Hp G42 Notebook Pc In Repair Loop

Hello all, QueenLi is the screen name I am using and I am new to Major Geeks. My HP G42 notebook pc continuously does the repair loop. It will not allow me to boot to the log on screen. This has been going on for a while. I finally got fed up and decided to become a member of Major Geeks to ask for everyone's help in fixing this issue. The notebook was manufactured in 2010. Bios Version F.29 Processor type AMD Turion(tm) 11 P520 Dual Core Processor with a processor speed of 2300MHz.

Originally, the laptop came with Win 7. Microsoft allowed me to update to Win 10 free of charge. I tried to reinstall Windows 10 using a USB drive with the ISO file from Microsoft. It boots from the USB but when I get to the window's product key screen I'm stuck because I don't have the win 10 product key code. I tried putting in my win 7 key but that didn't work. Occasionally my notebook pc manages to give me my log on screen so I tried logging on. The new issue is that when I log on it tells me my device is offline and my password is incorrect. Please help.

 

For one thing, you need to re-install your device drivers including ethernet and/or wi-fi, depending on how you connect to the internet. That way, the computer will be able to connect to the Microsoft server for activation and your Windows 10 Network logon will work.

Your Windows 7 Product Key is what activated Windows 10.

Go to the HP Support site, key in whichever number they ask for and go to the Drivers section to download the device drivers for your computer. Be advised that Windows 10 drivers may not be available but, the Windows 7 drivers should work.

 

Is your login your email, or a username for a local account? It sounds like you're using your email.

The main issue is that you've reinstalled without retrieving your W10 product key beforehand. If you have not logged in to your desktop and connected to WiFi, you will be told you are "offline", which seems like a fairly self defeating circle. Does your PC have an ethernet port to hardwire it?

You will need to contact Microsoft, provide them with your W7 license key, and have them generate you a new W10 product key to complete the reinstall you began.

 

In the original post QueenLi states that she got the free update to Win 10 from Win 7. It was her Win 7 Key that activated Win 10. Once Win 10 has been on the machine, a Digital Key is assigned to that machine. She shouldn't have to contact Microsoft. It's also obvious from her oriinal post that she used a Microsoft sign-on rather than a local one and since it stated the computer was listed as offline, she's not connecting to the internet.

I, too, have an AMD based computer and Windows 10 did not automatically install ethernet or Wi-fi drivers. I had to download them from Dell and install them before I could go online with the AMD based computer. — On my Intel C2D, Win 10 automatically installed the ethernet driver.

 

If the OP cannot login, then drivers cannot be installed. Not every machine ends up with a working digital key embedded like some type of SLP key or in the UEFI like a W8 machine.

The best bet for a refresh is to hold "Shift" before restarting, and refresh Windows from the boot menu instead of using a flash drive. Thus, Windows will have it's "Digital Key" without asking for it.

Is there an option at the Activation screen to select "I don't have a product key" during install from the USB stick?

 

Device drivers can be installed during OS installation but, it would require modifying the OS media using a program like NTLite.

The Win 10 digital key is kept on a Microsoft server and associated with the Microsoft account and that particular machine, not embedded. It was how I was able to activate my Win 10 Insider Preview, which required signing in with my Microsoft account, and change it from Core to Pro.

If there''s no Recovery partition, there's nothing to refresh from.

There should be because the Win 10 USB install is the same as installing from ISO/DVD.

 

Slipstreaming drivers into an image is a bit advanced for most computer users.

If you use a Local Account, you don't have a stored key on a server. Not everyone uses their email for Windows. I myself don't. If the OP does have a key stored under a Microsoft Account, one can log in and retrieve it from another machine. However, resetting a password in this case will not help without an internet connection. That's why I asked if it could be hard wired.

If you restart any W10 install while pressing the Shift key, try "Troubleshoot", "Reset this PC". Reinstall, no key required. No recovery partition required.

The OP has not mentioned the option "I don't have a product key", so it is pertinent to inquire about it.

 

Thought of a workaround:

Install the OS from the USB using a "Local Account" by selecting "I don't have a product key". Once the OS is installed and you are logged in via a NON EMAIL Local Account (select the options not to use an email during install) on the PC, you can install drivers for your machine via removable media like a USB stick provided you cannot hardwire the machine to a network with an ethernet cable.

Once you have everything set up and working via a Local Account, you can switch over to your Microsoft Account email.

 

Both Windows 8.1 and 10 detect any available wi-fi connections during setup. Select "Skip this step" in order to be able to sign in with a local account. Then install drivers and switch to your Microsoft Account sign-in (if desired) as the mekanic suggests.