Anyone ever clean reinstalled Win11 on an HP 15-fd0084wm?

[britechguy]

This is one of those miserable "Walmart class" machines that's essentially a netbook. In looking it up, it comes with 4GB RAM and Win11 in S-Mode preinstalled (for an example, see: https://www.amazon.com/HP-Processor-Windows-Microsoft-15-fd0084wm/dp/B0F6BVJ9LW)

I've got a potential client that just wants a completely clean reinstall of Windows 11 on that laptop. I've done a ton of Win10/Win11 completely clean reinstalls, but never on a machine that ships with S-Mode (and I don't know if it was ever taken out of S-Mode) or with that little RAM. I'm not sure what I'm looking at here as far as a completely clean reinstall as opposed to a "typical" Windows 11 machine.

Any insights would be appreciated.

 

[ThatPlace928]

This is one of those miserable "Walmart class" machines that's essentially a netbook. In looking it up, it comes with 4GB RAM and Win11 in S-Mode preinstalled (for an example, see: https://www.amazon.com/HP-Processor-Windows-Microsoft-15-fd0084wm/dp/B0F6BVJ9LW)

I've got a potential client that just wants a completely clean reinstall of Windows 11 on that laptop. I've done a ton of Win10/Win11 completely clean reinstalls, but never on a machine that ships with S-Mode (and I don't know if it was ever taken out of S-Mode) or with that little RAM. I'm not sure what I'm looking at here as far as a completely clean reinstall as opposed to a "typical" Windows 11 machine.

Any insights would be appreciated.

I've never had an issue installing Windows 11 over a laptop in S-Mode, never had to do anything special before installing either.

You can, if you prefer, take it out of S-Mode first, then do a fresh install through the desktop instead of booting from an install disk. Taking it out of S-Mode is easy.

 

[britechguy]

I'm waiting to actually be in front of the machine later this week. This is one of those rare cases where if it is in S-Mode, and the client is used to it being in S-Mode, I don't want to take it out of S-Mode.

When you say "fresh install through the Desktop" are you referring to the Windows Settings, System, Recovery Options, Reset this PC? I wasn't even sure if this was available when in S-Mode. I'll have to look up the steps for breaking out of S-Mode. I only did it once, many moons ago now.

 

[ThatPlace928]

I'm waiting to actually be in front of the machine later this week. This is one of those rare cases where if it is in S-Mode, and the client is used to it being in S-Mode, I don't want to take it out of S-Mode.

When you say "fresh install through the Desktop" are you referring to the Windows Settings, System, Recovery Options, Reset this PC? I wasn't even sure if this was available when in S-Mode. I'll have to look up the steps for breaking out of S-Mode. I only did it once, many moons ago now.

Desktop install just means you use the media creation tool or the Windows 11 media to launch the install from the desktop, as opposed to launching it from what I consider a cold boot with the media in the port it's launching from.

 

[britechguy]

OK, I've never used that terminology to differentiate doing a completely clean reinstall from a machine that still has the ability to boot into Windows versus doing one while booting directly from the install media.

I understand exactly what you're saying, and given what I do know, would likely be doing wha you call a "desktop install" since it sounds like the machine still boots into Windows.

The only times I use a direct from install media method is if I'm dealing with a replacement drive or am trying to wipe the drive itself clean (using diskpart and clean all). That's not often. And with secure erase for SSDs, it's even less often.

 

[ThatPlace928]

OK, I've never used that terminology to differentiate doing a completely clean reinstall from a machine that still has the ability to boot into Windows versus doing one while booting directly from the install media.

I understand exactly what you're saying, and given what I do know, would likely be doing wha you call a "desktop install" since it sounds like the machine still boots into Windows.

The only times I use a direct from install media method is if I'm dealing with a replacement drive or am trying to wipe the drive itself clean (using diskpart and clean all). That's not often. And with secure erase for SSDs, it's even less often.

Even a desktop install will install over the existing O/S, which could remove S-Mode if it's not on the install media. Maybe just do a factory reset or recovery to keep the existing system from being changed by anything except updates?

Once taken out of S-Mode, it can't go back to S-Mode.

 

[britechguy]

Once taken out of S-Mode, it can't go back to S-Mode.

Thanks for the reminder, although this was somewhere in the cobwebs at the back of my mind.

That's why I need to be in front of this box first. There's no indication it doesn't boot and the client's words, "I'm doing a clean install just to get it wiped off everything." If she wants that just to have a clean slate for herself, then a Reset would work just fine. If it's being passed off to someone else, then I'd absolutely want a drive wipe (clean all) as part of a completely clean reinstall process.

 

[ThatPlace928]

Thanks for the reminder, although this was somewhere in the cobwebs at the back of my mind.

That's why I need to be in front of this box first. There's no indication it doesn't boot and the client's words, "I'm doing a clean install just to get it wiped off everything." If she wants that just to have a clean slate for herself, then a Reset would work just fine. If it's being passed off to someone else, then I'd absolutely want a drive wipe (clean all) as part of a completely clean reinstall process.

That's what I'd do in each scenario. If she's giving it away, I don't see where S-Mode being removed would matter. Most people don't like it anyway. It prohibits one from adding software they find online and forces you to use ONLY Microsoft software.

 

[britechguy]

Oh, I know very well that most Windows users hate S-Mode and a very great many techs will break out of it without even asking when setting up a new machine for any private client (as I presume many of us have been asked to do so "after the fact" and would rather just have it done).

S-Mode was another of Microsoft's "too litttle, too late" attempts to enter an already saturated marketplace (educational where ChromeOS already dominated). It reminded me very much of Windows Mobile once iOS and Android already "ruled the world" and nothing was going to displace them.

 

[ThatPlace928]

For sure, it was a really dumb idea in and of itself. Could be, though, that it can be considered a sort of failsafe, in case some virus tried to add software of its own. Just a thought.

 

[fincoder]

S-Mode was another of Microsoft's "too litttle, too late" attempts to enter an already saturated marketplace (educational where ChromeOS already dominated).

It's still used on cheap computers for this reason (IMO): It forces users to use Edge, Bing and the Store for apps. There's a financial incentive for Microsoft there (Bing ad revenue, potential store sales) so the license is offered cheaper or free to OEMs. The manufacturer saves about $50 or whatever the Windows Home license costs them.

 

[fincoder]

If it's being passed off to someone else, then I'd absolutely want a drive wipe (clean all) as part of a completely clean reinstall process.

Reset also has the option to clean the drive. Here's Microsoft's description of Reset (Remove everything option):

Remove everything

Also known as Reset, this option reinstalls Windows and removes all your personal files, apps, and settings. It's ideal for a fresh start or when you are giving away or selling your PC. Clean data: when enabled, it removes files and cleans the drive. If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your PC, use this option. This might take some time, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed

Reset your PC - Microsoft Support

Learn about the different reset options in Windows and how to reset your device.

support.microsoft.com

 

[britechguy]

@fincoder

Thanks. I haven't done a reset under Windows 10/11 in years, and I know that "clean data" option didn't exist at one point in what is now ancient history. Good to know it exists, particularly since any end-user could choose that option very easily themself if they want to donate a device they no longer want.