HP computers - how to restore HP laptops and desktops to factory state.

Note: the following process will wipe all data from your hardrive.

1. Power on your computer

2. Tap the F11 key repeatedly untill your computer boots into recovery mode

3. Follow the instructions to reimage your computer.

Please note some HP notebooks and desktops do not have this feature e.g. Probooks and Workstations. In these cases you will need to boot from the recovery CDs that cme with the unit. 

HP Elitepad 900 – How to restore windows 8 when startup repair and recovery fails

Windows 8 has some good features, especially backup and restore. One of the very first things you should do is to copy the recovery partition to a USB drive. This can be done through windows 8 just search for “create recovery” or “backup”.

For most issues holding the power button + volume down button will get you into the startup menu and recovery mode. However once in a while a unit gets its hard drive corrupted and will fail to recover/ fail to fix windows startup. In this case you will need to get into CMD prompt and format the hard drive before it lets you do a recovery from the USB you created earlier.

Please note only attempt the following if you already created a recovery USB.

1. Hold power + volume down button to boot into menu screen.
2. Select F11 recovery.
3. Select Troubleshoot.
4. Select Advanced.
5. Choose command prompt (CMD).
6. Once inside command prompt type DISKPART and press enter. now diskpart will launch. use it to format your hard drive: type list volume, then type select volume <x>, replace <x> with the OS volume number (usually volume 0) and then type clean to delete the volume. More info on how to do this at http://www.techhack.co.uk/2011/03/31/format-a-hard-drive-with-command-prompt/
7. once you have wiped your hard drive power off your elitepad. Plug in the recovery USB and power on the unit as step 1.
8. Select F11 recovery, then troubleshoot and then reset your PC. It will ask if you want to keep the original partition or re-partition the drive. I always choose to repartition the drive just like factory original.
9. Wait about 3 hours for the recovery and then unplug the recovery USB and your elitepad should work like new again.

HP Chromebook - How to reset Google’s Chrome OS to factory defaults

There are two ways to reset your chrome book to factory defaults, also called a Powerwash.

Without signing in:

1. On the sign-in screen, hold down the Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R keys.
2. In the Factory Reset your Chrome device window, click Restart .

If you are signed in:

1. Click the status area of the taskbar (located on the bottom right corner of the screen) and then click Settings .
2. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings page and click Show advanced settings .
3. In the Factory Reset section, click Reset .
4. Click Restart to begin resetting the Chromebook.

HP Slate 7 - How to reset tablet to factory settings

The following applies to HP Slate 7 tablets with Android 4.1/Jelly Bean operating system.
Resetting factory settings when inside the OS:

1. From the Home screen, touch the All apps icon, and then touch the Settings icon.
2. In the Personal section, touch Backup & reset.
3. Touch Factory data reset.
4. Touch Reset tablet.
5. If you set a lock screen password for your tablet, enter your password when prompted. The tablet will power off and a recovery system screen shows the reset process. When the reset is complete, the tablet will reboot.

Resetting to factory settings while unit is powered off:

Sometimes the unit will not boot properly or if the screen unlock password is unknown a reset without turning on the slate is needed.

1. With the tablet powered off, press and hold the volume down , volume up , and power buttons at the same time.
2. When an HP logo appears on the screen, release the buttons. After a few seconds, the Android system recovery menu appears.Use the volume down button to move the highlighted selection to wipe data/factory reset.
3. Press the power button to select.
4. The screen displays Confirm wipe of all user data? THIS CAN NOT BE UNDONE. Use the volume down button to move the highlight down to Yes — delete all user data .
5. Press the power button to confirm and begin the reset.
6. A recovery system screen shows the reset process. Wait for the reset process to complete. When the screen says Data wipe complete, highlight reboot system now , and then press the power button to select.