Reset Laptop to original settings

[Gremlin]

A few weeks ago my Dell laptop on Wndows 10 decided to swallow the tiny start button, did have a couple of problems to to coffee splashes.
Decided to go and buy a new one which came with W!!, hate it.
Took my old laptop to a local repair shop to see if they could get a couple of things off it, they did far better and it is now back up and running
perfectly.
I no longer need the new one so tried to reset earlier to wipe all my details off, but as soon as that was done it restarted and went straight to reinstall everything, anyone know how to stop that happening ?
I set it to reinstall from windows on the laptop, would setting to do that from cloud be ok or would it still have to signed in in my name to retrieve the operating system ?

 

[Nod]

Might be worth asking the place that did your Dell repair what the best way is to wipe the new one. They might even do it for you for a few quid.

 

[Gremlin]

Might be worth asking the place that did your Dell repair what the best way is to wipe the new one. They might even do it for you for a few quid.

Cheers Nod, that was my next option.
Why is Windows 11 such a pain
I've actually set up a new gmail account that I will use and it can stay on there if needs be, notlinked to me in any way

 

[Mr Bump]

I you just set the laptop to do a full install and reset which you do in settings then it will do what you have seen above, just turn it off at that point when it reboots and asks you to start the setup, then when the next owner turns it on they simply continue with the setup, whats difficult about that ?

 

[Gremlin]

I you just set the laptop to do a full install and reset which you do in settings then it will do what you have seen above, just turn it off at that point when it reboots and asks you to start the setup, then when the next owner turns it on they simply continue with the setup, whats difficult about that ?

That's what I hoped it would do, but it went straight into a restart without asking
I'll have another try later

 

[LC2]

That's what I hoped it would do, but it went straight into a restart without asking

I *think* you do what Mr Bump says. Power it off with the power button at the point it reboots.

But what is your problem with 11?
The start menu is meh, but works.
The missing right click options are easy enough to put back.
Apart from that, it's pretty much W10.

Bear in mind that W10 is only supported until sometime in 2025.

 

[Gremlin]

I *think* you do what Mr Bump says. Power it off with the power button at the point it reboots.

As above I did that and as soon as I released it, it started up again
Spoke to shop that repaired my Dell and they said the same.
I did tell him I have rebooted it with a throw away email and false details for the moment, it has nothing personal to me on it.
At least when I do sell it people can see that all is ok and reset it themselves.
Back in the box for now.
W11 is just far too evasive for me wants to be signed into everything and takes over doing things I don't wants it to.
Microsoft said W10 would be the last operating system and they would just keep updating, suppose that wasn't bringing in enough money for them

 

[Sangoma]

As above I did that and as soon as I released it, it started up again
Spoke to shop that repaired my Dell and they said the same.
I did tell him I have rebooted it with a throw away email and false details for the moment, it has nothing personal to me on it.
At least when I do sell it people can see that all is ok and reset it themselves.
Back in the box for now.
W11 is just far too evasive for me wants to be signed into everything and takes over doing things I don't wants it to.
Microsoft said W10 would be the last operating system and they would just keep updating, suppose that wasn't bringing in enough money for them

Yes, I think money is the root of it.

On Windows 10, you used to be able to set it up without a Micro$oft account, since a recent "upgrade" it won't allow you to do that.

However, if when you get to that stage, you turn your router off and wait a while, it will continue without an account.

It is possible w11 may do the same, but I am not going to try it

 

[ancient_mariner]

Interesting. I've upgraded a couple of windows boxes to W11 that were previously running 10 without needing an account, but I'd not realised a fresh install would be so determined.

I suspect that like 7, W10 will be supported for a lot longer than the original drop-dead date.

 

[Mr Bump]

you can build a W11 Pc without the creating a microsoft account guff.
google rufus usb creator and it has the option to do it, its just a switch that MS don't tell you about.

personally i find w11 really good once you just set it up and get on with the job in hand