Solved Reset PC+remove_everything or OEM Factory Reset? Reuse the current name of the laptop or change to a new name?

Hello,

I botched my registry by changing the permissions to the C:Windows\System32\config folder so that I could cd into it and inspect the contents.
To try fixing the permissions, I did an xcopy /S/X/K (including all subdirs) from a Macrium image backup. This fixed it to some level because, as expected, I can no longer cd into C:Windows\System32\config. But something may still be broken because my Windows PIN and finger print
did not restore. Or maybe this is expected behavior -- the need to reenter them for security reasons - I don't know.

I also messed up the laptop's OneDrive folders while trying to move them and they are now empty or have subdirectories
which are empty. And I also have duplicate docs and pix folders. This is on Win11 Pro 25H2 (26200.6899) on a Lenovo Thinkpad.
Thankfully, my OneDrive (in the cloud) was not affected because I was doing the folder moves
after I had disabled syncing for the folders and I've also unlinked the PC from OneDrive. OneDrive is still installed but I'm signed out.

I can give more details on my attempt to move the OneDrive folders and how I landed with 2 each of Documents and Pictures folders.
But at this point, between the OneDrive folder issues plus the registry issue, I'm considering starting from scratch using
a Lenovo factory reset USB. Even if the shell folder directory structure could be fixed, I'm concerned that if I enable OneDrive with those folders blank, it would wipe out my cloud OneDrive and also delete all files on my other devices. In contrast, I'm assuming that a reset will cleanly remove my account with the busted folders, and going through OOBE and signing in with the Microsoft account will restore the proper directory structure so I can proceed with OneDrive as normal.

Prior to these mistakes, I had created the Thinkpad recovery media USB -- which I would use if I go with the factory reset route.

My question(s): as I go through OOBE should I reuse the current name of the laptop (which I had created during initial setup) or should I use a new name?
The Windows license came with the Thinkpad, and is activated and linked to my Microsoft account.
And this laptop name is already listed as one of my devices in my Microsoft account.
If I reuse the laptop name during a reset, would it show up as a duplicate device? If so, this sounds concerning because I wouldn't know which one to delete.
But if I change the name during a reset, will the device on my account eventually get updated with the new name or will it show up as a new device? If it shows up as new, is it safe to remove the device with the old name?
I'm not attached to the name, but would like some guidance on which option to take.

I guess the same question applies for any type of recovery that involves naming the laptop and signing in with a Microsoft account.

Windows' built in Reset this PC+Remove everything seems like another option to resolve both the registry and OneDrive folders issue.
Downside being I might need to restore Thinkpad drivers.
But I anyway did backup the Driver directory following option 1 of this tutorial

Some info I could find on recent Lenovo factory reset was this Lenovo windows “recovery” media and other animals – Ivan Krivyakov
Not much I could find on Reddit. And I haven't found any confirmation that Lenovo Thinkpads fully follow Microsoft's Bare metal recovery spec.
The laptop did came with a C:\Recovery directory which are almost sure to be Lenovo customizations (subdirs there are AutoApply, Customizations and OEM, and a ReAgentOld.xml file). Not sure though if USB recovery will somehow access these. Strangely, these subdirs/files are not the the Lenovo Recovery USB even though to use their USB creation tool I had to enter the Thinkpad's serial number which should have made it a custom USB.

Follow-up question: Is there a recommendation between Windows Reset PC+Remove everything or the Lenovo factory reset recovery USB?

If I were to go with Reset PC+Remove, I would follow Option1, do step6, cloud download & remove files from all drives based on this tutorial:
I only have 1 drive and I would want Windows to recreate the 'hidden' partitions.

My desired end state is OneDrive activated for selected shell folders and also set all files as "always keep in this device".
Then I will be taking the Macrium Reflect image with the actual files on the laptop (and also a file and folder backup of the Onedrive synced shell folders). That's what I should have done in the first place, before attempting to move the shell folders.

Thanks for reading. I'm just trying to give a much info as I can as background to the questions. This could have been split into different threads maybe but they are all somehow related. And thanks in advance for the help.

