How to Factory Reset HP Stream 14 Laptop

Resetting your computer is necessary if you need to sell or give it to somebody else. It is also an effective but radical troubleshooting measure. Knowing how to factory reset an HP laptop will help you delete all the personal or malicious data in a couple of minutes.

Also, resetting your laptop every six months will prevent your computer from slowing down as it cleans it from unnecessary data.

Read this article to learn all about factory reset of HP laptops using different methods. You can choose between preserving your data or completely deleting everything. We will also explain how to complete HP Stream 14 hard reset.

In fact, you can restore any HP laptop to factory settings using these instructions regardless of its model. Here are various methods depending on your situation and your computer’s condition.

Hewlett Packard factory restore preparation

If your computer functions well and is not infected with viruses, create a backup before resetting it. Factory restore will delete all contents from your hard drive. You can later use this backup data on your new device or store it just in case.

Note that the data might include not only the files you store but also passwords and browser settings. So before you start, find the password linked to your Microsoft account, serial keys to all the paid licensed software, and disks with installation program. You might need them during factory reset or after it.

How to factory reset HP laptop on Windows 10

It is the first and fastest method you should try. However, it only works when you still have access to your computer, and it functions normally.

Here is the first way to factory reset an HP on Windows 10:

1. Firs, go to the Start menu.
2. Go to the menu and use the search function. Enter Reset and browse through the available options.
3. Select Reset this PC from the list and confirm your action.

And the second way:

1. On the Settings tab you can see a menu where you need to select Update and Security.
2. Then from the available functions, click on Recovery. This is where you will find all the restore options for the different functions.
3. Select the first option from the available ones and click on Start.

Then you will need to choose from the multiple options described below.

Here you can choose between alternatives of Keep my files and Remove everything. It all depends on your needs. The first option is better for those who want to continue using their device. The second one suits better to those who don’t plan to use this PC in the future.

If you selected Keep my files, choose Next and Reset. All done!

Remove everything has two options: Only the drive where Windows is installed and All drives. Selecting any of them means that your computer settings will be returned to their default, and all your software will be deleted.

Next step: you will see Remove files and clean the drive or Just remove my files choice. Choose the one that applies to your goals.

Then press Next and Reset no matter what options you have chosen. Wait for several minutes till the process is finished.

How do you factory reset an HP laptop with Windows 7 or 8?

If you want to know how to factory reset an HP laptop, then here is a simple guide. The algorithm of the instructions is not much different from the algorithms for other versions of Windows, although it has its own peculiarities. So to do HP laptop hard reset on versions 8 and 9 of the software, just follow the instructions:

1. The first thing to do is run the restart function, and wait for the screen to turn on. Now you need to press the F key.
2. Your screen will now show embedded reset prompts. You need to follow them and confirm all actions. After that, the reset process will start, which takes quite some time. It is better to connect your laptop to the network beforehand.
3. After the laptop shuts down during the reset process, turn it on and check if everything worked. The settings should return to baseline.

How to reset an HP laptop with Windows recovery

You can still reset your computer even if you cannot access its settings for some reason.

Windows Recovery Mode was made for these occasions. Before you start, try to find your Windows recovery key. You will need it later. Then use the following guide to factory reset your HP laptop on Windows 10:

1. First you will need to disconnect external devices (mouse, flash drives, etc.) on the turned off laptop. But at the same time connect the laptop to the power.
2. When switching the device on, press F11. It is better to do it several times.
3. You will be faced with a choice about the status of your files: save them or delete them.
4. Make your choice and then go to the Reset function.

Hewlett Packard factory restore with HP Recovery Manager

This method is almost similar to the previous one but does not require a Windows recovery key:

1. Follow steps 1-3 of the prior section.
2. Then select Recovery Manager.
3. Select System Recovery.
4. Then you can choose to back up your files or recover your laptop without backing it up.
5. Select Next.

Do not unplug your computer or shut it down until you see Recovery is complete on your screen.

How to reset an HP laptop on Windows 10 with a disk

You need a Windows setup CD or DVD to use the guides below. Try to remember how you installed Windows on your laptop to find the disk.

Once you find the disk, follow this guide to complete the HP laptop factory reset:

1. Insert the prepared disk and turn off the device.
2. After powering on, you will see the setup screen.
3. In the Troubleshoot tab, select the System Restore option.
4. Select your operating system from the choices offered.
5. Next, confirm your actions several times. Now the process will start, and then the device will reboot. After powering on, the restore will be completed.

How to hard reset an HP laptop on Windows 10

Use hard reset to troubleshoot your computer in such cases: your cursor is not moving, software got “frozen,” or there is another bug. This method cleans your computer’s RAM and finishes all the processes. It is not the same as the factory reset because none of your data will be affected.

HP Stream 14 hard reset guide:

1. Disconnect and remove all external devices, including the power supply.
2. Turn off your laptop.
3. Find the battery compartment on your laptop.
4. Take off the cover.
5. Remove the battery.
6. Press the power button and hold it.
7. Put the battery back.
8. Put the cover back.
9. Turn on your computer.
10. Select Start Windows Normally and press Enter.
11. Wait for a couple of minutes.

HP Stream 14 factory reset is completed!

What if the HP Stream factory reset failed?

You can still reset an HP Stream laptop even if you failed on the first try. There can be a small bug that your laptop can fix on the second attempt.

Follow these steps if HP stream 14 factory reset is not working:

1. Turn the computer off using the power button.
2. Turn it on using the power button and start pressing Escape repeatedly.
3. After seeing the HP Startup menu, press F2.
4. Select System Test.
5. Select Quick Test.

When the test is finished, you will get a report that describes your problem. It is also possible that the system will solve it on its own. Otherwise, you will get explanations and further guidelines in the report.

If everything works fine from now, return to the previous sections and repeat the HP Stream 14 factory reset cycle.

How to factory reset an HP laptop without a password

Many users often encounter a problem when they need to reset HP laptop that they don't know the password. But don't panic, this can be fixed. In that case, you first need to reset the password, and then reset the HP laptop. To make it easier for you to understand, here are the detailed instructions:

1. First, you will need Windows Password Refixer program. It's best to download it to a flash drive and use it to open it on your computer. When the program starts, you will see the Reset Password button and click on it. Now restart your laptop. After turning on, the problem with the password should be eliminated. If it worked, go to the next step.
2. On the running laptop, find the Help section. In it, select Windows Recovery Environment and confirm the action.
3. Then your laptop will reboot and you will see the Recovery Manager window. Follow the built-in prompts for resetting.

How to keep your Windows drivers up to date to avoid a factory reset

In order to keep your computer running smoothly, so you don't have to do an HP reset laptop, it is important to keep your drivers up to date. But users often forget this and then experience breakdowns. In order to keep your drivers always up-to-date, you can activate the built-in feature of your operating system. Windows Update is a very useful feature that will automatically activate driver updates as soon as they become available. If you don't have this feature enabled, here are the instructions to help you activate it.

1. First, you need to go into Device Manager. You can find it by using the search function on the Start menu. Here you will find the Update Driver button.
2. In the window that opens, select the Search Automatically for Drivers option. Select this tab and open it.
3. The Software will now automatically start searching for available updates. If they are available, the drivers will be updated. Done!