See your browser's documentation for specific instructions. HP Customer Support. Select your model. How does HP install software and gather data?

Learn how to upgrade to Windows 11 Windows 11 Upgrade Guide. Automatically installing Windows 10 Windows Update can automatically install a new Windows 10 version to your computer. Note: Windows allows you to reset the update schedule up to five days later. The Windows 10 version has successfully installed. Performing a manual installation of Windows 10 If you do not want to wait for Windows to automatically download a new Windows 10 version, use Windows Update to install it manually.

When the download completes, click Restart now. Note: If you do not want to restart your PC immediately, Windows 10 restarts automatically during inactive hours to complete the installation. Creating the installation media to download Windows 10 Download the Media Creation Tool and create the installation media. Installing Windows 10 on your computer Windows 10 Setup allows you to do a clean installation of Windows 10 erases all data or to keep your personal files and apps.

Note: If you are prompted to supply the Windows 10 product key, type the product key, and then click Next. Note: If your computer has less than GB of free hard drive space, you are prompted to connect a USB hard drive to continue with the installation. The installation begins. Completing setup and signing in to Windows 10 clean installation only If you have completed a clean installation of Windows and kept nothing, navigate the setup experience with the help of Cortana.

The installation completes, and the desktop opens. Deleting Windows 10 installation files to regain storage space The Go Back feature, which allows you to reinstall a previous version of Windows, is available for 10 days after upgrading to Windows 10 or updating Windows 10 to a new version.

Note: After deleting the files, the Go Back feature is no longer available for restoring a previous version of Windows. Wait while Disk Cleanup scans the drive for system files that can be deleted. Note: When you click the link, the file is downloaded using your internet browser download capabilities. Select a location. Europe, Middle East, Africa. Asia Pacific and Oceania. Select a language. Confirm Back. Search all support. Search help. Tips for better search results Ensure correct spelling and spacing - Examples: "paper jam" Use product model name: - Examples: laserjet pro p, DeskJet For HP products a product number.

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Just ask. Try asking HP's Virtual Agent. Session timed out. Activate Windows 7 after using System Recovery After performing a System Recovery, or re-installing Windows 7, it should not be necessary to repeat the activation process. There are several different recovery situations to consider. If the computer shipped with Windows 7 and the Recovery Manager is functional, then use the Recovery Manager to restore the computer to its default factory conditions.

Windows 7 is automatically activated. If the computer shipped with Windows 7 but the Recovery Manager is not functional, use the Recovery disc to restore the computer to its default factory conditions. If the computer shipped with an earlier version of Windows but included an upgrade disc for Windows 7 provided by HP, you should recover the computer back to its default factory conditions and then upgrade again to Windows 7.

If the computer shipped with an earlier version of Windows and you upgraded or custom-installed a full retail version of Windows 7, you should use the Microsoft DVD to re-install Windows 7.

If the computer shipped with Windows 7 and the Recovery Manager is not functional, but you have not created the recovery discs, you can order a Windows 7 Recovery DVD. It may be necessary to contact Microsoft to activate Windows 7. Windows Vista product activation You might be prompted to activate Windows Vista. Normally, activation in Windows Vista is done automatically on HP and Compaq Desktop computers, but some conditions turning off the computer during Windows setup, for example can cause a Windows Activation message to be displayed.

When this happens, Windows Vista requires activation or a System Recovery. If you can still use the Windows Vista desktop, click Start , right-click Computer , and select Properties to view the status of Windows Activation. Scroll down on the System Properties window to view the status information. If you can still open Windows Vista, you might be able to download a software update that can resolve this issue.

If computer Windows Activation screens still continue or you were not able to update your computer, the rest of this information can help you activate or recover your computer. There are three ways to activate Windows Vista: by broadband connection, by dial-up modem or by Automated Phone System voice. The first two methods require an Internet connection and the last method requires a voice telephone to dial a toll-free number.

The Automated Phone System might take several minutes due to the number of digits that need to be entered. Use the following steps to activate a computer when the Windows Product Activation message opens.

Before starting, if you have a broadband Internet connection, make sure the network cable is connected to the computer. If you have a dial-up modem Internet connection, make sure a phone line is connected to the modem connection on the computer. From the Windows Activation window, click Type a different product key.

Enter the product key number into the product key field and then click Next. This number can be found on a Certificate of Authenticity label adhered to the side of the computer's case. If product activation was successful, a success screen is shown and Windows Vista setup continues.

Click Show me other ways to activate , and then click Next. If a modem is connected , use the following sub-steps to activate over the modem:. Make sure the phone line is not in use, click Use my modem to connect directly to the activation service , and then click Next. If product activation is not successful, you are returned to a previous screen. Repeat these steps using the automated phone system or perform a system recovery.

To use the automated phone system, click Use the automated phone system from the How do you want to Activate? To find available phone numbers for activation, select a location near you from the drop-down menu, and then click Next. If a phone is not near the computer, get paper and a pencil to write down the installation IDs and confirmation IDs. Consider using an alternative recovery disk to fix boot errors or to access and backup your files — details here. If your recovery partition is corrupted or deleted, use an alternative recovery disk to fix boot errors.

Download Easy Recovery Essentials from here or see its full list of features here. Do not power off your computer! When the recovery disks are created successfully, click OK. It will not work with DVDs. Download Easy Recovery Essentials from here. Windows Vista users of any HP computer can create a recovery disk by following these instructions. HP users with Windows 7 installed can create their recovery disk by following this set of instructions. The recovery partition must be intact not corrupted or deleted to create the recovery disk.

You can create only one set of recovery disks per computer model. If you have already created the disks, you will not be able to create them again. If the above item is grayed out unable to click it it means that a set of recovery disks have already been created. See A set of recovery discs has been created for this PC for more details. If you opted for a USB flash drive, the software will ask you where to create the recovery media and a list of available drives will appear.

Select the drive where your USB flash drive is available and free to use. A verification message will appear after you select your USB drive and click Next. If AutoPlay opens, click it. The drive tray will open automatically. Insert the second disk, wait a few seconds, close the AutoPlay if it opens and then click Next on this screen.

When the confirmation message appears Recovery Manager successfully created the recovery discs , click Finish. Your recovery disks are now created. Label them in order Disk 1 of 2, Disk 2 of 2 etc. Create the disk for Windows 8 Windows 8 users can create a HP recovery disk by following the next set of instructions:.