Windows Restore PC after wiping Ubuntu still leaves GRUB and partitioned disk issues

Question

I have a Dell Precision 5490 with Windows 11 native. I have partitioned its disk using Disk Management to make room for an Ubuntu partition. I have installed Ubuntu using a bootable pen-drive. All right, except that Face recognition (nor pin) are functioning at start on Windows. Camera is also not recognized on Ubuntu. I read and ask here and there and I decide to factory reset the laptop (bring it back to like it was fresh out of factory) and let the Ubuntu installation do the partition, which may prevent troubles. Quite the opposite. First I wiped the ubuntu partition through Windows disk management. Then I reboot and it enters a GRUB prompt. Scary, but I know I should prompt exit and it will reboot. I do the Reset PC from Windows and it goes fine (not well -- for example, it gets stuck at use your location permission and I have to reboot so now I have two users with the same face), but when the laptop boots I still have the GRUB prompt, plus the former Ubuntu partition is still separated from the Windows one.

I can't find the \EFI\Ubuntu indicated here.

What's the best course of action to get the laptop back to factory conditions (like I am booting it for the first time), without the separated partitions, the GRUB prompt, etc?

Answer 1

Since you want to restore the Windows operating system, removing all changes and data, by far the easiest way to do so is to remove all partitions and install Windows from ISO. N.B. This deletes all user data and modifications.

• Download the current Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft, using the option to Create Windows 11 Installation Media.
• Boot another operating system from USB, such as the live Ubuntu installation media you have already made to try or to install Ubuntu.
• Use a drive management tool, such as Ubuntu's Disks, to remove all partitions from the internal drive, making it all free space.
• Use the Windows 11 boot USB to install Windows.
• If your PC requires additional drivers, go to Dell Support to install them, either through Automatic Updates, or by selecting, downloading and installing the specific drivers.

Answer 2

Software Needed

The idea, that there exists software somewhere on the internal drive that can be used to restore to factory conditions, is probably not true. Instead, Dell provides a tool called Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery. The user's guide can be found here. Basically, the Dell computer boots to Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery, which runs entirely in a ram drive. You can use Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery to reset the computer to factory conditions. Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery can download the Microsoft Windows which originally came with the computer from Dell servers.

I was able to boot Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery from a flash drive. Note, this was for a Dell XPS 13 9305 and the OP has a Dell Precision 5490. I was greeted by a walkthrough of the options available. One screenshot of this walkthrough is shown below.

In the lower right of the above image, you can see a "Start Reset" button which can be selected to "Download and install the factory operating system". The next section provides instructions on how to proceed.

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Reset your computer to factory state†

Prerequisites
Your computer must be connected to a power outlet.
About this task
You can use the Reset to factory settings option to reset your operating system and default applications to the state they were in when your computer was shipped from the Dell factory.
Steps

1. On the SupportAssist OS Recovery home page, click START RESET on the RESET tile.
   System reset options are displayed.

2. Select Reset to factory settings, and then click NEXT.
   The option to back up your files is displayed.

   • If you want to back up your files, select Yes, back up my files, click NEXT, and follow the instructions in Back up files section to back up the required files.
   • If you have already created a backup of your files or you do not want to back up your files, select No, do not back up my files and click NEXT.

3. Read the warning message that is displayed, and click YES, CONTINUE.

4. On the Confirm your reset page, perform the following steps:

   • Optionally, from the Select reason list, select a reason for resetting your computer.
     
   • Select the I understand that the reset will delete all of my system data and personal files check box, and then click NEXT.

   The factory reset process begins and may take several minutes to complete.

5. After the process is complete, click RESTART to restart your computer.

Next steps
Reinstall all the applications (including third-party applications) that were not originally installed on your computer. You can restore your files after resetting your computer to factory state. See Restore data after resetting your computer to factory state.

† _{The above instructions were copied from the Reset your computer to factory state section of the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery User’s Guide.}

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Getting Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery

Dell offers many ways to get Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery. Below are some of these ways. I do not have a Dell computer, so I cannot fully test what I am posted. If errors are found, make corrections by either editing this answer and or posting a comment.

• Access from the Control Panel

  Steps^*

  1. In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel, and then select Control Panel.
  2. Select System and Security.
  3. Double-click SupportAssist OS Recovery.

  * _{The above instructions were copied from the Run System Repair section of the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery User’s Guide.}

• Boot the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Stored in the Computer Firmware

  Note
  Dell has a video you can view at the Dell website Start SupportAssist OS Recovery using BIOSConnect.

  Steps‡

  1. Turn on or restart your PC.

  2. Press F12 to access the one time boot menu.

     Note
     If you wait too long and the operating system logo is displayed, wait until you see the Windows desktop, restart your PC, and try again.

     The available boot options are displayed.

  3. Select the SupportAssist OS Recovery option from the boot menu, and then press Enter.
     The SupportAssist OS Recovery Image Download page is displayed.

  4. Connect to any available wired or wireless network. For instructions to connect to wireless networks, see Connect to wireless networks.

  5. Click Start Recovery. The download begins and may take several minutes to complete.

  Results

  When the download is complete, the SupportAssist OS Recovery home page is displayed.

  ‡ _{The above instructions were copied from the Start SupportAssist OS Recovery using BIOSConnect section of the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery User’s Guide.}

• Use Another Computer Running Windows to Create a Bootable Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Flash Drive.

  The computer could be physical or running in a virtual machine.

  Dell provides downloadable software that can create a bootable Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery flash drive.

  The basic steps are given below.

  1. Find a computer or a virtual machine running Windows.
  2. Download and install the "Dell OS Recovery Tool" application.
  3. Use the "Dell OS Recovery Tool" application to write then Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery software to a flash drive.

  A more detailed explanation is given below.

  Dell Technologies has a website Reinstall Microsoft Windows, where you can download the software to create recovery media on a 16 GB or larger flash drive.

  

  I chose the download for "Windows x64 OS". The file Dell-OS-Recovery-Tool_NV509_WIN64_2.4.1.2181_A00.exe was downloaded to a computer running the latest Windows 11 Home. If you have a working Windows on your Dell, then you can do this or use a different computer running Windows. I ran the downloaded application, which installed the "Dell OS Recovery Tool" application. Opening the application produced the following window.

  

  You will need to enter the computer Service Tag or Express Service Code for your Dell computer. Below is the location on your computer where both can be found.

  

  I do not have either the Service Tag or Express Service Code for your Dell computer. So, to proceed, I hunted the internet for any valid value. I found the Express Service Code for a Dell XPS 13 9305, so I will proceed using this. At this point your results will probably differ from mine.

  I decided to try Avanced Recovery, entered the code and arrived at the following window. Here, I would assume you would get Windows 11 options instead.

  

  I chose to download "Automated by SupportAssist". The following window was displayed.

  

  I inserted a flash drive and selected the USB drive. After checking of the "I understand ..." box, I selected "Download". When the software finished writing to the flash drive, the follow window appeared.

  

  I selected "Close" and the application closed.