Question Does a cloud reset remove the leftovers of software?

[Divine_Barakah]

Hello,


I am wondering if a cloud reset does remove the leftovers of software especially security products. Also does cloud reset change device ID in Windows? I am currently using Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC and I am afraid that a clean install will remove the activation and I won't be able to reactivate Windows.

I have tried Cloud reset before, but as far as I rememeber that did not remove device drivers, so the same goes to everything else?

 

[Parkinsond]

Hello,


I am wondering if a cloud reset does remove the leftovers of software especially security products. Also does cloud reset change device ID in Windows? I am currently using Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC and I am afraid that a clean install will remove the activation and I won't be able to reactivate Windows.

I have tried Cloud reset before, but as far as I rememeber that did not remove device drivers, so the same goes to everything else?

As far as I know, reset has nothing to do with activation.
If the copy was activated using MAS HWID, it will reactivate itself upon internet connection, in the case activation is lost after reset.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

As far as I know, reset has nothing to do with activation.
If the copy was activated using MAS HWID, it will reactivate itself upon internet connection, in the case activation is lost after reset.

The activation was never lost in the case of retail products. The activation key is linked to my MS account, but that is not the case of LTSC. I activated the product using a product key, so I am not sure,

 

[Parkinsond]

I activated the product using a product key

If activation status states "digital license", so it is linked to the MB; will be automtically reactivated after reinstall, conditioned MB is the same.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

If activation status states "digital license", so it is linked to the MB; will be automtically reactivated after reinstall, conditioned MB is the same.

That's exactly the point. It does not show "digital licesne". It shows "Windows is activated" and that's it.

 

[Parkinsond]

That's exactly the point. It does not show "digital licesne". It shows "Windows is activated" and that's it.

That's odd; it has two options, either digital license or by organization.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

That's odd; it has two options, either digital license or by organization.

I am sure it has sth to do with it being LTSC version.

 

[Parkinsond]

I am sure it has sth to do with it being LTSC version.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

View attachment 293327

That's weird. Maybe it has sth to do with license type. May I ask where you got that from?

 

[Parkinsond]

That's weird. Maybe it has sth to do with license type. May I ask where you got that from?

MAS

 

[Marko :)]

I am wondering if a cloud reset does remove the leftovers of software especially security products.

If you choose to keep apps, files and settings when asked, then no. Software leftovers won't be removed. If you choose to remove and reset everything, then yes.

Also does cloud reset change device ID in Windows? I am currently using Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC and I am afraid that a clean install will remove the activation and I won't be able to reactivate Windows.

No. Windows tracks licenses by hardware ID, not device ID. Hardware ID is only changed when you significantly change hardware and you can't change it through software.

All cloud reset does is download fresh ISO and installs it for you, nothing else. It shouldn't mess with the activation itself, but it may ask you to enter your product key when installation is done.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

If you choose to keep apps, files and settings when asked, then no. Software leftovers won't be removed. If you choose to remove and reset everything, then yes.

No. Windows tracks licenses by hardware ID, not device ID. Hardware ID is only changed when you significantly change hardware and you can't change it through software.

All cloud reset does is download fresh ISO and installs it for you, nothing else. It shouldn't mess with the activation itself, but it may ask you to enter your product key when installation is done.

Thanks for the detailed info. To avoid losing activation, I'm going to create a full system image then do the cloud reset. If activation is lost, I'll restore the system image.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Or just use MAS if your installation gets deactivated. It gives you legal Windows license and it uses Microsoft's own activation method. It does the same what Windows does when you enter your product key manually by hand, except it's all automated. In fact, even Microsoft support uses MAS when they can't activate Windows entering the product key.

I have no idea what that is. I'll have a look. It would be great if you could share more about that.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

So a quick update now. I did a local reset with "remove everything" option enabled and that did not affect activation.

Now I need to try clean installation and see if that affects activation.

As for software leftovers, I confirm that local reset does remove everything including software leftovers.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

I've just finished installing Microsoft Office Standard LTSC and it activated on its own. It did not require the product key.

 

[Parkinsond]

I've just finished installing Microsoft Office Standard LTSC and it activated on its own. It did not require the product key.

Evidence of leftover; how to activate without key leftover!

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Evidence of leftover; how to activate without key leftover!

Maybe it's the Hardware ID?

 

[Parkinsond]

Maybe it's the Hardware ID?

Not for Office, Windows only.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Not for Office, Windows only.

Mmmmmm maybe it is my MS account?

 

[Parkinsond]

Mmmmmm maybe it is my MS account?

It would be fun not running MAS to activate MSO everytime reinstalling W