Share via

How do I reset this PC from the absolute beginning? I just want to login with a local account.

Anonymous
2023-08-24T14:03:06+00:00

I have started up a brand-new PC running windows 10 for my work and while in startup it had asked me to sign in, I initially didn't realize the "Domain Join Instead" option at the bottom of the screen, so I signed in with my Microsoft account just to get things started. Shortly after the startup finished, I realized that it is now pulling apps and documents from my OneDrive.

This is a computer that is going to a customer of ours, so I don't want my account to be there permanently, I don't want my account to be there at all. I certainly don't want any of my documents or apps to remain on this PC. I searched through various other threads for help, so I've tried a few things already.

In Start->settings->account->other users I've been able to create local accounts, I've also been able to create local accounts by going to Computer Management (run as administrator)->system tools->local users and groups->users. After creating local accounts however, I am no given the option to switch to them. I do not have "switch to a local account" as an option anywhere under settings->account->your info or other users. Even when I sign out of my account and log back in, it does not list any of the local accounts as other users I can sign in with. Throughout this process, I also do not have the option to delete my Microsoft account from this PC.

I decided to just do a factory reset because this is a brand-new PC and I do not need to save any files on it. To do this, I went to Start->settings->update & security->recovery->reset this PC->get started. From here I selected "just remove my files" and reset the PC. Upon startup, the PC now says, "Welcome to [my] company!" "Enter your [my] Company email." I no longer have the option to do a Domain Join Instead. Clearly this did not reset everything because it still retained my company's info and is forcing me to sign in with a Microsoft email from my company. I just want to reset this PC from the absolute beginning so I can create a local account, but Microsoft is forcing a Microsoft account onto this which we do not want on this PC.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

11 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T19:36:48+00:00

    You sadly won't be able to reset this device completely. Please contact the workplace IT team to get the account unlinked from this device.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T19:19:19+00:00

    I deleted them just as described in the guide; however, I did get stuck in a booting cycle because at the end of the install it would restart the PC and on booting up would ask me to install again. After about the 3rd time I decided to go back into the BIOS and move the flash drive out of first in the Boot sequence. I assumed that because it was still first the PC was still booting from the flash drive. After making the Windows Boot Manager first in the Boot Sequence again the PC booted up with my company information.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T18:02:59+00:00

    I am hesitant to do this method because it is specifying that I need to enter the product key when rebooting, I do not have access to a product key and can't find where to get it. This is a brand-new PC that already came with windows installed, there isn't anything documenting the Windows product key.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T15:51:58+00:00

    I was referring to the first guide "Perform a clean install by booting from install media (DVD or USB thumb drive)"

    This removes the current OS and deletes the drive partitions removing any data and then installs the OS fresh onto a newly created partition.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T15:07:58+00:00

    Hello James,

    I am Jaspreet Singh.

    Please follow this excellent guide by Mr Andre Da Costa here and do a clean install of windows 10 : https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/for...

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments