Windows Reset Fail

[harrisonjr98]

Hey all! Last night I chose to reset windows on a laptop that I was going to sell. I went into the reset option, chose "remove all files & clean drive," and let it go on it's merry way, having done this before. One small problem- I left a logitech unifying receiver for a mouse in the USB port, which seemed to have led to the install being stuck on 1% when I woke up this morning. I left for work and it was still on 1% when I got back, even having removed the USB device. So I did something I was scared to do but couldn't think of another option- cold shut down the laptop.

Well, now it says "windows install failed, click OK to restart this PC and install windows" and whenever it restarts, that message shows up again. So I seem to be screwed in an infinite loop.

Short of sending it back for warranty repair, what can I do about this? Has anyone else been in this situation? Thanks in advance.

[iamdarkyoshi]

Just use another PC and grab a flash drive, and run this tool, assuming it was windows 10.

 

Boot to this flash drive after creating installation media, and delete all partitions on the hard drive, and select the one item left, which should be something like "Drive 0 Unallocated Space" or something.

 

Then let it install. Done.

[harrisonjr98]

22 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

Just use another PC and grab a flash drive, and run this tool, assuming it was windows 10.

 

Boot to this flash drive after creating installation media, and delete all partitions on the hard drive, and select the one item left, which should be something like "Drive 0 Unallocated Space" or something.

 

Then let it install. Done.

I should've expanded on this in the original post. I was thinking about doing this but I assumed that since it's an OEM key I would lose the windows license this way? I'm not really sure how OEM keys work like that.

[TetraSky]

45 minutes ago, harrisonjr98 said:

I should've expanded on this in the original post. I was thinking about doing this but I assumed that since it's an OEM key I would lose the windows license this way? I'm not really sure how OEM keys work like that.

You won't lose the windows license.

Even if you format the entire drive, remove the recovery partitions and what not, Windows 10 will auto-activate the moment the laptop connects to the internet because it was activated before. You don't need to enter any serial number during install, just skip that step if it ask you.

If, in the unlikely scenario that it doesn't activate, the serial number should be somewhere in the BIOS itself. If you cannot see it, there are tools that can do the job. So I would suggest booting into windows after formating to see what's up and then just reformat or reset afterward if you need to.

 

Be aware that formating will remove any drivers for the laptop, so if you don't "initialize" it yourself and fetch the drivers, the person you sell it to might not know how to install the missing drivers. (or that they are missing at all)

You could initialize it after formating and then run "reset this PC" through Windows like you've tried to do, which should keep the drivers you've installed.

[Ryujin2003]

2 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

You won't lose the windows license.

Even if you format the entire drive, remove the recovery partitions and what not, Windows 10 will auto-activate the moment the laptop connects to the internet because it was activated before. You don't need to enter any serial number during install, just skip that step if it ask you.

If, in the unlikely scenario that it doesn't activate, the serial number should be somewhere in the BIOS itself. If you cannot see it, there are tools that can do the job. So I would suggest booting into windows after formating to see what,s up and then just reformat afterward if you need to.

 

Be aware that formating, will remove any drivers for the laptop, so if you don't "initialize" it yourself and fetch the drivers, the person you sell it to might not know how to install the missing drivers. (or that they are missing at all)

 

45 minutes ago, harrisonjr98 said:

I should've expanded on this in the original post. I was thinking about doing this but I assumed that since it's an OEM key I would lose the windows license this way? I'm not really sure how OEM keys work like that.

Depending on how you tried to reset it, you may still have other options too. I would look into the USB as a legitimate option, but some laptop makers (HP, Dell, MSI) have the ability to reset differently than the original W10 way through troubleshooting. Sometimes this can be done even when you've jacked up the OS, as long as the recovery partition still works. Some brands, such as Lenovo, might not work since you messed up it's ability to boot properly. What brand are you using?

 

This way is ideal since it'll preload drivers. Otherwise, grab the USB, and call it a day. I would also follow TetraSky's advice, and install the drivers for them. Why? Because if they are a bonehead, they will tell you you sold them something garbage if something doesn't work properly.

[0x1e]

I would format TBH,

The key should be in the bios (but not normally accessible to you). When you go online it should activate this way.

If not, there should be a sticker somewhere on the laptop with the serial. Type that in and off you go.

An OEM key is linked to the hardware. So as long as you don't change the hardware of that system then it should stay activated until it breaks, or 99 years passes. Which ever comes first.

[harrisonjr98]

Thanks for the answers guys!

 

I grabbed a windows 10 image on a usb that I used last week to install on my brother's new build, and solved the issue.

 

Downloading relevant drivers for the buyer now.