accessing and using an old work laptop
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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?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.
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...
You should be able bypass by not connecting to the internet during the install - https://search.brave.com/search?q=microsoft+intune...
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 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.
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.
.: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.You should be able bypass by not connecting to the internet during the install - https://search.brave.com/search?q=microsoft+intune...
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
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?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.
If its anything like my old company laptop you wont be able to do anything with it without help from your old IT dept but its not your laptop to do anything with it.
I needed a printer installing to it during wfh covid and IT had to sort this at their end to get past the various blockers.
When I stopped work they arranged automatic collection from a courier.
Passwords only last a set time anyway ( or ours did ).
Tbh I would either ask them to get it picked up or if they don't want that ask if you can simply throw it anyway.
I think you may have to just buy your wife a new one !
I needed a printer installing to it during wfh covid and IT had to sort this at their end to get past the various blockers.
When I stopped work they arranged automatic collection from a courier.
Passwords only last a set time anyway ( or ours did ).
Tbh I would either ask them to get it picked up or if they don't want that ask if you can simply throw it anyway.
I think you may have to just buy your wife a new one !
I had a laptop last year from a company that went bust.
I did eventually get into it, but it took multiple tries. First thing I did was ensure it couldn't connect to the internet. I created a USB windows recover file from another windows machine.
This is the bit I cant quite remember -
I either went into the bios and forced it to boot from the USB, or I forced it to start in safe mode and directed it to boot from the USB.
The computer had a windows recover partition on it, and i ended up deleting that partition, then formatting the hard drive and doing a clean windows install from my microsoft 365 account. This meant that the microsoft account had the bitlocker key.
I cant recall the exact steps, but it was a couple of days worth of trial and error
I did eventually get into it, but it took multiple tries. First thing I did was ensure it couldn't connect to the internet. I created a USB windows recover file from another windows machine.
This is the bit I cant quite remember -
I either went into the bios and forced it to boot from the USB, or I forced it to start in safe mode and directed it to boot from the USB.
The computer had a windows recover partition on it, and i ended up deleting that partition, then formatting the hard drive and doing a clean windows install from my microsoft 365 account. This meant that the microsoft account had the bitlocker key.
I cant recall the exact steps, but it was a couple of days worth of trial and error
So latest update is that I tried downloading Windows 11 to a USB sticking that in the work laptop and then pressing the start button.
But I just get the message on the attached photo saying I'm locked out.
I really think there is zero chance my old workplace are going to come looking for this laptop and even if they do I can just hand it back to them.
But I'm very happy to keep trying to get it working so any suggestions gratefully received.
But I just get the message on the attached photo saying I'm locked out.
I really think there is zero chance my old workplace are going to come looking for this laptop and even if they do I can just hand it back to them.
But I'm very happy to keep trying to get it working so any suggestions gratefully received.
AlexC1981 said:
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.
This. You need to get into the BIOS and find the setting to boot from USB. Google "BIOS" and your laptop make/model for more info.silentbrown said:
This. You need to get into the BIOS and find the setting to boot from USB. Google "BIOS" and your laptop make/model for more info.
That won't work. Chances are its locked out. To get around that you have to swap the motherboard. Sometimes cracks are available, but not always.You need to wipe the drive or start with a new one.
What works for me is to get a usb c to pcie adaptor (or whatever the laptop port is), then use a virtual machine to install windows on the drive. That way you're not swapping drives back and forth, and you have the use of your machine whilst you wait. You can also download installation files in advance and install everything in one go before dropping the ssd back into your laptop.
Op mentions it’s Microsoft branded, which could be a Surface of some description. Booting from USB requires use of the volume down button.
1. Shut down your Surface.
2. Insert the bootable USB drive into the USB port on your Surface.
3. Press and hold the volume-down button on the Surface. While you're doing this, press and release the power button.
4. The Microsoft or Surface logo appears on your screen. Continue to hold the volume-down button. Release the button when spinning dots appear beneath the logo.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to boot from your USB drive.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/driver...
1. Shut down your Surface.
2. Insert the bootable USB drive into the USB port on your Surface.
3. Press and hold the volume-down button on the Surface. While you're doing this, press and release the power button.
4. The Microsoft or Surface logo appears on your screen. Continue to hold the volume-down button. Release the button when spinning dots appear beneath the logo.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to boot from your USB drive.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/driver...
Thanks for the new replies.
It's one of these.........
The Microsoft model number 2033 refers to the 13.5-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (released in 2024), which is built for business and commercial users
I just tried following the instructions above but I now can't power it down, it just seems stuck on the screen in the image I posted earlier saying I'm locked out.
I've tried holding the power off button down and also pressing ctrl/alt/del together but it just stays on.
It's one of these.........
The Microsoft model number 2033 refers to the 13.5-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (released in 2024), which is built for business and commercial users
I just tried following the instructions above but I now can't power it down, it just seems stuck on the screen in the image I posted earlier saying I'm locked out.
I've tried holding the power off button down and also pressing ctrl/alt/del together but it just stays on.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff