Clean install OS

[darkosh]

I bought my laptop with Windows 10 Home preinstalled... Anyway, today I want to perform a clean install, but to the way when it was originally shipped--with Windows 10 Home... then, of course I'll upgrade to Windows 11.

There are folders in my C drive that contain customizations, programs, instructions, etc.

C:\hp ==> contains folders bin, bridge, support, etc.

C:\Recovery ==> Customizations, OEM, ReagentOld.xml

C:\System.sav ==>CONFIG, Flags, logs, util, etc.

The Customizations folder in C:\Recovery contains InstallOrder.ini and usmt.ppkg.

How can I instruct Windows to restore the OS to factory reset but from these folders. Is there any possible way to do this, or any HP Utility?

Thank you for reading.

[banhien · Accepted solution]

@darkosh 

I don't know what do you mean CLEAN install. You can

1. Restore your machine back from day 1 using Cloud Recovery tools

                          https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

                          https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4511095-4511141-16

2. Install Windows 11 and keep all your data/programs using

                       https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11  

3. Install Windows 11 and keep all your data/programs using

                       https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11   (as above BUT untick keep option)

From my view option 2 will save time a lot and very close to your requirement.

Regards.

Regards.

[darkosh]

Thank you.

What I actually did was I went with the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft and reinstalled Windows with all partitions erased, but saved all HPs customizations and folders on my other PC, just in case. 

I've noticed what actually those folders do is that they have instructions of repartitioning the whole drive and setting Windows to Windows 10 Home S. However, I opted out from S, since obviously I can't install programs outside Microsoft Store, and then the OS was set to Home edition. And since my license is digitally linked to my Outlook account -- and because I upgraded to Windows 11 when it first came out -- it would still upgrade itself to Windows 11 Home even if I go back to Win 10 because I clearly remember this was as a notification (warning) that I would not be able to go back to Win 10 Home. Anyway, I was just curious... I love Windows 11. 🙂

Thank you all the same, and sorry for the belated response.