Windows 11 Setup Halt Before Selling PC

[ChrisLoudon]

Hi guys,

 

I am about to retire a number of old MS Surface Pro's and sell them on eBay but I would like to have the new owner(s) to be able to continue the Windows setup procedure as if they were getting something hot off the shelf.

 

Can I just go ahead and start a fresh install of Windows process then turn off the machine as soon as the first bit of user input is required asking for 'Computer Name' or 'Network Name'???

 

They can then continue where I left off and enter their own MS credentials rather than undo anything I have done.

 

Thanks

 

C 

[fade2black001]

1 hour ago, ChrisLoudon said:

Hi guys,

 

I am about to retire a number of old MS Surface Pro's and sell them on eBay but I would like to have the new owner(s) to be able to continue the Windows setup procedure as if they were getting something hot off the shelf.

 

Can I just go ahead and start a fresh install of Windows process then turn off the machine as soon as the first bit of user input is required asking for 'Computer Name' or 'Network Name'???

 

They can then continue where I left off and enter their own MS credentials rather than undo anything I have done.

 

Thanks

 

C 

You can install windows without the use of a key if that's what you're asking

[leclod]

I vote yes, just stop installation when Windows starts asking questions.

You can check by powering ON again. Windows should start asking the same questions again

I believe I did this in the past

Edited February 10 by leclod

[C2dan88]

2 hours ago, ChrisLoudon said:

Can I just go ahead and start a fresh install of Windows process then turn off the machine as soon as the first bit of user input is required asking for 'Computer Name' or 'Network Name'???

You can safely turn the pc off after the windows installer first restarts the pc. The usb no longer required  to finish install.

 

But if you want to install drives as such, you need to create your own (offline) account. Install necessary drivers. Then put windows in audit/oobe mode. So when customer turns pc on they will be greeted with windows setup for user account, network connection etc.

https://askleo.com/set-up-windows-10-again-with-the-windows-out-of-box-experience-oobe/

[ChrisLoudon]

28 minutes ago, C2dan88 said:

You can safely turn the pc off after the windows installer first restarts the pc. The usb no longer required  to finish install.

 

But if you want to install drives as such, you need to create your own (offline) account. Install necessary drivers. Then put windows in audit/oobe mode. So when customer turns pc on they will be greeted with windows setup for user account, network connection etc.

https://askleo.com/set-up-windows-10-again-with-the-windows-out-of-box-experience-oobe/

Thanks for that.

 

Its a Surface Pro 4 so there will be a few additional drivers that will need installed first.

 

Windows Update usually does the trick with these but probably better I do it.

 

Cheers

 

[ageekhere]

Might want to run the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser tool before reselling.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/microsoft-surface-data-eraser

[m9x3mos]

On 2/10/2024 at 4:38 AM, ChrisLoudon said:

Hi guys,

 

I am about to retire a number of old MS Surface Pro's and sell them on eBay but I would like to have the new owner(s) to be able to continue the Windows setup procedure as if they were getting something hot off the shelf.

 

Can I just go ahead and start a fresh install of Windows process then turn off the machine as soon as the first bit of user input is required asking for 'Computer Name' or 'Network Name'???

 

They can then continue where I left off and enter their own MS credentials rather than undo anything I have done.

 

Thanks

 

C 

On that screen you can press shift  f10 to access command prompt. 

You can then type 

shutdown -t 0

And the computer will shutdown gracefully. 

You can even access explorer that way I install drivers if you want or use

start ms-settings:

That will pull up the settings menu if you want to run windows update. 

I use that any time I am setting up a pc for resale.