Lenovo Factory Reset

joey1211 · 29 Nov 2018 at 11:17

I'm trying to factory reset a Lenovo PC. But cant get access to the partition. Hitting F11 on boot takes me into the Lenovo Recovery Software and when I choose to reset it reboots and takes me into the Windows reset software where it will only give me the option of restoring to an earlier version that I have previously created which has never happend.

Any ideas?

Glanza · 29 Nov 2018 at 11:44

Any software currently installed reference Lenovo backup and restore?

joey1211 · 29 Nov 2018 at 12:29

Yep, that's on there. There is no option for a factory restore in there

xb8browney · 29 Nov 2018 at 12:29

Can't you make a recovery USB stick?

joey1211 · 29 Nov 2018 at 12:33

I've made two recovery CDs but the damn cmd prompt crashes out on both of them

Orcvader · 29 Nov 2018 at 13:58

Alternative option is to use a Win 7 installation disk instead and do a fresh install. As long as you install the right version (home/pro) the product key on the sticker will activate it fine. Only thing left you'll need to do afterwards is find and install the drivers (which should be on the Lenovo support page).

joey1211 · 29 Nov 2018 at 14:12

This is exactly what I did as the original install became buggy. I extracted the licence key first using some software (Jellybean I think). The repair install won't accept this licence key. Its a Pro licence downgraded from 10. There is no sticker on the case

Orcvader · 29 Nov 2018 at 15:10

Don't use a recovery disc, use an actual Win 7 install disc.

You can try this but is has never worked for me: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows7

You might have to find another source for a 7 ISO but sadly there's no other official source.

Another note I sometimes noticed with OEM PCs is the key doesn't get accepted during install, so you have to skip the activation and then try activate it with the key again when you're on the desktop.

Big Frank · 29 Nov 2018 at 15:17

Go into disk management.

Click start - type mmc - click add / remove snap in - add disk management.

Right click on the recovery partition and select "mark partition as active".

Restart your computer and with any luck you will be booting from the recovery partition.

joey1211 · 29 Nov 2018 at 16:00

Off home now and this damn thing is not coming with me. I'll tackle it tomorrow morning.

joey1211 · 30 Nov 2018 at 10:33

Big Frank said:
Right click on the recovery partition and select "mark partition as active".

Restart your computer and with any luck you will be booting from the recovery partition.

This went as far as telling me that no operating was found, please restart or words to that effect.

Big Frank · 30 Nov 2018 at 14:19

Looks like the recovery partition might have been over written. Which is a bad thing.

Lenovo should be able to provide recovery disks but they will charge you £40 or so.