Another computer problem from a third party website where I earn supplemental income answering computer and technology related questions. This individual was trying to perform an HP Stream factory restore. Here is the initial question quoted verbatim.
HP Stream won’t let me create a recovery disk or do a reset. How do I create a recovery disk and reset when it won’t do it? Thank you.
There are possible different ways to perform an HP Stream factory restore. One way is to press the volume down button on your HP Stream. Then you press the power button for 3 to 5 seconds.
You should be presented with the startup menu. Choose the F11 factory recovery option. Follow the prompts and perfrom an HP Stream factory recovery.
If those function keys do not work, then try immediately pressing the ESC key on your keyboard after powering on that computer. A startup menu should open. Press your F11 key to begin the HP Stream factory recovery process.
If Microsoft Windows operating system boots normally, you might be able to begin the factory recovery from within windows. If for some reason you are not able to perform an HP Stream factory recovery, then there are other options. It could be that the factory recovery partition is corrupt.
Also, perhaps you do not have the correct function key to take you to the startup menu and or factory recovery menu. Try to find the exact model number HP Stream that you have. Then you will need to perform some Internet searches for the factory recovery instructions for your specific computer.
You could also factory restore your HP Stream by using recovery discs. You may or may NOT have received these with your computer. If your computer is new enough you might be able to order HP recovery discs.
As an added bonus tip, your computer might be too old to order new discs. However, you might be able to use the link above to find out the HP part number for recovery discs. Then you could perform some Internet searches for that HP part number recovery disc set.
You could also look for these HP recovery discs on Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, etc. However, buyer beware as you want to make sure that you are ordering legitimate recovery discs from a legitimate proprietor. When in doubt you could possibly factory recover your HP Stream with Windows 10 operating system by creating recovery media.
You will need a USB flash drive that is at least 4 gigabytes or DVD disc. Also, you will obviously need Microsoft Windows 10 operating system that is functional. Now you want to click the Windows 10 start menu button.
Type “create recovery” without quotations into the text box. Select “Create a recovery drive”. You will want to make certain that your DVD or USB flash drive is inserted or connected.
In order to reinstall Windows 10 operating system. Place a check into the box next to “Backup system files to the recovery drive”. Click “Next” and wait patiently while files are being prepared to get copied to your DVD or USB flash drive.
Choose the drive that you want files copied in an “Available drive(s)” list. Click “Next” and you will receive a warning that all files will be deleted on your media. Press “Create” to begin the recovery media creation.
This can take some time so please be patient. When the creation of your recovery media is completed you will see that the recovery drive is ready. You can click on “Finish”.
Now you will be able to reinstall Microsoft Windows 10 operating system. However, if you are looking for a factory recovery option, using a Microsoft Windows 10 recovery media will NOT factory restore drives and any default applications that came with your computer. Another option available to you is to perform a Microsoft Windows 10 “Reset this PC”.
You can perform a “Reset this PC”. You will have two options. One will allow you to keep all your personal data, but your applications will get removed.
The second option will remove all your personal data and applications. Follow the instructions below if you want to perform a “Reset this PC”.
Left click the Windows 10 start menu button. Click on the “Settings” gear icon. Then choose “Update & Security”.
Now choose “Recovery” then select “Reset this PC”. Click on “Get Started” and choose an option.
Finally, if you are just trying to fix a Microsoft Windows 10 problem, then a “System Restore” might be more beneficial to you. Click the Windows 10 start menu icon in lower left corner. Select Search and type in System Restore.
Click on Create a restore point. A System properties window will open up. You should be in the System protection tab of that window. Click on System Restore.
Another System Restore window will open up. Click on Next. In the next window you will be able to select your restore point.
Also, you can place a check box in the Show more restore points. What you want to choose here is a date and time before you were having your current problem. Choose a restore point back to before you were having your current computer problem(s).
Now you click Next. In order to begin system restore, you select Finish. Your computer will have to reboot in order to restore it back to the restore point that you picked.
These instructions were written for an HP Stream computer with Microsoft Windows 10 operating system installed. However, you can certainly use these instructions as a basis point for other computer brands and possibly other Microsoft operating systems.