accessing and using an old work laptop

[A993LAD]

I have a work supplied Laptop that they didn't want back when I retired.

even when I was working I rarely used the work supplied laptop as I just used my own laptop at home and was working from home most of the time.

so the laptop is about 18 months old and I haven't used it for a year but my wife's laptop is about 10 years old so I was just thinking I would give it to her and she could use it. but I just tried to fire it up and I've forgotten my password. also, even if I knew the password my guess is it will have some kind of security software on it from work.

it is a Microsoft branded laptop and it doesn't seem to have a model number printed on it anywhere.

Any tips on how I can get access to this laptop and clear everything down so it could be used?

if I can't get into it I guess it will have to go into the bin which is a shame as it is relatively new with hardly any use on it so far.

[AlexC1981]

Use another PC and a USB stick to create windows 11 installation media from the link below.

Choose English International and it should pick up the British version rather than US.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/...

Stick it in the laptop, restart and install windows 11 fresh. Delete all the old partitions to ensure it is a completely clean installation.

If it does not boot from the USB stick you might need to keep tapping delete or escape or F12 (depends on the computer, you can google it) and find a setting to allow you to boot from USB. You may find the BIOS is locked as it is an ex-corporate laptop, which may prevent you from doing this.

You might need a new Windows 11 licence. These can be purchased surprisingly cheap from places like Groupon.

[AB]

If work let you keep it can you not phone them and ask for a favour?

[A993LAD]

AB said:

If work let you keep it can you not phone them and ask for a favour?

Hmm possibly not. It wasn't really a "let me keep it" scenario. It was more an "I left and they never asked me to return it" situation.

I suspect that if I call up the IT dept and say I've got this and I want to unlock it they'll say definitely not can we have it back please.

They were a bit lax like that. The newish one I want to unlock replaced an earlier one that I still have too but IT should probably have asked for that one back as well.

I doubt they bother seeking any returns when people leave tbh as few staff would want a 2 year old second hand laptop and the IT guys are too busy to clear them down or dispose of them.

[A993LAD]

AlexC1981 said:

Use another PC and a USB stick to create windows 11 installation media from the link below.

Choose English International and it should pick up the British version rather than US.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/...

Stick it in the laptop, restart and install windows 11 fresh. Delete all the old partitions to ensure it is a completely clean installation.

If it does not boot from the USB stick you might need to keep tapping delete or escape or F12 (depends on the computer, you can google it) and find a setting to allow you to boot from USB. You may find the BIOS is locked as it is an ex-corporate laptop, which may prevent you from doing this.

You might need a new Windows 11 licence. These can be purchased surprisingly cheap from places like Groupon.

Thanks, will this work even if I can't open up the laptop because I can't remember my work password?

[.:ian:.]

Hopefully its not enrolled to Intune, if it is it will force you to login using a domain account during even a fresh install.
You should be able bypass by not connecting to the internet during the install - https://search.brave.com/search?q=microsoft+intune...

[peterperkins]

Take the hard drive out.
Format it/on another machine or just fit a new one.
Then install windows from a USB stick as suggested.

[xx99xx]

A993LAD said:

Hmm possibly not. It wasn't really a "let me keep it" scenario. It was more an "I left and they never asked me to return it" situation.

I suspect that if I call up the IT dept and say I've got this and I want to unlock it they'll say definitely not can we have it back please.

They were a bit lax like that. The newish one I want to unlock replaced an earlier one that I still have too but IT should probably have asked for that one back as well.

I doubt they bother seeking any returns when people leave tbh as few staff would want a 2 year old second hand laptop and the IT guys are too busy to clear them down or dispose of them.

Who wouldn't want a 2 year old laptop?! Clearly you do, so why wouldn't your previous employer?

I just got a 'new' laptop at work. It's a refurbished one which replaced my 7 year old beast when the battery finally had enough. Absolutely bliss now to have the laptop on without the fan going full speed permanently.

Anyway, give the laptop back and buy your own. That's what I'd do.

[OldGermanHeaps]

.:ian:. said:

Hopefully its not enrolled to Intune, if it is it will force you to login using a domain account during even a fresh install.
You should be able bypass by not connecting to the internet during the install - https://search.brave.com/search?q=microsoft+intune...

I had that on a brand new straight out the wrapper mini pc bought from amazon. Worked fine on first boot. Ran windows update and during OOBE it locked up saying it was registered to some big construction company in the states.
I reckon the chinese manufacturer used a dodgy serial number in the bios to activate windows 11 without paying any license fee. I returned it.
I would contact your old employer and say you just found it,and do they want you to wipe it and dispose of it?
Just incase it comes to light down the road, is a theft charge worth it for an old laptop?
If something happens at your old employer and the IT department gets hauled over the coals they might have a renewed interest in auditing their asset register.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Sunday 18th October 22:52

[blueg33]

If the laptop was ever used for work, his employer have a potential GDPR problem, so should ask for it back to ensure it’s wiped.

[AlexC1981]

A993LAD said:

AlexC1981 said:

Use another PC and a USB stick to create windows 11 installation media from the link below.

Choose English International and it should pick up the British version rather than US.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/...

Stick it in the laptop, restart and install windows 11 fresh. Delete all the old partitions to ensure it is a completely clean installation.

If it does not boot from the USB stick you might need to keep tapping delete or escape or F12 (depends on the computer, you can google it) and find a setting to allow you to boot from USB. You may find the BIOS is locked as it is an ex-corporate laptop, which may prevent you from doing this.

You might need a new Windows 11 licence. These can be purchased surprisingly cheap from places like Groupon.

Thanks, will this work even if I can't open up the laptop because I can't remember my work password?

Yes, you have to keep tapping delete as the computer starts up because you want the computer to load from the USB and not load Windows. If you are just opening/closing the laptop or shutting down, you might need to do a proper restart from the login screen. You should see an icon in the bottom right to let you choose restart.

[the-norseman]

If you can get at the bios, install a new OS Windows or Linux via USB and off you go, I suspect however the bios will be locked.