Can't Reset to Factory Settings

Chuck38

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Hello, I have a HP Envy x2, which I purchased refurbished with Windows 8 pre-installed. After I upgraded to Windows 8.1, I starter to notice many problems such as; the tablet wouldn't start all the time, the secure boot was disabled (but I fixed that), the app store doesn't work all the time, and Windows Update can't check for updates. The HP did not come with a recovery thumb drive or DVD. And I need "recovery media" to be able to refresh/reset my PC. I have tried multiple times to create a recovery drive, but my "Key" for Windows 8.1 is not valid and I do not know where my Windows 8 "Key" is. (By the way, I really don't know very much about Windows at all. Windows 8 is my first version of Windows.)

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
information   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD. (Windows 8 only)
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html (Windows 8 only)



You can order the Microsoft official HP/Compaq OEM Recovery disks from the HP/Compaq OEM manufacturer's website.
https://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc...dlc=en&lc=en&os=4132&product=5309543&sw_lang=
How Do I Order or Download System Recovery Software? - YouTube
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
What error message appears when you try to Refresh or Reset Windows?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html

On the left side in Update & Recovery, click/tap on Recovery, click/tap on the Get started button under the Refresh your PC without affecting your files section on the right side

OR

On the left side in Update & Recovery, click/tap on Recovery, click/tap on the Get started button under the Remove everything and reinstall Windows section on the right side

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
Thank-you for getting back to me! I'm going to need to purchase a usb drive, according to the link, if I want to create the recovery media. Thank-you for your help!

P.S: Should I mark the thread as solved?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
It says, "There was a problem refreshing your PC. If you have a Windows installation or recovery media, insert it and restart from the media."
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Is there way that I can create a Recovery Drive? Isn't that what my Recovery Drive ( D: ) is for?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
Is there way that I can create a Recovery Drive? Isn't that what my Recovery Drive ( D: ) is for?

YES, If you have the HP Recovery Media Creator app installed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
And if I don't? I also can't open my Recovery Drive, am suppose to?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I don't have a Recovery Disc/USB disc. If that's what you mean.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
Like I said before, I need to purchase a larger USB Drive. All I have is a 2 GB drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Umm, I can't open the Recovery...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
When I click on the RECOVERY (D: ) this is what I get; Warning

This area of your hard drive (or partition) contains files used during Windows Push Button Reset and HP image recovery.

Do not delete or alter any of these files.

Any change to this partition could impact system recovery functionality in the future.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
This is from a HP Windows 7 manual.

HP said:
Creating HP Recovery media
HP Recovery Manager is a software program that offers a way to create recovery media after you
successfully set up the computer. HP Recovery media can be used to perform system recovery if the
hard drive becomes corrupted. System recovery reinstalls the original operating system and the
software programs installed at the factory, and then configures the settings for the programs. HP
Recovery media can also be used to customize the system or aid in the replacement of a hard drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
When I click on the RECOVERY (D: ) this is what I get; Warning

This area of your hard drive (or partition) contains files used during Windows Push Button Reset and HP image recovery.

Do not delete or alter any of these files.

Any change to this partition could impact system recovery functionality in the future.


Make the DVD/USB disk from the HP Recovery Media Creator app.

For example SONY:

SONY Recovery Make DVD-USB 001 theog.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Do I have to check the box that says; "Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive." If I do I'll need something bigger than a 2GB USB drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
Do I have to check the box that says; "Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive." If I do I'll need something bigger than a 2GB USB drive.


Make the DVD/USB disk from the HP Recovery Media Creator app.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Okay, where do I download that?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built/ Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-6300
    Motherboard
    MSI 970A-G43
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 750 ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200 Hybrid Internal Hard Drive
    Crucial M500 240GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 500 Watt 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator - Red
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    Really fast.
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
    Other Info
    Logitech G230 Headset
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