Should I Give Computer Password to Laptop Repair Guy?

contrafibularities on 15/04/2021 - 13:38
Last edited 15/04/2021 - 13:57 by 1 other user

Hi, my daughters touchscreen laptop had a cracked screen and I organised for the laptop screen repairer to fix it. He’s in another state so it’s picked up and returned by courier. I get a message asking if I had turned off the touchscreen function in settings because he said the screen isn’t responding. I can’t remember.

He said he can’t test the newly installed screen without checking if that function is turned off or not so he said I could give him the laptop pin for him to check settings. Otherwise he could send it back untested.

I’m a bit nervous giving him access to it but surely repairers need to have a level of access that involves tinkering with settings, what should I do?

Poll Options expired

  • 183
    Give him the password
  • 48
    Are you crazy
Computing

Comments

                      • askbargain on 18/04/2021 - 11:01

                        @2025: You going to send me a free TPM?

                        • 2025 on 18/04/2021 - 11:17

                          @askbargain: What? You don’t already have one? Why not?

                          • askbargain on 18/04/2021 - 11:41

                            @2025: It’s as if desktops are a thing.

                            • 2025 on 18/04/2021 - 11:58

                              @askbargain: Yuck your desktop hasn’t got one? What is wrong with it?

                                • 2025 on 18/04/2021 - 12:19

                                  @askbargain: No u

                                  Careful with that. You’ll need to open your PC to install it. Best post the PC and the TPM to an interstate guy and send ya password too so he can test it.

                                  • askbargain on 18/04/2021 - 12:30

                                    @2025: Nah I’ll just get a new pc for that out of the box experience

                                    • 2025 on 18/04/2021 - 12:37

                                      @askbargain: CTRL Shift F3 enters audit mode during the OOBE it if ya want to tinker, then experience it all over again. Why not just sysprep ya PC now and enjoy the experience while ya wait for the new one?

      • 2025 on 17/04/2021 - 19:10

        As are most new PCs ;)

    • avoidfullprice on 17/04/2021 - 17:08

      You could also argue that a password of a 12 years old laptop shouldn't give access to other financial accounts and so it is low risk. But what message are you sending to this 12 years old in today's world

      "Oh hey can you just tell your secret to a stranger so he can check your laptop? But when you grow up, don't tell people your password. Even if you get fake Amazon email asking you for your personal information to release the iPhone you never ordered."

    • 2025 on 17/04/2021 - 19:10

      Lol not so prevalent anymore. Devices require a TPM to be WHQL’d these days, and Windows will try and enable Bitlocker (Device Encryption) during OOBE.

  • Davo1111 on 17/04/2021 - 19:24

    Create a non admin user account, give him the password

  • MagicOZ on 17/04/2021 - 19:49
    +1

    Real repair shop would connect external drive with his own OS and tools to check the computer.

  • Bunglex on 17/04/2021 - 19:56

    Personally I think if you have to ask a poll wether to trust this person you already have your answer.
    That said, I can bypass passwords on even the most current Windows and Mac's trivially unless the owner has gone through and specifically locked down their machine in numerous ways that most end users are incapable of doing so I doubt he is after your info (but he may still browse).
    *Next time go to a local repair, in same state at least, and someone trustworthy

  • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2021 - 23:09
    +2

    To test screen your repairer can boot laptop from USB drive.

    Saying that, he also can all access your files from the same USB drive, so you're not risking anything really, once you lost physical control of your device you lost control over what is going to happen to your data.

    Next time remove drive if it's not a part of the problem before giving your laptop to anyone, or, better, encrypt it.

  • Frankensnore on 18/04/2021 - 07:21

    Why can't he use a live linux usb? Or use a different hard drive with new windows?

  • Eeples on 18/04/2021 - 20:01

    Use facetime and ask him to do the testing in front of you.

  • vid_ghost on 19/04/2021 - 07:30

    With a bit of software put onto a USB and the PC booting from that I can change any windows user pin/login and The software only costs $40.. lol.. it's super easy even a newbie can use it… So many people forget their passowrd and it's a 5 minute fix… They think I'm a magic IT wiz hacker

    Unless you have a txt files with your banking/bitcoin details and credit card info on the laptop then I see no issues.

    • Ramrunner on 19/04/2021 - 18:21

      You're on OzBargain and you paid $40 for software to do it?

      Do a search for Bob.Ombs.Modified.Win10PEx64.v4.8.7

      There's also Hirens and UBCD but I find Bob Ombs the best for my use. $0 and a LOT more features than simple password hacking.

      Regards,
      Ed.

  • OzHunterNSW on 20/04/2021 - 09:27

    How do expect them to repair your computer?

  • contrafibularities on 20/04/2021 - 16:52

    For anyone who might still be interested before I got around to sending the computer password to him the technician sent me the following text:

    “Actually I tested in bios and touch works fine. Apologies for not thinking of doing it that way before. I'll finish repair now. Just remember to turn it on inside of windows when you get it back”

    Also got the computer back and couldn’t remember how to re enable the touchscreen function, googled it and then remembered that I did disable it in the device manager.

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