System Barebones Restore

From Erwin Computer Repair Backup Stick

I resell Dell Laptops and PCs, and if you opted for it, I included a USB stick which contains a system image. With this you can restore your system EXACTLY as it was when you purchased it from me.
[For a while I was providing restore points for each machine -- one with bare install and one with all tweaks and additional software. This I thought was optimal. However, regardless of settings, Microsoft takes it upon itself to wipe out any earlier restore points after many of its large updates, which made creating these restore points useless. So I started using the free version of Aomei Backupper. And it really does the trick.]

Step-By-Step -- How to Restore System from Backupper USB

1. Make sure your "Backupper" USB stick is inserted in your machine.
   Then start the machine (or restart) -- and immediately tap the F12 key every second or two, until the text: Preparing one-time boot menu... appears in the upper-right corner of the screen. At that point you can stop pressing F12 and wait a moment.
   
   
2. The next screen should show the following items.
   Using the arrow keys make sure the UEFI: USB Hard Drive is selected, then hit Enter.
   
   
3. It takes a little while to load,
   then the Aomei Backupper will appear. After it does, click the Restore button near the top.
4. After the Restore page loads,
   choose Select image to restore near the bottom left.
   
   
5. We're looking for an image file (.adi)
   but have to find the drive it resides on first. It should be labeled USB Disk but might vary. It is usually the D drive -- but that can also vary. You will know you chose correctly if the two folders in screenshot 6 show up. If not, use the menu on the left to chose another drive.
   
   Naturally, after you have made your drive choice, click OK.
   
   
6. Select that System Backup folder,
   then click OK.
   
   
7. There should be only one system backup file there,
   select it and click OK.
   
   
8. ...don't let this part be confusing.
   Just make sure the default Restore this system backup is checked and click NEXT.
   
   
9. Don't let the DESTINATION part make you apprehensive either.
   Just make sure the default Restore to original location is checked, then click Next.
   
   
10. After that the SUMMERY page comes up,
    click Start Restore.
    
    This usually takes about 15 minutes,
    but can vary quite a bit depending on the speed of the machine.
    
    
11. And after it reaches 100%, don't interrupt it or click anything. It is still working until a competion page/message appears.
    At that point I just X out and restart. I don't use the PE environment.