Computer with W8.1 out

[Aelin]

I don't believe she's using a USB for this.  She was trying to use the recovery partition on the hard disk.

Yes, I removed the USB (bootable windows) just before to start, like they asked. This time, USB is on the computer. I'll see in 30 minutes maybe.
It seems a lot of people have this error. I even found a woman with an issue on a laptop of 26 months... same age than mine.
The difference with me, it's she made at the beginning a key with everything of her system, to be her "recovery D", if the HP recovery in her laptop had an issue. And guess what? Even her USB couldn't do the job 
Of course, moderator of HP said her she could always pay to obtain their recovery disks 

[rrkknight3]

If your laptop has a sticker on it with the W8.1 serial number, you can follow post #2 in that URL and download a legal copy of W8.1 for you to install to a USB and then try a reinstall.  Unfortunately, the next step is to download the HP drivers for your laptop and install them as well.

I was showing my inexperience here.  Apparently, after Windows 7, the serial number for machines is stored in the "BIOS".  So, it MIGHT work to get the generic Windows 8.1 installer from Microsoft, put it on a USB stick and do the installation without having to find a key.

[Aelin]

I was showing my inexperience here.  Apparently, after Windows 7, the serial number for machines is stored in the "BIOS".  So, it MIGHT work to get the generic Windows 8.1 installer from Microsoft, put it on a USB stick and do the installation without having to find a key.

I copied a lot of codes in the BIOS, but I don't know if really I took the good.

I checked the hard drive yes, manually for a part. And today HP made the job.

[Aelin]

91% failed again.

So I'm back to the beginning, to options inside Troubleshoot.
Just above HP Manager I have "reinitialize your PC". And again above, "actualize your PC". Must I try one of them?

[rrkknight3]

I don't believe either of them are going to work.  It sounds like the hard disk has some problem and the scan did not hide the problem, so we keep hitting it.

Perhaps some of the others have something to suggest.

[Chiron]

Sorry, I've been away for some minutes browsing for possible solutions. Here are the outcomes:

- Apparently M$ allows to download whatever is required to prepare an USB installer (from scratch) free of charge, but to run it one needs the key.
- Keys are available on the web, legally or less legally. However Aelin purchased her computer legally and complete with Win8.1, thus she has a right to have its key as well.
- Then I double checked and yes, I have here a free healthy unused 1TB SATA HD she can have in exchange for all her free stuff I've downloaded so far :smile:
- A friend of mine I'm going to see next week should be in France before the end of November and, if asked kindly enough, could possibly mail a tiny parcel from inside France.

How does it look like?

[Aelin]

I'm looking to actualize computer. I know I had this option available the first time I saw tools thanks to the bootable USB.
But now, I have a message "the reader where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the reader, then try again".  I never locked that thing for what I know.

[rrkknight3]

That sounds like this problem:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/quot-The-drive-where-windows-is-installed-is-locked-Unlock/td-p/4660110

which is back to the reinstall Windows problem.

[Aelin]

I found a topic in French with somebody proposing to use the "invit command".
http://www.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-28217024-impossible-de-reparer-windows-8
I never used that of my life - or maybe it was that on the old computers of 80's to high school?

[rrkknight3]

Those directions require that you be able to reach the command line.  When you start the recovery program, does it have an Advanced Options?