New notebook with Windows 8 - how to re install Windows?

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simon14

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#138443 4-Jan-2014 16:02

Hi guys,

My wife just purchased a new HP notebook with Windows 8 from Harvey Norman.

It doesn't have a CD drive which is cool because we never use.

My question is, is it possible to format this PC in future and reinstall Windows? If so, how would this be done? There is no windows licence key that i can find on the notebook either.

Hammerer

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#961143 4-Jan-2014 16:11

Microsoft Windows 8 repair and recovery particularly the first options 'How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC'.

[Edit]
I should have added that these are generic options and exactly what you do can depend on the options provided by the vendor. There's usually documentation with the PC or they point you to their website.

manhinli

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#961144 4-Jan-2014 16:13

I believe all Windows 8 computers should have their product keys installed in their BIOS and hence no key is required during installation as it's obtained from there.

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simon14

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#961147 4-Jan-2014 16:16

Thanks guys, perfect :)

OldGeek

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#961160 4-Jan-2014 16:36

You should have the 'HP Support Assistant' software installed. Have a good look at this - it includes documentation and 'Storage, backup and recovery' which you should look at specifically. The recovery utility will allow you to create a 'recovery disk' which in your case will be a bootable USB flash drive. The BIOS will allow you to specify a USB drive as a boot device. Create your USB flash drive and test it as a boot device.

These utilities are fairly comprehensive, including the ability to download and apply BIOS updates (I bought a HP Sleekbook on December 26 (Running Win 8.0) and the 'Update and Tune-ups' Utility downloaded and applied a BIOS update along with about 8 other updates (probably drivers).

Good Luck.

Batman

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#963281 8-Jan-2014 14:14

all those "ässistants" are bloat. they consume computer resources and make it slow. however some are critical to be run while most are bloat.

the windows restore option from within windows works just as well as any hp bloat.

but if you have to ask what is bloat it's better not to touch anything ...

OldGeek

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#963489 8-Jan-2014 19:41

joker97: all those "ässistants" are bloat. they consume computer resources and make it slow. however some are critical to be run while most are bloat.

the windows restore option from within windows works just as well as any hp bloat.

but if you have to ask what is bloat it's better not to touch anything ...

The OP was asking about re-installing Windows (not a restore) on an HP notebook and I posted in that context. The HP Utilities can be run if required and if not they cost next to nothing - just a little disk space and memory when used - resources that are plentiful. I had occasion to do exactly what the OP did with an HP notebook recently and the HP Recovery process (which has several options including re-installing Windows) made this quick and simple - and Windows does not do quick and simple well on its own.