Factory Reset - account deleted?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
S

sn0zb0z

Honorable
Oct 29, 2013
80
0
10,640
Hi. I have a Windows 8 laptop and I did a full factory reset to completely remove everything.

I just want to double check that it will have removed my user account. Is this correct?

I ask because when I first created it I had no emails about Windows. After doing the reset I got 5 emails that day and 1 the next all from Windows about Windows 8 and Windows apps and setting up things. Seems odd that it just happened to send me the emails right after I did that so I want to make sure it's not because my account is still there.

When I started it up it went to some type of settings screen (language, time, date - something like that) as it did when I first got it.

Is my Windows account linked to the laptop in any other way?

Thanks.
 
Solution
alyoshka
After a factory reset, or actually before, they ask you if you'd like to keep the user settings or remove them completely. If you had left the 'Keep user data' option ticked then it will restore all programs and settings to their defaults but leave your account live on the rig.
Another second point is, even if you reset the whole thing to factory defaults with all the options removed of any previous data, it'll wipe the rig clean and have it in factory conditions as you had when you bought it, but, the moment you log into Win 8 , assuming you use your Windows Live account, it's going to synchronize everything to the way it was before you wiped it clean.
Meaning, after you reset your rig, you need to create a either dummy account which...
Sort by date Sort by votes
alyoshka

alyoshka

Splendid
Oct 2, 2009
6,166
9
27,915
After a factory reset, or actually before, they ask you if you'd like to keep the user settings or remove them completely. If you had left the 'Keep user data' option ticked then it will restore all programs and settings to their defaults but leave your account live on the rig.
Another second point is, even if you reset the whole thing to factory defaults with all the options removed of any previous data, it'll wipe the rig clean and have it in factory conditions as you had when you bought it, but, the moment you log into Win 8 , assuming you use your Windows Live account, it's going to synchronize everything to the way it was before you wiped it clean.
Meaning, after you reset your rig, you need to create a either dummy account which has none of your actual data on it OR log into windows offline as a new user, not using your windows live ID.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
S

sn0zb0z

Honorable
Oct 29, 2013
80
0
10,640


Thanks. I removed everything and restored to factory settings. I didn't set it back up again. I turned it on just to check it had done it and turned it off when I saw the settings screen.

Just a bit odd that Windows sent me emails about Windows 8 after that. Why not send me the emails when I set up the account on the laptop and the information may have actually been useful. Ah well. The account should have been fully removed.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
alyoshka

alyoshka

Splendid
Oct 2, 2009
6,166
9
27,915
Did you go through those emails?
They would just be correspondences asking you your user experience or asking you if you'd like to upgrade to 8.1 or something like that. It's the fear of loosing a customer and plus it's also a way of improving the OS, by taking a the customers views....
When you already are a customer , that means you've taken the bait, and your opinions aren't needed by them as a normal user, but the moment you plan on leaving or try to, they'll ask....
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

sn0zb0z

Honorable
Oct 29, 2013
80
0
10,640
Yeah, they're all just basically help guides and tips. Like about email and how to use your Windows device. They all have links to online tutorials. I can't see any mention of customer views/opinions. They just go through most of the basics on using a new Windows 8 device. I suppose they are trying to sell how simple and amazing they think Windows is, but it's all information someone is likely to want to know when they first starting using Windows for the first time.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
orlbuckeye

orlbuckeye

Distinguished
May 1, 2009
1,543
1
20,165
You can use a local account to log into Windows 8 or your Windows account (which can be used from any machine). You use the windows account to download software from the store. I believe if you a restore to factory setting it removes all accounts. (well they don't have your account when they are building the machine in the factory.) So a local account would have to be recreated but the MS account is with MS and not actually on the specific machine. You can download apps from a local account.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom