MS Surface Pro 7+ Trying to "Reset"

Note: I do not have the MS Keyboard.

Am returning, so tried to "Reset" removing all data.
Get message "Couldn't find bootable operating sys. Check Boot config...
I press OK
Am into "Surface UEFI" menu
In "Security" Secure Boot is set to: Microsoft Only
Boot Config "Windows Boot Manager"
Advance options: All 4 are "ON"
Press "Restart Now"
Preparing Bitlocker Recovery window pops up
Your device ran into problems. It will restart automatically, it did
Get same message: "Get message "Couldn't find bootable operating sys. Check Boot config..."

I next created "Windows 11 Installation Media on a USB dongle.
Did a long press on power button to turn of Device.
Config Boot Order is now set to USB
Plugged in USB, press ON,
Windows Setup box opens up
Language = USA
Keyboard or input method says US

Not having a keyboard, I'm unable to select any option, or press "Next."
If I plug in a "wired keyboard," would I be able to press the "Next" button?
Any other ideas?

Thank you, Paul.

What do you mean I do not have the MS Keyboard?
Does it has a touch screen? If it does, use your finger to tap on next.

Hello again Megahertz. Great name!
Yes re keyboard. The Pro 7+ did not come with a keyboard.
The screen is NOT touchable at this early stage of logging in.
I do not have a physical wired keyboard. Have ordered a cheapie from Amazon, arriving Friday.
Am hoping this will work. If not, am guessing that ONLY the physical MS keyboard will work.

I think that a physical wired keyboard will work.

I hope so. During the "Reset," all was normal up to the point when the Tablet was downloading W-11 from the Internet. It stalled for several minutes with a reading of Zero Percent downloaded. An error message appeared which resulted in it's current state.

Keyboard is coming from Amazon tomorrow.

Keyboard arrived and am able to navigate, however, not getting anywhere.
With the USB drive installed, the Windows Setup menu comes up (Language, keyboard layout etc.), I press Next, then Install now.
"Setup is starting" then Microsoft License window, pressed Next.
Where do you want to install Windows? Choosing "Upgrade: Install keeping files, settings, etc. brings up a message saying Upgrade option isn't available if starting computer using Installation Media. Restart

Drive 0 Partition 1, (must be installed formatted as NTFS)

Drive 0 Partition 2, (Windows cannot be installed. Its MSR partition)

Partition 3, (BitLocker encrypted)

Compatibility report: Remove installation media & restart. After computer has started normally, insert Installation Media & run Setup
I removed the USB. Load Driver window appears saying a Media Driver is missing. )

Partition 4: Windows RE toc

From some of the dialog, is sounds like Windows thinks this is an upgrade/update rather than an Install.
Any ideas? Wondering if the SSD is shot.

When you boot from a Win 11 installation drive you can only do a clean install.
To do a Reset or Repair install you must do from running Windows.
Is your C: partition encrypted with BitLocker? If positive, do you have the decryption key?
Partition 1 is the EFI partition with the boot manager. Did you formatted the partition?

When you boot from a Win 11 installation drive you can only do a clean install.
OK.

To do a Reset or Repair install you must do from running Windows.
Don't know what that means.

Is your C: partition encrypted with BitLocker? If positive, do you have the decryption key?
I believe it is encrypted. Not by choice. Don't recall how it got to that state. I do not have a decryption key.

Partition 1 is the EFI partition with the boot manager. Did you formatted the partition?
I was unable to do anything with any of the partitions.

"To do a Reset or Repair install you must do from running Windows."
This means that to launch a Reset you must be running windows. As you can't boot, you won't be able to do a Reset.

I'm not aware of all Bitlocker tricks and requirements, but for what I know, if you don't have the Bitlocker key there is nothing you can do other than a clean install, deleting all partitions and start from scratch.
I just hope you have all your data baked up.
The only one that i know that use Bitlocker is @jumanji.

This means that to launch a Reset you must be running windows. As you can't boot, you won't be able to do a Reset.
That's exactly what I did. I was running Windows when I clicked on do a reset (re-install) Windows wiping out all data. In other words, the condition that it was when I opened the box.

...if you don't have the Bitlocker key there is nothing you can do other than a clean install, deleting all partitions and start from scratch.
I just hope you have all your data baked up.
I may have clicked on something that would initiate Bitlocker, but I can't remember.
Perhaps that's why when it got to the point of re-installing Windows, it stalled at "0% Installed" for several minutes and got into the condition that it's at now. It won't let me install a fresh copy of Windows 11.

Why do you want to clean all data and have a fresh Windows? Are you going to give or sell the computer?

To do a clean install :
Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

As you have a UEFI BIOS, you should install as UEFI-GPT
Detach any other drives from the computer.

During POST, press F12 (The F key depends on the computer brand) to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name) to install as UEFI-GPT.
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the main drive till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.

If you're going to give or sell the computer, when it ask you to Select your country or region (ex: "United States"), Press the Shift + F10 keys to open a command prompt. Type C:\Windows\System32\shutdown -s -p -f. It will shut down.
The next user will continue from there.

Megahertz said:

Why do you want to clean all data and have a fresh Windows? Are you going to give or sell the computer?

Click to expand...

I have just returned from returning the device via Post.

Megahertz said:

To do a clean install :
Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

As you have a UEFI BIOS, you should install as UEFI-GPT
Detach any other drives from the computer.

During POST, press F12 (The F key depends on the computer brand) to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name) to install as UEFI-GPT.
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the main drive till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.

If you're going to give or sell the computer, when it ask you to Select your country or region (ex: "United States"), Press the Shift + F10 keys to open a command prompt. Type C:\Windows\System32\shutdown -s -p -f. It will shut down.
The next user will continue from there.

Click to expand...

I wish I had known that procedure a couple of hours ago.
I'll save it in case i need it in the future.
Thank you for your help.