Step 1

Option One: Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media with Media Creation Tool

Step 2


You don't have to worry about activating Windows 11:

"If this is an OEM PC that has a valid product key embedded in its UEFI firmware chip, then you will not be prompted to enter a product key. Windows 11 will automatically use the embedded product key if its valid for the edition being installed."

After installation, Windows 11 will activate automatically.

@Celery Thank you. I will look through that tutorial.

Has anyone seen what happens with either keeping the laptop name or giving it a new one during reinstall/reset?

Is there an advantage with Clean Install vs Reset+Remove_everything?

@wax
please make sure you backup your drivers folder before any install of Windows please.

best of luck Steve ..

If you're planning a clean install you can have Windows backup files or you can manually backup files.

@XxXxX Thanks. I've backed up the drivers using Option 1 of that tutorial. Planning to restore using Option 5.

@zbook Thanks. I'm looking through your suggested Custom Install Tutorial which generates the .old folder. But I'm leaning towards clean install because I dont know if my permission changes to the System32/config (registry) has some unknown hooks to the other/hidden partitions (EFI, Recovery, MSR). I do have a Macrium Reflect Image which I can restore individual files from if needed. The unfortunate reason why I cannot just restore this entire MR image is because the Onedrive folders in them are empty - I had not downloaded a single file when I had taken that image.

I think I now know why @Celery is recommending a Clean Install instead of Reset. A Reset references System32/config. I see these references now in the logs in $SysReset when I stepped through it and aborted before connecting to Wi-Fi. I did this just to see what menus I would get with that flow. I'm going to copy the $SysReset contents to an external drive just in case they may be needed later (hopefully not).

I began Clean Install. Steps 7 and 8 were skipped as expected because both product key and Windows Edition are tied to the UEFI firmware chip. I'm now on step 10 and deleted all 4 partitions from Disk 0 (the only SSD on this laptop).

The bootable USB stick is, as expected, listed as Disk 1 with 2 partitions (ESD-USB and Unallocated Space). When I click on either one, there is a warning "Windows 11 cant be installed on disk 1 partition 1" (for the ESD-USB) or "Windows can't be installed on this drive." (for the Unallocated Space). The warning has a "show details" click through which elaborates that this disk/partition is MBR and OS can only be installed on GPT. Setup does not support configuration of or installation to disks connected through a USB or IEEE 1394 port. All of this is expected. I'll anyway disconnect the USB assuming whatever is needed for Clean Install is likely in system memory or will later be downloaded once I'm connected to a network.

Wow, got a Windows 11 install failed pop-up box. Then it went into Lenovo's automatic BIOS recovery.

So I'm back to BIOS and Disk 0 is cleared out.

I have a different "recovery USB" which was created (as per Lenovo instructions for this specific machine) via Windows Control Panel -> Recovery -> Create a Recovery Drive.
But I don't think it will work because it is just an entry point to get to option 2 of the Reset tutorial and this flow relies on the registry and probably the recovery partition as well.

I'll inspect the MCT USB -- maybe check the version in case that caused the install failure.
But using Lenovo's factory reset USB is tempting at this point.

During a custom install files are saved to windows.old.

The windows.old can be moved to another drive.

A clean install or factory reset can be performed.

Important files from windows.old can be restored.

Unimportant files from windows.old can be discarded.

It's an alternative to manually backing up files and benefits from a clean install.

if you have another system available burn the Windows ISO to USB using Rufus.
set the boot option as GPT Rufus will do the rest automatically before it starts the burn.

best of luck Steve ..

I'll inspect the MCT USB ..... sources\install.swm

get-wiminfo for Windows 11 Pro on index 6 is 10.0.26200 build 7462

should I have left the USB stick connected?

there is also an install2.swm and get-wiminfo for that one is the same

@zbook Thanks. Now I fully get what you were saying. Use custom install just to get the windows.old. And save this elsewhere. Then if the clean install doesn't work -- I would at least have windows.old that may be of help in recovery.

