Windows 10: Reset Windows with Older Recovery Partition

I purchased a Lenovo L440 with Windows 8.1 and a license for Office 2013 (it came preinstalled, no separate key). I upgraded to Windows 10 when that came available. Now I need to perform a full reset (refresh isn't good enough).

Unfortunately, doing a reset as is means I'm getting a fresh install of Windows 10 but that doesn't include the copy of Office 2013 or any of the other Lenovo software that originally came with the computer (blessing?).

a) Is there a way to at least get back Office 2013 and activate it somehow?

b) When I upgraded to Windows 10 it created its own recovery partition but the original Lenovo OEM Windows 8.1 partition wasn't deleted. Is there a way to get computer to reset using that recovery partition instead? At least then it would create a fresh install with those factory settings then I can upgrade everything from there.

Edit / Updates: Reason for reset is to deal with malware. Refresh could leave it behind.

Here's image of what partitions look like. Ignore Disk 2. That's a usb.

:)

 

Windows 10 Reset and Missing Recovery Partition

I upgraded an older Windows 7 PC to Windows 10 awhile back and at some point I guess I deleted the Recovery partition for some reason.

Now I need to use the Win10 "Reset this PC" to restore Win10, but I am unable to because the Recovery partition can't be found.

Is there any way to recreate the Recovery partition? I found a similar post that suggested using AOMEI OneKey Recovery, but I think that creates a Recovery partition in their format, but maybe I am wrong.

Can I create a USB Recovery drive from another PC with the same version of Win10 and use it on the PC missing the partition?

 

Windows 10 1709 - wsappx process high cpu load & and black screen after login for some users

We had to do exactly the same; any form of recovery offered by Dell reintroduced the issues: Recovery Partition, Recovery USB shipped by Dell Support.

Only when using older Windows 10 media would the Dell machines work properly.

 

There's the Windows Reset that reinstalls Win10 but there should be a choice on maybe the F12 key menu at initial bootup to set it back to Factory Restore, same as when it shipped. I've had to do a few.

I don't know if the dealer installed Office or not, none of my new ones came with Office from the manufacturer.

I use ShowKeyPlus to get the Windows key/s [posted on this forum] but maybe the free Belarc Advisor can give up the Office key. There are some paid-for programs available that can do it.
Belarc - System Management For The Internet Age. Software license management, IT asset management, IT security audits and more.

 

Welcome to TenForums @please55

Why do you feel you need to do a reset? If you have problems an in-place repair install may be a better fix. You can keep all your files and installed apps that way.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

 

Do you have onekey recovery?

Introduction to Lenovo OneKey Recovery 8.0 for Notebooks

 

When I reboot and get to the recovery options via F11, the reset is still to the Windows 10 reset. I don't see an option to reset to the original factory settings (Windows 8.1). There's the typical troubleshooting option and reset/refresh but those are linked to Windows 10.

As per the image the Lenovo Partition is still there. Windows 10 is refreshing/resting to the recovery partition it created when I upgraded. Is there a way to set it to recover using the Lenovo recovery partition instead? Or Can I extract that recovery somehow?

I'll try Office key software you linked. Since the computer came with Office 2013 preinstalled, I don't have installation software. Would linking Office to an online account do the trick? Do you know if it would prompt to download office if I log in with that account after a reset?

Dealing with malware that might stick around if I do a refresh.

No. This model doesn't come with that.

 

It's simpler and quicker to download the free win10 ISO boot from it and do a clean install

 

I don't mind doing a clean install @Samuria. However a clean install will not come with Office 2013. I don't know where to get that office software as a download. Office 2013 came in pre-installed, hence I don't have a key for it either. That's the main dilemma atm.

 

Clear out the Malware then, Rkill, AdwCleaner and Malwarebytes should help.

Alternatively... this tool is NOT a Microsoft product, but the ISOs it downloads are.

Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

Recent TenForum topic: Microsoft office 2013 licence key

Whatever route you choose, it would be a good idea to make an image of your system first. That means you can go back and try again if it doesn't work.
Macrium Reflect - Backup and Restore
System Image - Create in Windows 10

 

There isn't any software that can retrieve the Office 2013 key - since that version of Office, MS has embedded it into the highly encrypted Software Licensing database (tokens.dat) (Click-to-run versions does have the key(unencrypted) in the registry but those are not widely used AFAIK, perhaps just Insiders?)

Those apps. that report the key will report the default installation key (which can't be activated ) - you will see in ADT, it only shows the partial key for Office 2013 (that is all that MS is prepared to let us have)

Are you sure it was not a trial version that expired? - not sure how long the trial version lasts before nagging - my full retail nags from day one.

 

Thanks for that info. Cleaning out the malware would seem to be @please55's only practical solution then.

 

from cmd prompt (admin)
Code: reagentc /disable Reagentc /setreimage /path \\?\GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\partition1\Recovery\WindowsRE\ /Target C:\Windows Reagentc /setosimage /path \\?\GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\partition6\RecoveryImage /index 1 reagentc /enable reagentc /info[/quote] Then post a pic of cmd window..

One could also Apply the Factory Image within the recovery partition to the OS partition

 

Sorry for the late reply. Got caught up in a few other things.

I ran the cmd code you provided and here is the screencap.





Does it square up with the first image I posted in OP?

 

Sure looks like it, should now Reset..