Fresh reinstall questions

I've been using a new to me PC with Windows 11 Pro currently installed for about 10 days or so. It barely meets the requirements, that is it has a 8th generation i7. It's a refurbished system that came with Windows 10 Pro installed. I used it with Windows 10 for a couple days before doing the upgrade. I had the option to create an online account, but staying with a local account only and plan to keep it that way.

I've been thinking about doing a clean reinstall of 11 Pro. I already have a list of all applications and don't have many data files to back up. I'm bugged by the fact that it's an upgrade from 10. It has a digital license and I was able to get the product key with the appropriate command in PowerShell. The dealer says it's in the COA. I also have the full Windows 11 23H2 ISO ready to write to a USB drive.

My concern is whether I can do the clean install and still activate when finished. The dealer assures me there won't be any issues. I read where a reset requires an online account which I don't have. This isn't a reset but a clean install.

Also want to do a full image backup. I've used Clonezilla recently but never had any luck cloning a Windows install. Works fine with Linux. Also have "Acronis True Image for Sabrent" which requires the Sabrent USB to SATA adapter to be connected. Macrium Reflect is no longer free. Plus this is a one time image backup and hopefully I won't need to restore it. Just playing it safe.

So I'd like to hear if my clean install will work okay with the digital license (COA). Supposedly I shouldn't need to enter a key, because it's coded on the motherboard. And I'd like to hear about image backup options.

@smalltalk

You should create a Microsoft account, even if you don't tie it to your Windows 11 install.
Your activation should be fine, if it says this in Settings...




Since your computer is a prebuilt (Lenovo), you should probably export your drivers, just to be on the safe side.
Sometimes chain store computer companies use proprietary drivers, which can cause problems when doing a clean install.
If you first export them... you won't be stuck missing a driver or two after a clean install.




And as for backup software, you should probably stay away from Acronis.
AOMEI and Hasleo are free, and work well...

smalltalk said:

I've been thinking about doing a clean reinstall of 11 Pro. I already have a list of all applications and don't have many data files to back up. I'm bugged by the fact that it's an upgrade from 10. It has a digital license and I was able to get the product key with the appropriate command in PowerShell. The dealer says it's in the COA. I also have the full Windows 11 23H2 ISO ready to write to a USB drive.

Click to expand...

You won't need the key, and it should activate just fine. Microsoft will have a digital license for the hardware on the activation servers and it should activate just fine.

With respect to Macrium, if you search for the version 8 free you should still find it and it will do what you need it to do. Having updates for it won't be an issue for you.

It barely meets the requirements

Click to expand...

Barely? Either it is on the supported list or it isnt. 8th gen is.

A quick look on tinterent it seems the Lenovo M920s came with win10 Home which seems odd if they are business machines. Maybe some came with Home and some with Pro.

The dealer says it's in the COA.

Click to expand...

I dont know what he means by COA. Surely those machines have an msdm table in the firmware

you can have a look with firmwaretablesview FirmwareTablesView

If there is a pro key in msdm that will do do the job.

COA stands for Certificate of Authenticity.
It was a label on Windows DVD cases, where they also printed the product key.

Here's some pics

I know what it is.

please read the sentence again.

why would he say COA , those machines come with msdm table in firmware.

I still have a few older Notebooks with the COA/Certificate of Authenticity sticker on them [one has it in the battery compartment] containing the Product Key that was used to qualify for the Upgrade to Win10, also some Dell OEM discs with the key on the sleeves.