@XxXxX Thanks. I also have a Rufus USB. Was trying to avoid because I might botch that one but I'll read the tutorial on it again.

wax said:

@zbook Thanks. Now I fully get what you were saying. Use custom install just to get the windows.old. And save this elsewhere. Then if the clean install doesn't work -- I would at least have windows.old that may be of help in recovery.

Click to expand...

If a custom install is successful then drivers and applications are reinstalled and important files from windows.old are restored.

It's a very similar result to clean install.

The clean install disadvantage is having to manually backup files. The clean install advantage is reconfiguring partition architecture (old upgrades may have an extra orphaned recovery partition)

wax said:

@zbook Thanks. Now I fully get what you were saying. Use custom install just to get the windows.old. And save this elsewhere. Then if the clean install doesn't work -- I would at least have windows.old that may be of help in recovery.

@XxXxX Thanks. I also have a Rufus USB. Was trying to avoid because I might botch that one but I'll read the tutorial on it again.

Click to expand...

boot from the Rufus USB let Windows have the whole drive and just follow the yellow brick road.
best of luck Steve ..

wax said:

The bootable USB stick is, as expected, listed as Disk 1 with 2 partitions (ESD-USB and Unallocated Space). When I click on either one, there is a warning "Windows 11 cant be installed on disk 1 partition 1" (for the ESD-USB) or "Windows can't be installed on this drive." (for the Unallocated Space). The warning has a "show details" click through which elaborates that this disk/partition is MBR and OS can only be installed on GPT. Setup does not support configuration of or installation to disks connected through a USB or IEEE 1394 port.

Click to expand...

Windows cannot be installed on a USB (see image below).

wax said:

I'll anyway disconnect the USB assuming whatever is needed for Clean Install is likely in system memory or will later be downloaded once I'm connected to a network.

Wow, got a Windows 11 install failed pop-up box. Then it went into Lenovo's automatic BIOS recovery.

Click to expand...

Do not disconnect the USB until Windows 11 installation is complete.

wax said:

I'm now on step 10 and deleted all 4 partitions from Disk 0 (the only SSD on this laptop).

Click to expand...

"Delete all partitions on the Drive # (ex: Drive 0) you want to install Windows 11 until that Drive # shows only as one Unallocated Space, select the unallocated space, and click/tap on Next."

I bought a new laptop yesterday (Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10, Windows 11 Home). Today, I performed a clean installation of Windows 11. I used the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB stick.





The Windows 11 25H2 installation media did not recognize the laptop’s LAN network adapter. Lenovo had preinstalled all the drivers on the second SSD in the laptop (see image below).



After installing Windows 11 on this Intel-based system, it appears that there is no need to manually install additional drivers (except for the NVIDIA graphics driver), as Windows Update automatically installed the required drivers (see image below).

@Celery @XxXxX
I was just about to test my Rufus USB but then decided to try the MCT USB one more time while keeping the USB stick connected. Must have been doing this while Celery was posting
It worked and I even created a local account using Step 17 for Clean Install tutorial after naming the laptop. In other words, the reg add command to bypassnro can even by done after step 18 but before connecting to the network. Just ignore connecting but instead do Shift+F10

Also, when install network driver was being requested, I pointed it to the backup driver folder which had 260+ drivers. The network driver was discovered and possible all the other drivers were also restored. I'll confirm this later via Device Manager.

So I'm going to make sure this account has admin rights, disable bitlocker for now, remove as much telemetry as I know of. Then download Macrium and create an image of everything before I login with my Microsoft account and sign into OneDrive.

I wish I had the guts to have also created a D: data partition in step 10. But I didn't want to push my luck


Thanks to everyone - all of your responses helped! Plus the great tutorials from Brink.

Regarding the laptop name, I used a new one. The old one disappeared from my microsoft account -- within several hours after I logged into my microsoft account after the reinstall. The new laptop name has not yet appeared on my microsoft account eventhough activation on the laptop says the digital license is linked. Doesn't make sense but I read somewhere that this might take a few days. I'll update when something changes on that front.