Can't reset stream 14(?) Due to disk space. Deleted everything !!

[Raemb0406]

Please help! I've been trying to do this for hours. I know how to factory reset, which is what I need to do. But, everytime I try it says there isn't enough disc space to recover. Which is just silly. I've deleted and Uninstalled everything that it will allow me to and it says I still need 140 MB free to restore. I don't get it. How can I factory reset it if it won't allow me? 

[WAWood]

@Raemb0406 

You should have checked here BEFORE charging into this and we could have saved you the troubles since we would have told you that the Stream models are incapable of doing factory resets without external media.

The ways to do an external factory reset are the following:
- Factory reset using external HP image you make
- Factory reset using external HP image you buy

Each of these is discussed in some detail below ...

---------- Factory reset using external HP image you make ----------
HP provides a Cloud Recovery tool that you can use, together with a 32GB USB stick, to create your on HP reset media.

Here is the link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4511095-4511141-16

This works the same as the factory reset described above.

---------- Factory reset using external HP image you buy ----------
For those PCs not supported by the Cloud Recovery, in some cases, HP offers Recover Media for sale. This can not be downloaded; instead, it must be ordered from HP.

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 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 &quot;Update&quot;.<br><br>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 &quot;+&quot; 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 Support.

HP contact info: https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true

If HP no longer carries the media you need, another site you should check for HP Recovery Media is: http://www.computersurgeons.com/

These work the same as the factory reset described above.

[Raemb0406]

Hi and thank you so much for your response. Do you have any follow up advice for me? Im currently trying to use the HP cloud recovery tool to download this to a USB drive (brand new 64GB so that shouldn't be an issue). When I walk thru the steps on the link you provided, I get stuck at step 6 because it doesn't give me an option to select a USB drive. I know the USB drive is registering, as when I plug it in - it pops up. But instead at step 6, I see a different screen that just says "there is not enough space on local hard drive" and only gives me the option to cancel and go back. Not to chose another drive instead. I tried it a million times and it wont even show me the page that allows me to select anything other than local hard drive? 

[WAWood]

@Raemb0406 

The Cloud process should have worked.  I have no idea why it can not see your USB drive.

An alternative is to use Microsoft-provided media but if you go that route then read the information below about saving off the HP drivers, as you will need to restore them after the reinstall of Windows:  https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/68426-backup-restore-device-drivers-windows-10-a.html

To install Win10 from media, do the following:

1) Use this link to download and create Win10 install media: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

2) insert that into your PC and BOOT boot from it. This will start an installation that should take no more than 30 minutes to complete.

3) If you are forced to use an MSN account for Windows, do not worry, as after you get it up and running, you can later switch to a local account.

4) If you are presented with a window asking for a product key, down near the bottom is a entry you can click to skip that. Do NOT enter a product key, as when you finish and get back online, Windows will check with the Activation Servers, find out your PC was already running Win10 and reactivate it.

5) After you're up and running, restore the HP drivers that you saved