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If Windows still opens, the file-preserving route is to start Windows Setup from inside that session: open the installation USB in File Explorer, run setup.exe, choose Change what to keep, then select Keep personal files and apps if offered. If you cannot choose a keep-files option, stop rather than continuing. Back up important files first.
Booting from a USB into a clean installation is different and can erase files. This guide covers the safer choices and their limits. The sources available here do not confirm an AVITA Altum-specific boot key, recovery image, or Windows 11 compatibility, so check the exact model and regional support before using model-specific firmware steps.
Before reinstalling: back up and identify your Windows version
Copy important files to storage outside the laptop or to a cloud location before changing Windows. A keep-files option reduces the intended scope of a reinstall, but it is not a substitute for a backup. Microsoft also recommends linking a digital license to a Microsoft account before reinstalling.
- Check which Windows edition and version the Altum currently runs, and note the edition licensed for the device.
- Verify compatibility before changing operating systems. The available sources do not establish Windows 11 support for every Altum configuration.
- If creating installation media, use a USB drive with at least 8 GB of capacity, Microsoft’s stated minimum. Save anything already on it first; creating recovery media erases the USB’s contents.
Microsoft’s guidance is to try the least disruptive recovery option that addresses the problem. If Windows has a routine issue, consider a less disruptive Windows recovery option before reinstalling. Microsoft’s recovery overview also notes that a manufacturer recovery image may include hardware-specific drivers and factory applications that generic Windows media does not. No Altum-specific recovery image was confirmed here, so check the support channel for your region before choosing generic media.
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- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
If Windows starts: reinstall from within the session
This is the installation-media path associated with keeping personal files and, depending on the selected choice, apps and settings. Microsoft’s installation-media instructions say to start setup from the existing Windows session for an in-place installation.
- Back up your important files.
- Connect the Windows installation USB while signed in to the existing Windows installation.
- Open the USB in File Explorer and run
setup.exe. Do not restart and boot from the USB for this keep-files route. - When Windows Setup asks what to keep, select Change what to keep.
- Choose Keep personal files and apps if available. If you accept that applications may be removed, Keep personal files only is another option.
- Review the selection before proceeding. If no keep-files choice appears, cancel setup and verify that the installation media matches the installed Windows edition, language, and version. Confirm your backup before trying again.
Microsoft describes an in-place installation from installation media as reinstalling Windows without affecting personal files, settings, or installed applications. The choices shown in Setup determine what this specific reinstall will keep.
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- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
If you want a reset instead of an installation-media reinstall
Reset this PC > Keep my files is a separate recovery option. Microsoft says it preserves personal files but removes apps and settings. It does not offer the same outcome as an in-place Setup reinstall that may keep apps and settings. Back up first, and see Microsoft’s Reset your PC guidance for the reset choices.
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If Windows will not start: protect files before using boot media
Do not assume that booting the Altum from an installation USB will preserve files. Microsoft’s clean-install instructions warn that this route removes personal files, apps, manufacturer customizations, and settings. If Windows will not start and the files matter, prioritize a verified backup or file recovery before attempting a clean installation. Microsoft explains how to create installation media on another working PC, but that does not make a booted clean install data-preserving.
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The exact AVITA Altum boot-menu key and an offline reinstall method that retains files are not established by the available AVITA sources. Do not guess a key or proceed on the assumption that a clean install will keep data. Confirm the exact model and region from the laptop’s label, then contact the applicable AVITA support channel for model-specific recovery guidance: AVITA Hong Kong support, AVITA India support, or AVITA India contact. These are regional pages; use the support channel for the device’s market.
How do I reinstall Windows with a bootable device without losing data?
Booting from a bootable device into a clean install is not the file-preserving method: Microsoft says a clean installation removes personal files, apps, manufacturer customizations, and settings. If Windows still starts, run setup.exe from the installation USB inside Windows and select an available keep-files option. If Windows cannot start, secure the files first; do not continue with a clean install until you have a verified backup or no longer need the data.
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- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
After Windows is reinstalled
Connect the laptop to the internet and check activation. Microsoft says Windows usually activates automatically after going online, and the installed Windows edition must match the edition covered by the license. If activation does not occur, check the edition and sign in with the Microsoft account linked to the digital license.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWindows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, according to Microsoft’s Reset your PC page. That date does not establish which Windows version an individual Altum can run; confirm the specific device’s compatibility before upgrading.
Quick Recap
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- All-in-One Design: 1TB external hard drive, multi-port hub and SD/TF card reader combine to provide ample storage and comprehensive connectivity in a single device for seamless multi-device connectivity to enhance your productivity.
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- Dual Socket Data Connection Cable: Equipped with USB 3.2 and USB-C dual socket data connection cable, suitable for more models.
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- Note: This is only compatible with Apple devices that have a USB‑C port (including iPhone 15 and later, as well as all iPads with USB‑C). Using a Lightning to USB‑C adapter will not resolve the compatibility issue.
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