Reinstalling Windows 10 with a laptop bought second-hand

f14tomcat said:

It looks clean and legit to me. Doesn't look like it came off a Caribbean Sailing Vessel. All up to date, too. For that version.

Cheers F14 - CEX would not sell a PC with a dodgy copy of Windows, they are a reputable store. I highly recommend them, all their products come with a TWO YEAR warranty.....

As you have a working machine, with all the OEM (HP, by the looks of it) drivers it needs, then at a minimum it would be sensible to back up the existing drivers in case they can't easily be found after a clean install.

Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

Personally I would make a system image of the machine as it stands on an external drive so that it can be restored to it's current state if all goes pear-shaped after a clean install. Macrium Reflect (free) is the tool of choice for most on the forum, but there is a built in 'make a system image' in 'Backup & restore (Windows 7)'.

HP has downloadable software to check the hardware.
Since it is second hand please perform a baseline check of the hardware using the on board HP tools.
The software is often available on the HP software and drivers website after entering the computer's serial or product number for downloading.
This is the latest version UEFI diagnostics 6.4: HP PC Hardware Diagnostics | HP® Official Site
After the latest software is installed:
In the evening power on the computer and repetitively click the F2 key.
It will open the BIOS diagnostics. Run the loop until failure test.
In the AM if the test is still running that is a good sign.
The testing is designed to automatically abort for any failure, even the battery. So a fail is also an incomplete test.
In the AM if it is still running click the keyboard escape key and verify the test results in the log.
You will then have tested the hardware and installed a fresh copy of the operating system.

david1806 said:

Cheers F14 - CEX would not sell a PC with a dodgy copy of Windows, they are a reputable store. I highly recommend them, all their products come with a TWO YEAR warranty.....

That's good it's all legit. BTW, if you have an old 7, 8, or 8.1 Pro key that's not being used (not installed on any other machine), you can enter that to upgrade free of charge. I just did that the other month. Worth a try if you do have. It's on that Activation page in Sttings > Change product key.

HippsieGypsie said:

That's good it's all legit. BTW, if you have an old 7, 8, or 8.1 Pro key that's not being used (not installed on any other machine), you can enter that to upgrade free of charge. I just did that the other month. Worth a try if you do have. It's on that Activation page in Settings > Change product key.

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain".

f14tomcat said:

And? Has no bearing on what I posted. He's got a running Home activated. If he wants Pro, he'll have to upgrade to Pro, then do a clean install again if he wants. Upgrading from Home to Pro has no bearing on how he clean installs Home, the subject of the thread.

It does if he upgrades first to get the Pro activation, then clean installs Pro.

BTW, my post wasn't directed you, but rather the OP, so no need to answer to my posts.