Pats and dotes reset after a Windows reinstall, even though I copied and transfered the plugin settings from the old Dalamud install (the AppData folder) about patmedalamud

[MgAl2O4]

That's unexpected, all counters are part of plugin configs. Maybe some files were skipped or sth.
Anyway, you can always manually edit them:

• go to folder: %appdata%\XIVLauncher\pluginConfigs
• open file: PatMe.json in any text editor like notepad
• find entries for your character and edit numbers (if your character is completely missing, it's easiest to get anything saved first)

example data format (CID value can be 0, will get auto assigned on first login)

      "$type": "PatMe.EmoteOwnerDB, PatMe",
      "Name": "Amazing Popoto",
      "CID": 0,
      "Counters": [
        {
          "$type": "PatMe.EmoteCounterDB, PatMe",
          "Name": "Pet",
          "Value": 123
        },
        {
          "$type": "PatMe.EmoteCounterDB, PatMe",
          "Name": "Dote",
          "Value": 456
        },
        {
          "$type": "PatMe.EmoteCounterDB, PatMe",
          "Name": "Hug",
          "Value": 789
        }
      ]
    },