i have a Compaq Presario CQ57-229WM Notebook that i got from my son that i cannot do anything with. it is filled with viruses and i tired going on Windows.com but all they gave me was "The product key you entered appears to be for software pre-installed by the device manufacturer. Please contact the device manufacturer for software recovery options." when i went to the device manufacturer website i have no clue what do to.
what would be the best way to do a clean reinstall
>i have no windows reinstall disc only the laptop
Follow this dude,
http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/Compaq-Presario-CQ57-Notebook-PC-series/5091489/model/5111956/document/c01867418/
they have a built in recovery program (a small partition on the hard drive) to reinstall windows, if it is viruses then you need to do the destructive Factory Reset option
burn a windows disk or use a usb and use the pre installed key. that s how we are doing in a small firm.
copy the key with ProduKey from nirsoft
Is installing a Linux distribution a possibility?
>>122334
- run the Windows 10 updater; install Windows 10 on laptop
- on a separate computer, use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to make a Windows 10 install USB
- boot laptop from install USB, wipe, install
- Windows 10 will activate by digital entitlement
- profit
>>122872
>Is installing a Linux distribution a possibility?
For the computer, yes.
For you, no.
You can't even work a recover partition. Linux will vex you.
