pressing and holding down the power button as well until the menu pops up in the lower left of the screen and then it gives you several choices. On my Stream tablets pressing F2 brings up System Diagnostics and within there options for component tests (including storage). It'd be worth running this to see if the hard disk passes.

[jh42]

Thank you for your response.

The tablet is out of warranty by a month, so I can't even call tech support without paying money, much less getting recovery media from them.

I have ran diagnostics on the hard drive (also ram, cpu, motherboard, and everything else the tablet let me) and everything passes. 

Again, thank you for your response but I am still searching for an answer or at least a clue as to why I can't do a clean install on a HP tablet. Do you have to have the recovery media to do it? Is this an HP thing so customers have to buy propietary software to keep their PCs running? 

[Flying_Kiwi]

Glad to know your system passed the hardware diagnostics. The reason why I'm still recommending you get official recovery media is because it comes with all the right drivers for the device whereas the raw Windows installation media may not and as a result you can have troubles. If you have an ordinary usb mouse and keyboard, you could plug those in and try a fresh installation using the Win 10 installation media. i'm thinking that it maybe things such as touchscreen sensors or proprietary Human Interface Devices (HID) which the Win 10 installation media can't recognise and a plain mouse and keyboard may help to get around this. When I used Win 10 installation media to do a fresh install on my Stream 7 tablet I needed to do this.

There may be others here who've done fresh installs on these tablets using native Win 10 installation media so a search here may yeild results. if it was my device I'd be contacting HP re recovery media though. This media is specific to a particular device so my Stream 7 Win 8.1 recovery media definitely wont work with your device. If its been a few weeks since the problem first occurred and you've only just had a chance to contact HP, be sure to mention that as mitigation towards any cost they may want to charge. Good luck!

[Photoray002]

If you're HP came preinstalled with Windows 10 from factory, unless you have the activation keys (and I doubt you do), you wont be able to activate Windows from a clean install from the MS ISO.

You will need the HP Recovery Media that you either burned from your system in the beginning or purchased from HP directly.

That will probably solve the error issue also.

You didnt say what the full model number is, so Ill give you the main Support link and you can order from them directly...

Contact HP Worldwide | HP® Official Site

If it does not, there could be a few things causing it.

Ill point to this thread on the Win10 forums talking about fixes for an example...

failed during clean install Error Code 0x8007025D - - Windows 10 Forums