RETURN HP laptop back to store help

I am going to return a laptop back to the store that was given to me days ago.
When i first turned it on, i set it up with log in PIN & my Microsoft account because it didn't let me by pass this process....

I'd like to remove my PIN and Microsoft account before I return it. Nothing else was really used/ saved on it that matters to me, except those two things +WiFi login.

I tried to full reset the laptop and it stayed stuck on 32% for 4 hrs. I powered it off & luckily, it didn't seem to corrupt the pc. I noticed a windows. old file in the files.

I'm afraid to do another full reset in case it gets stuck.
Can't i just remove all these personal credentials and return the pc?
Please advise steps to do it as well.

Thank you in advance.

Did you do a Factory restore reset?
Reset Windows 10

I think I tried to do the factory restore reset. But it got stuck at this point as shown in the pic taken yesterday.
These are the steps I took:
Recovery>get started>remove everything>local reinstall...In the change settings, I chose YES to both "clean data" & "reinstall Windows from this device"... So at these settings, it will clean the drive (take hours) AND also Download & reinstall Windows...

After I clicked next, it started the process but froze at 32% until hours later when I had to manually power off the pc.

Create a new local account, give it administrator privileges, sign into the new account, delete your old account.

Thank you,
I created local account and deleted my Microsoft account.
At this point, Is it ok to power off, box up, & return to store the laptop? Or could there be compromising info embedded in the pc still; such as the deleted Microsoft acct, sign in 4- digit pin I once needed to log into pc, & what about the windows.old folder (what do I do with that)?
Thank you

You should delete the windows.old folder. Unless you use a secure erase method of erasing the HDD, any information that was on the HDD can be retrieved until it is overwritten.

I am hoping to return the laptop tomorrow. I am running out of time because I think I either have 7 or 14 days to return to store with receipt.

So, I have created an extra local account, as stated above. I deleted my Microsoft account this way. However, under This pc>windows (C:)>users, I see my old Microsoft user/ profile account/ . It won't delete no matter what i try.
I think it has something to do with "One drive" because it appears to be the only folder that has files in there that are mine. Can't delete them because of an error related to cloud file not running?
Please advise how to delete these.
Thank you

Azyardies said:

I am hoping to return the laptop tomorrow. I am running out of time because I think I either have 7 or 14 days to return to store with receipt.

So, I have created an extra local account, as stated above. I deleted my Microsoft account this way. However, under This pc>windows (C:)>users, I see my old Microsoft user/ profile account/ . It won't delete no matter what i try.
I think it has something to do with "One drive" because it appears to be the only folder that has files in there that are mine. Can't delete them because of an error related to cloud file not running?
Please advise how to delete these.
Thank you

Probably the easiest way is to get into command prompt through Windows RE:

1. To get into recovery environment, hold down the shift key and click on restart from the power menu.
2. Select advanced on the next screen once it appears.
3. Select command prompt.
4. Then you will have to enter the username and password of the new local account you created.
5. Then the commands will be:
dir C:\Users
cd C:\Users
rd /s xxx <- replace xxx with the name of the folder containing your old user files.

Note, if you still have windows.old, you could also try rd /s c:\windows.old

then:
shutdown /r /t 00

If that doesn't work, you can create a Linux live USB flash drive of just about any linux distribution, such as linux mint. Then you can delete the old user folder.

Thanks Navy, I got into command prompt.
I typed the commands ad you suggested, one by one.
When i did the 3rd one (rd /s xxx), of course xxx is my old original
User name I'm trying to delete, it said xxx, are you sure (y/n)? I chose y.
Then I got the, "The system can not find the file specified". Ugh.

It is frustrating that it is so difficult to delete my user profile from the pc.
And this pc has the s mode. I think it makes it harder, cause I read once it says that one S mode is disabled, it can't be enabled again.
I don't know how having another OS (linux) on usb can help & how it can help.
Note: I have a usb with a 2 yr old version of Ubuntu on it in a drawer.
Would this be useable? Is the reason for using another OS, is so that I can delete the user profile from that OS?

If I go back to trying to reset everything in the Recovery section, how can i avoid it stalling at the 32% and continue to the end to make this new pc, NEW again to return to store? Is the problem I experienced to begin with was that I needed to choose "reinstall " from the cloud and not local?

Please note this new pc I want to return, came without the physical cd to reinstall; as many pc's come now a days...
Thank you all for all your tips & time.
Please advise.