Do a fresh install of Windows 11 while preserving ability to revert back to a factory reset

I would like to do a fresh install of Windows 11. I purchased an ASUS Vivobook Laptop recently that I like quite a bit. It is my understanding that it is possible to recover your computer to it's factory state because there is a recovery partition when you look in disk management. Actually, my laptop has two recovery partitions. I guess Windows makes one and ASUS makes the other. Here is what I see when I look in disk management:

Disk 0
Healthy (EFI System) Partition
Healthy (Recovery Partition)
Healthy (Recovery Partition)
OS: C (Healthy Boot, Page File...)

I guess what I'd like to ask is can I do a fresh install of Windows 11 and still have the ability to restore my computer back to its factory state like it was when I first got it?

If I want the ability to do this, should I not delete any recovery partitions when installing Windows fresh? I don't know which Recovery Partiton ASUS made and which partition Windows made.

Also, I do not store any personal data on my C:\ drive. All that is kept on an external drive.

I guess I would like some advice or clarity on this.

I will add that I use Acronis True Image to make all of my backup images.

If I were doing it I'd start with an in-place upgrade of the same version and build first, avoid losing anything. Changing any of those smaller partitions on the drive can cause loss of the factory restore function. I've done it using the USB Thumb drive [8GB] made using the MCT/Microsoft Media Creation Tool but not booted to it, just ran the setup.exe file on it.

357mag said:

to recover your computer to it's factory state because there is a recovery partition when you look in disk management.

Click to expand...

They could both very well be Windows Recovery Partitions. Did you upgrade from 23H2 to 24H2? This is a good point at which Windows can make a 2nd Recovery Partition

1. You haven’t specified your exact build.
2. You haven’t specified your exact ASUS model.
3. Also, please show a screenshot of Disk Management

What does ASUS say about Factory Reset on their website for your Laptop? As we have no idea what it is, we cannot look.
Some vendors ask you to download the factory setup. Like a couple of Dell’s I have owned.

Build is 26100. Model is F1605VA. I have enclosed a screenshot of Disk Management.

357mag said:

I guess what I'd like to ask is can I do a fresh install of Windows 11 and still have the ability to restore my computer back to its factory state like it was when I first got it?

Click to expand...

What I do with every new computer (*mine or others)
- OOB image (tin-foil hat mode ... Macrium Reflect AND Acronis Backupper + boot USBs)
- backup (copy) image files
- clean install

That 1.03gb is not big enough for a factory image.

have a look with something like diskgenius free version and see what is inside them

run diskgenius click on the partition in diskgenius left pane

click the FILES tab

I would like to do a fresh install of Windows 11.

Click to expand...

If that is a 13th gen intel you might need a minor faff with irst drivers to do an install from booted media or turn off vmd in bios if it is there


apparently not need for loonylake with 24h2

357mag said:

Build is 26100. Model is F1605VA. I have enclosed a screenshot of Disk Management.

Click to expand...

I can’t see how either of those Recovery Partitions could possibly hold a Factory Reset state. My guess is that they are both created by Windows.

Having said that, the only reference to factory settings in your Laptop manual, is that Windows allows a reset (Windows reset in Windows settings). So maybe, just maybe, that smaller recovery (260MB) partition holds propriatorey info/setting/bloatware? Although I doubt that very much.
The other Recovery Partition I can only guess is a Windows created Recovery Partition.

Another possibility is that you cannot see the Factory Reset partition by design.
There is also a section in the manual for “Recovering Your System” but it uses Windows Reset options
Somehow maybe, the propriatorey install is tied in to this, also by design

As @SIW2 mentions, you’ll have to inspect all partitions on the drive, properly.

Just to mention. My Lenovo Yoga laptop created the recovery partition info when I first ran its propriatorey software/driver updater.
Did your laptop come with anything installed, ASUS software? Have you inspected it?

EDIT: Maybe it was my Dell. It’s all a blur.