You must reset your computer withink 5 days of your departure. Failure to reset the computer by the deadline will result in it being locked and unusable.

IMPORTANT

The below processes will fully erase all data from your computer and install a new copy of Windows.

You MUST back up all your personal files before following these steps.

No Warranty/ No Support

Your computer is currently configured for DAI systems, including security policies and licensed software, which may limit your ability to use it independently. To ensure full functionality, you must reset the computer to factory defaults within 5 days of your departure from DAI.

We are providing these instructions to help you reset your computer, so you have the freedom to use it without built in restrictions. Please follow these steps carefully to ensure the best results. While DAI cannot provide support for this process, we hope these guidelines will assist you in successfully resetting your computer. Remember to visit a trusted repair shop for professional help if needed.

Get Outside Help

You can reset your computer to factory default setting yourself or visit a trusted repair shop where they can reinstall the operating system for you.

Step 1: Back Up Your Personal Files to an External Drive

Before proceeding with any reset or reinstallation, it is critical to copy all your important personal files to an external storage device, such as a USB flash drive or an external hard drive.

Please note: Only copy your personal files. Do not copy any work-related documents, applications, or sensitive company data to your personal external drive.

Step 2: Create a Microsoft Account

If you don’t already have a Microsoft account, we recommend creating one in advance, as it will be required during the reinstallation process or before you can use your computer after the reset.

How to create a new Microsoft Account

Step 3: Reset Your Computer

Please note that these steps may not be compatible with all computer models. If you encounter issues, we recommend seeking assistance from a trusted computer repair shop.

Please select your computer manufacturer from the dropdown list below for specific instructions:

Video (Not produced by DAI): Using HP Sure Recover to reinstall Windows - YouTube

What you will need

Start HP Sure Recover

  1. Shut down your computer and press the **power button** to turn it back on.
  2. Immediately start pressing the **F11 key**.
  3. You should see this screen. If you see the Microsoft Windows screen, please repeat steps 1 and 2 until you see this screen.
  4. Select **Restore from network** or **Restore from local drive**.
    • **Restore from network**: This option requires a wired network connection.
    • **Restore from local drive**: This option will attempt to pull the Windows 11 installation from your computer.
  5. Once you start the restore process, follow the **on-screen prompts**.

What you will need

Download your laptop’s recovery image

  1. Go to: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface-recovery-image
  2. Sign in with your Microsoft account. You will see the sign-in option at the bottom of the page.
  3. Type your laptop serial number to find the exact recovery image to download.
  4. Download the recovery image (about 10GB).

Create a bootable USB

  1. Format your USB drive as FAT32.
  2. Extract the downloaded files into the USB.
  3. Plug it into your Surface.
  4. Press and hold your Surface’s **Volume Down** key, immediately followed by the **Power** button.
  5. When the Surface logo appears, release the **Volume Down** key — the device will boot from USB.
  6. Your computer will launch the recovery process.
  7. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the Windows reinstallation.