HELP I FORMATTED MY HDD That had my OPERATING SYSTEM ON IT

Natecarter212

Prominent
Feb 17, 2017
1
0
510
So I tried to set up a new external hard drive I just bought but ended up formatting my main hard drive and now whenever I start up my pc I get a message saying An operating system wasn't found. Is there any way to just recover the os like if I contact windows? Because Id really like to not have to buy a whole new os. :(
 
Solution
Take the HD out, install it in another computer as the D: (or higher, as required) drive, then download an "unformat"software program, and run it for the "D or whatever" drive. Then reinstall it in the original computer. It might work.

Neur0nauT

Admirable
If you have access to another system, you can download the MS Media Creation Tool which will allow you to get a full copy of Windows 10 ISO image which can be copied onto a bootable USB flash drive which you can boot with to reinstall Windows.

The only thing you will have to worry about then is the license key. If you were previously running Windows 10, then your digital license will be registered with your Microsoft login, and it should activate automatically once you sign in. Or the license may be held within your UEFI bios which would also activate automatically when installed. If you have a Windows 7 key, you can attempt to use it to activate.
 

tom42

Honorable
Oct 30, 2014
79
0
10,640
Take the HD out, install it in another computer as the D: (or higher, as required) drive, then download an "unformat"software program, and run it for the "D or whatever" drive. Then reinstall it in the original computer. It might work.
 
Solution