T440s without OS - How to do Factory Reset?

Hi,

how can I factory reset a T440s that came without an OS? I'm planning to install Windows 8.1 on it. How could I factory reset it, in case I want return it? AFAIK the recovery program reinstalls windows, but if I want to return the notebook, the SSD should be completely empty again.

 

Did you buy it like that? You could run Darik's Boot and Nuke though I've never done that on an SSD before..

 

I want to buy it, but I hesitate. Because of all the reported issues with T440s I at least want to be able to return, in case they bother me.

 

I returned an X1 carbon and erased my Os with an Ubuntu live stick. Run Gparted and erase your partitions.
This should be fine.

Gesendet von meinem Nexus 4 mit Tapatalk

 

Thank you for your help. However I'm not experienced in Ubuntu/Linux and don't know what an Ubuntu live stick is.
Can you give me a brief description how to do it?

 

Of course.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows there you find detailed instructions on how to create a stick.
Once booted from the stick follow this guide without creating new partitions: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToRemoveWindows
It's not hard at all.

 

Thanks, that means I:

1. create the stick by downloading the file
2. use the stick to boot ubuntu
3. while running ubuntu I use gParted to delete Windows

A few questions to step 3:

-How do I run gParted? Do I need another USB stick? The description only mentions an Ubuntu Live CD
-After deleting the windows partition do I have to go through the following steps in the description as well: "Use the newls freed space:Resizing/Creating a new partition"" & "Further Operations: Edit GRUB"
OR does it end after "Deleting the Windows Partition".

 

1. Yes, download the file and the USB-Creator as mentioned in the link. Live-CD and Live-USB are equal.
2. Yes
3. Yes

To run Gparted it might be needed to install Gparted on the Live System, I don't remember exactly. If you have to type
sudo apt-get install gparted
in terminal (to open a terminal hit the windows-key and type terminal+Enter). After installation type
sudo Gparted
and it opens.
After deletion of the partitions you do not need to do anything else, it ends after deletion (don't forget to apply the changes via the green checkmark).

Maybe you should run the stick priot the Windows installation. As I received the X1 I was not able to install Windows, as no partition was on the blank SSD. I created them within the installer in windows (via CMD). But after that installation I was not able to install Ubuntu along windows, I had to erase everythin and create the partitions via Gparted to get both OS running.
So you could run Gparted to create your partitions before you try the installation of windows.

Good luck and no fear: Ubunut is well documented online and not hard to use.

 

Thank you very much. One last thing: Which partitions do I delete? The one windows is on and the recovery partition as well?

 

Well if you get the device without OS there should be no recovery partition.
Just take a look what the disk looks on arrival.

 

I see. I thought there would be one after i installed windows 8.

 

One more question: Does your guide also work with windows 8 (system builder)? AFAIK the product key will be embedded in the bios, which might be a reason the retailer won't take it back.

 

Just install the windows, Windows will do it for you. Whatever you do, don't get messed up with linux.
Renee

 

After deleting the paritions i get the following message when booting: "pxe-e61:media test failure check cable"" Why is that and how can solve that problem?

 

If you deleted all the partitions on the hard drive, it can't boot from that. It's probably set to try booting from the hard drive first (which fails), and then try PXE (network) booting (which also fails).