Need a USB recovery for HP - HP 15-f018ca Notebook PC - Hard disk (3F0) error

netrate

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Do you know how and where I would get a USB recovery tool for this system without having the key? Windows 8 I believe.

HP 15-f018ca Notebook PC - Hard disk (3F0) error
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
If this is unclear or I need to give more information, please let me know.
Presently I have a laptop that needs fixing. The owner does not have the windows CD. The computer recently stopped working.

I can :
  • The bios works and I can access it
  • It does not boot to safe mode that I can see - tried a couple of time and nothing occurred.
  • I can acccess the cmd prompt and the HP diagnostic menus

When running the computer for the first time (since I acquired it), it was in a looping "repair mode",stuck on repairing disk error. I left it on all night and the following error showed up the next day :

Boot Device not found
Please install an operating system on your hard drive
Hard disk (3F0)
F2 System Diagnostic

Next accessing the HP diagnostic resulted in the following error:

Failure ID : 9U015G-7B79B3-MFPV6K-60FR03

I am guessing I need a windows UBS boot disk to try and get this going. The owner does not have the windows KEY or any documentation to help me through this. The owner would like to retain the info on the hard drive if possible.

Suggestions?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
The Key Is embedded into the Bios - thus owner must likely not have...
The Windows Installation can be downloaded > TechBench by WZT (v4.1.1)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Here is a screen shot from the command prompt:
 

Attachments

  • diskcheck.png
    diskcheck.png
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
You need to use the "Windows Recovery Tool - Bootable PE Rescue Disk"
The Link Is In My Sig Below... Or Here > Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums
Boot from that Media to give you visible access to the HDD and partitions...

I do see a 20GB Partition labeled as D (Recovery) That may contain the OEM Recovery media...
BUT what I also see is a RAW partition labeled as C - That is not good news as your C drive may have been wiped...

Within the Rescue Disk are a few programs that may be able to recover the C partition...
Also a Program - ShowKeyPlus - to view the Windows Embedded Activation Key..

Otherwise you may need to do a CLEAN reinstall of windows...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Thank you! Can you recovery disk fit on a DVD? If it is on a USB, will the USB be wiped clean?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
Mount ISO and Copy Contents of ISO to FAT32 Formatted USB
Should use Clean USB -
If using UEFI Mode then just use Boot Menu (F12) usually to Select - UEFI USB
Else
If Using MBR/Legacy Mode - the USB partition will need to be Set as Active - then use Boot Menu Option to Select USB
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Insert USB
Open> command prompt (Admin)
type> diskpart
type> select disk ? - (? being the disk number assigned to USB)
type> list partition - (should only be 1 partition)
type> select partition 1
type> Active

Close Command Prompt Windows and Reboot PC From USB
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Ok, I followed the steps but had to use the list disk to find which one was the USB :

Insert USB
Open> command prompt (Admin)
type> diskpart

type> list disk

type> select disk ? - (? being the disk number assigned to USB)
type> list partition - (should only be 1 partition)
type> select partition 1 - It says "no partition selected!)

When I go to selection partition 1, it says, no partition selected. I have tried this with lowercase, all capitals etc. This is strange because it clearly shows "Partition 1" in the "list partition" command.

cannot go to this step yet...
type> Active

not sure what I have done in error...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
DISKPART> list disk

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
-------- ------------- ------- ------- --- ---
Disk 0 Online 476 GB 0 B
Disk 1 Online 931 GB 0 B
Disk 2 Online 119 GB 7168 KB *
Disk 3 No Media 0 B 0 B
Disk 4 No Media 0 B 0 B
Disk 5 No Media 0 B 0 B
Disk 6 No Media 0 B 0 B
Disk 7 Online 3829 MB 0 B
Disk 8 Online 14 GB 0 B

DISKPART> select disk 8

Disk 8 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> list partition

Partition ### Type Size Offset
------------- ---------------- ------- -------
Partition 1 Primary 14 GB 1024 KB

DISKPART> select partition 1

Partition 1 is now the selected partition.

DISKPART> active

DiskPart marked the current partition as active.

DISKPART>
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Ok, I tried it again, maybe my USB is the issue, here is a screen shot of it. I still cannot select the partition even though it is listed.
 

Attachments

  • partition-error.jpg
    partition-error.jpg
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
This would be a last ditch effort to get data only, programs would have to be reinstalled

Not sure if you are mechanically inclined , but if you are and have access to another pc or desktop;
[BGCOLOR=transparent]you could remove the drive[/BGCOLOR]

order this Sabrent USB 3.0 to SATA External Hard Drive Lay-Flat Docking Station ($23.00 USD)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LS5NFQ2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
attach to another system, put in the hdisk

and use EaseUs Recovery tool (free)
Free Download Data Recovery Software of 2018 for File Recovery - EaseUS® Data Recovery Wizard Free
to recover data which could be written usb

order the Recovery disks from HP ($20.00 USD) i think
HP 15-f018ca Notebook PC (ENERGY STAR) - Driver Downloads | HP® Customer Support
at the bottom it shows to order recovery disk
your model is available, it reinstates key.
to reinstall on the hdisk

pop the hdisk back into laptop
reinstall programs
then copy data from usb

As I said, only as a last ditch effort. You would have your genuine windows key back.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7 & 8
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