Download and set up a recovery image on a USB flash drive using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool,
and then restore factory defaults on supported HP computers.
To successfully complete the recovery process, you must have: a supported computer with an
active Internet connection,
the computer plugged into a power source, a blank USB drive that is at least 32 gigabytes,
and at least 20 gigabytes of free disk space on the Windows partition, usually the C drive.
If you have files on the computer that you want to save, an additional USB drive or external
drive with an NTFS file system is necessary.
HP business PCs have a different app and recovery process.
On the computer to recover, or another Windows 10 computer with Internet access,
go to the Microsoft Store, and search for and get the HP Cloud Recovery Tool.
If you are unable to open the Microsoft Store, or if you are using Windows 7, go to support.hp.com,
search for Cloud Recovery, and then download and install the app.
Insert a blank USB drive into the computer where the HP Cloud Recovery Tool is installed.
Select Start, and then type Cloud Recovery.
From the results, right-click HP Cloud Recovery Tool, and then select Run as administrator.
The tool only opens if you run it as an administrator.
If prompted by Windows, select Yes.
Review the Welcome message, and then select Next.
The software initializes and checks your configuration.
If a Proxy Configuration window appears, fill out the appropriate fields, and then select Next.
The software detects the Product ID for your computer and populates the System Information Page.
If you receive a message saying your product is not valid,
or if you are using a computer other than the one to recover,
select I need to enter Product ID for my HP system.
Depending on your model, the product ID might be located on the back of the computer or
in the Windows System Information screen listed as System SKU.
In the Product ID text box, clear all pre-populated text, and then enter the complete product ID.
If you still receive a message saying your product is not valid, go to support.hp.com
to see other available recovery options.
Otherwise, select Next.
From the drop-down list, select the USB drive you inserted for the recovery, and then select Next.
All data on the USB drive will be permanently deleted.
Review the warning message, and then select OK.
The drive is partitioned, and then the recovery software downloads, extracts, and installs on the USB drive.
Depending on your connection, this process can take up to one hour.
Do not reboot your computer, or disconnect the power cable or USB drive during this time.
When the drive setup completes, select Finish to close the app.
If the computer to be recovered has a DVD-ROM or other media drive, remove any discs from the drives.
Save any work, and then turn off the computer.
Disconnect all peripheral devices and cables attached to the computer.
On desktop computers, keep the keyboard, mouse, power cable, and monitor cables connected.
On laptops, keep the power adapter connected.
If applicable, remove any recently added internal hardware.
If not already connected, insert the USB drive into the computer, and then turn the computer on.
Immediately press the Escape key repeatedly until the Startup Menu opens.
Press F9 to select Boot Options or Boot Device Options.
In Boot Manager, press the up or down arrow keys to select the USB recovery drive, and
then press Enter.
If you cannot select the USB recovery drive from the Boot menu or Recovery Manager does not load,
open your computer BIOS and disable Secure Boot and enable Legacy mode.
The recovery process permanently deletes all files on the computer.
If you have any personal files on the computer that you would like to keep, you must back them up at this point.
If prompted, select File Backup or Back up your files first, and then select Next.
Select Auto Selection to have Recovery Manager automatically locate the files to back up.
If you want to manually choose the files and folders to back up, select User Selection.
Select Next.
Select the types of files you want to back up, and then select Next.
If you selected User Selection, follow the prompts to locate the files to back up.
Recovery Manager creates the backup files based on your selections.
When prompted to choose where to save the backup,
insert an NTFS USB drive or external hard drive in the computer.
You cannot use the USB recovery drive to back up your files.
Select the USB drive, select Next, and then select Next again to begin copying your backup files to the drive.
With the files successfully backed up, remove the USB backup drive from the computer,
but keep the USB recovery drive connected.
Select Next.
On the Recovery Manager option screen, select Factory Reset, and then select Next.
Review the message, and then select Next.
Since you already backed up your files, select Recover without backing up your files.
Select Next, and then at the prompt, select OK.
System Recovery erases all content on the hard drive, and then restores the drive back
to its original factory image.
This includes re-installing all original software and drivers.
If prompted to insert supplemental recovery media, insert any drives provided by HP Support.
Otherwise, select Skip.
The recovery preparation completes.
Select Continue, and if prompted, select OK to restart the computer.
Read and respond to any on-screen prompts to complete setting up Windows.
After Windows setup is complete, connect any peripheral devices and
cables that were previously disconnected.
To complete setting up your computer,
HP recommends connecting your computer to the Internet, checking for Windows updates,
installing any security software that you use and updating the virus definitions,
installing any other software applications,
and copying any personal backup files that were saved during the recovery process to your computer.