Reinstall Windows on Used HP Elitedesk 800 G1

peuwayaqdq on 30/10/2023 - 22:59

Hi all, I purchased a used HP Elitedesk 800 G1 from BNEACTTRADERS eBay store a while back. Recently I have issues with the networking (Ethernet won't connect) and WiFi (USB wifi adapter) connects to the router but no Internet.

I did system restore but unfortunately after system restore the PC won't boot. It throws Windows Stop Code 0xc000021a.

How do I reinstall Windows on used desktop like this? It came with Windows 10 pre-installed but I don't have the product key. Their website shows how to reinstall Windows but doesn't mention about product key and activation? Any feedback will be appreciated. Thank you.

Computing Microsoft Operating System

Comments

  • FireRunner on 30/10/2023 - 23:00
    +4

    Windows Key is saved on the motherboard. It'll automatically activate when you reinstall it

  • scrimshaw on 30/10/2023 - 23:04
    +4

    You don't need to manually enter a product key. That's a prebuilt system made by Dell, not a whitebox techfast PC. The OEM license key is tied to the hardware and will automatically activate once windows is installed and you're connected to the internet.

    • peuwayaqdq on 30/10/2023 - 23:05

      Thank you.

    • dcep on 31/10/2023 - 02:22

      what about system that came with Win10 and did a fresh install to Win11 ?

      • destiper on 31/10/2023 - 06:46
        +1

        You can use your W10 key to activate W11

      • JimB on 31/10/2023 - 09:10
        +1

        I'm sure you could install Win11 from a Win7 machine.

        You may have to override the hardware requirements but Win11 is just as fast as Win10 on an old machine.

        • Chandler on 01/11/2023 - 08:11

          Not any more. The free upgrade ended in (surprisingly) 2016, but you could still do it after that anyway.

          Microsoft has now stopped all free upgrades from Win 7/8.

          • JimB on 01/11/2023 - 08:55
            +1

            @Chandler: Had a quick Google, you appear to be correct. Look to have ended in September 2023.

            So it took them 7 years to actually proceed with their threat! haha

            However you would think that anyone who had a Win7 machine would have either already upgraded to 10/11 or tossed out their machine by now.

            If you had a Win7 product key, upgraded to Win10/11 on a machine, and then formatted the HDD, would you still be able to install Win10/11 using that Win7 product key? e.g. Will MS associate that that Win7 product key with Win10/11?

            • Chandler on 01/11/2023 - 10:24

              @JimB: My previous laptop had a (likely bootleg) copy of Windows 2000 installed, with a purchased upgrade to Windows XP and then a purchased/free? upgrade to Windows 7.

              • JimB on 01/11/2023 - 10:31

                @Chandler: I had a read online and while Win 7 > Win 11 stopped working for one release of Win 11, but now is working again (upgradable) for the latest release of Win 11.

                https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-11/289957/microsoft…

                I'd be interested to see if you could upgrade your Win 2000 era laptop to Win 11 haha

                • Chandler on 01/11/2023 - 11:02

                  @JimB: Don't have the laptop anymore unfortunately. My current one came with Windows 8, and has already been upgraded to Windows 10. Not interested in moving to Windows 11 at this stage, and potentially moving away from Windows altogether.

            • Chandler on 01/11/2023 - 11:09
              +1

              @JimB:

              If you had a Win7 product key, upgraded to Win10/11 on a machine, and then formatted the HDD, would you still be able to install Win10/11 using that Win7 product key? e.g. Will MS associate that that Win7 product key with Win10/11?

              TL;DR: ask Microsoft.

              Yes…? If it was an OEM license, those are stored on the hardware (this Stack Overflow Exhange post has some good information) and a reinstall should find that license and re-activate. If it was a Retail license you have a product key and/or have associated that license with a Microsoft account. If you have upgraded that retail Win7 license to Win10, you should be able to use that same license to reinstall Win10/11 in my opinion, but you'd need to check the EULA.

    • bdl on 31/10/2023 - 10:46

      *HP :)

  • Chandler on 01/11/2023 - 08:14

    Have you reached out to ACT Support? They can be hard to reach - I don't think they have a huge roster, and I'm typically calling them at break times at work, which likely correspond to their own staff's break times… - but every one of my dealings with them have been positive.

    • peuwayaqdq on 12/11/2023 - 22:24
      +1

      I created a bootable Win 10 ISO and was able to install Win 10 successfully. Thanks.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join