Old Work Laptop and Use It as Personal Laptop

pyramid on 13/06/2024 - 11:43

hi guys,
Need some help. My workplace had few old laptops. So instead of sending it to e-waste they asked us to keep it. So, I have one of them and now want to wipe it out and re-use it as personal laptop.

At the moment I can login only using work id and password. They did not provide admin access so I cannot install or even reset windows on it. So, what are my options to reset and use it as personal laptop. I am not sure if BIOS is also locked or not.

Most likely I won't be able to re-install windows as don't have admin access.

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • djkelly69 on 13/06/2024 - 11:49
    +10

    Wouldn't they have wiped them before giving them to staff??

    • pyramid on 13/06/2024 - 11:58

      they did not bother…..I can still login using work id and password but I want to keep it clean so formatting is only option i believe.

      • djkelly69 on 13/06/2024 - 14:20
        +1

        This didn't fall off the back of a (work) truck did it?

        • pyramid on 13/06/2024 - 15:11

          lol. no

      • sumyungguy on 13/06/2024 - 14:34
        +1

        An employer who doesn't erase their e-waste, as if…

        • star-ggg on 13/06/2024 - 17:16

          My own experience is that these are the same type of companies that will have 20 letter minimum password limits, 1 capital letter, 1 number, 1 special character, password changes every month and no part of the password can be similar to previous passwords.

          • reactor-au on 14/06/2024 - 09:35

            @star-ggg: They just use Windows
            default recommended password policy

    • star-ggg on 13/06/2024 - 12:22
      +8

      "It's just old customer ID documents"

      • blitz on 13/06/2024 - 16:29
        +1

        "Most of these credit cards have expired anyway"

    • HeWhoKnows on 14/06/2024 - 12:07

      Easy enough to wipe it yourself.
      Just do a windows 10 installation from CD or USB stick.

      • Muzeeb on 14/06/2024 - 12:16
        -2

        If you bothered to read the full thread you would know this was resolved nearly 24 hours ago. FFS.

  • sharka on 13/06/2024 - 11:57
    +3

    You can create a bootable Windows 10 USB that you can use to wipe it.
    It bypasses all the windows level admin account requirements

    • sharka on 13/06/2024 - 11:57

      DM me if you get stuck

      • CyberMurning on 13/06/2024 - 11:58
        +1

        what if bootable drive is NOT set to usb?

        • pyramid on 13/06/2024 - 12:00

          I think if BIOS is locked, i won't be able to change boot order as well, isnt it?

          • sharka on 13/06/2024 - 12:28
            +1

            @pyramid: Thats correct unfortunately

          • geekcohen on 13/06/2024 - 12:28
            +2

            @pyramid: If the business isn't wiping them before giving them to you, then it is unlikely to BIOS locked. Sounds like there isn't much IT smarts, so locking the BIOS would be over the top of someones head.

            • CyberMurning on 13/06/2024 - 12:34
              +1

              @geekcohen: Im afraid the lenovo staffs put the bios pass when they sold to the company

              • geekcohen on 13/06/2024 - 12:36

                @CyberMurning: I guess that much be a tickbox on the order, because I've never had that sort of request.

  • CyberMurning on 13/06/2024 - 11:57
    -2

    guarantee bios also locked.
    yeah i want to know as well. the brand is Lenovo thinkpad

    • pyramid on 13/06/2024 - 11:58

      HP Elitebook

    • pyramid on 13/06/2024 - 14:08
      +1

      Ok BIOS isn't locked so I can change boot sequence. But now it seems C drive has BitLocker drive encryption. So can't progress clean installation.

      • Loopholio on 14/06/2024 - 10:03
        +1

        I was able to install win10 on a bitlocked C: drive. I think I chose wipe drive then install win10 via USB.

      • skittlebrau on 14/06/2024 - 12:00

        Yes you can. You just need to delete all the partitions and start fresh. You select ‘Custom’ for installation method.

  • djsweet on 13/06/2024 - 12:02
    +1

    You can usually get the BIOS to forget the password: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Video-Display-and-Tou…

    Then fresh install windows. If the laptop originally came with Windows, then it will auto activate - no keys required.

  • jugsy on 13/06/2024 - 12:11
    +2

    Use it to exfiltrate company data and blackmail them! That'll learn em

  • JimmyF on 13/06/2024 - 12:51

    So, what are my options to reset

    Are the reset options available for you? If so, give it a reset.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/give-your-pc-a-f…

    • pyramid on 13/06/2024 - 13:41

      Tried, it needs admin userid/pwd.

      • JimmyF on 13/06/2024 - 16:31

        Have you tried asking for the password?

        Otherwise create the bootable media and do a fresh install from that.

  • mrdean on 13/06/2024 - 14:00
    +1

    Ask your work colleagues for the password?

  • mapax on 13/06/2024 - 14:32
    +4

    If the boss has said people can keep them why can’t you just rock up to the IT fella/fellete and ask them to reset it?

    • geekcohen on 13/06/2024 - 14:45

      Sounds like they don't have a fella/fellete. The boss approved that at my previous workplace and I either gave them to staff without a HDD or reformated clean.

    • Noblejoker on 14/06/2024 - 16:32

      I read that as Fell-ate which as we know is a very different thing lol

  • pyramid on 13/06/2024 - 15:12
    +8

    Ok thanks guys.
    I was able to do clean install from bootable USB drive and some help from this video. https://youtu.be/9qGK8rOF1us?si=QBMkSNf6aZqO0808

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