Alright guys, I have been reading these threads for about a month in anticipation of my new laptop arriving. I have downloaded the ESD, converted it to an ISO and burned it to a DVD so I can install a clean version of Windows 10 as soon as it arrived. Well, now that it is here, I would like to ask a clarification. It is an HP Pavilion running Windows 10 Home, but it did not come with a product key or any kind of windows documentation or recovery disks from the manufacturer. SO, my question is did I understand the first post correct. The way I have read it, I can boot up my new laptop, connect it to the internet, let it run through all it's paces and self activate Windows, then I can shut down, boot from the DVD of Windows 10 I have created and it will activate when I connect to the internet no-issues? Just want to double check my understanding since there is not a recovery disk and I don't want to box myself into a corner during the process.
Your laptop has a MSDM for 8/10 Home, so with every windows 10 iso containing Home from 10586 and up will be able to read that MSDM and use it to select the SKU (Home) and will use it to activate the installed Windows. If it was shipped with a pre-installed windows 10 you could simply have used the "resetpc" option or the "start fresh" option to re-install windows.
Thanks Enthousiast! It arrived late yesterday evening and I unboxed it this morning and have not turned it on yet. Was hoping to get my ducks in a row before changing anything.
Your HP Laptop should also have HP Recovery partition and tool called HP Recovery manager. you can use this to make recovery DVD's and driver software dvd and store them in a safe place in case of hard drive failure. Then you can reset pc as Enthousiast said.
Okay, explain this please?... I used the Start Fresh option inside Windows defender and it ran through it's paces and a LOT of junk that was pre-loaded on the computer came off, but it still has the WildTangent and King Games bloatware from HP still on it. Should I use the ISO and kill the partition to install fresh, then go to Intel's website and update my drivers?
Did you not use HP Recovery manager to make recovery dvd's as advised and it also makes software and driver dvd.
Hi Urie, unfortunately I had already started the process in Enthousiast's post before I saw yours. From what I have read, Start Fresh only alters the C: drive and my recovery partition is still intact, is this true? If so, will the following plan be appropriate? 1. Boot into recovery mode and do a factory reset 2. Use HP Recovery to create recovery, software, and driver disks 3. Use the created recovery disks to place a clean install of Windows 10 on the computer and store away for safe keeping Thank you in advance for your help. You guys have been a great resource.
Thank you Urie. I was able to factory reset and step 1 went without a hitch. Will Shift+Restart into HP Recovery Manager and get recovery disks made next.