How to reset laptops without knowing the user passwords

Kalimocho

Hi,

I was working for a business that have closed its doors (unfortunately). A few laptops (4) have been given to me but I don't know the passwords because employees left plus they're quite old (2018-2020 - Pre-COVID) so I am just wondering how can I reset them to factory settings (so all personal data in them is erased too) without access.

Thanks

Spear

Do they have recovery CD/USB images available? Otherwise you can boot from an OS USB drive, format their storage and do a fresh install. If there's no data to save, there's no need to save the current OS install either.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058422843/how-to-reset-laptops-without-knowing-the-user-passwords

Any use?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irpRJVMllq4

Kalimocho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763279#Comment_123763279

No USB images available. I rather not to install Windows again.

Kalimocho

I will look into it!

Spear

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763337#Comment_123763337

It might be the safest option otherwise. You don't know how outdated or even compromised the prior installs were. Starting with a clean slate bypasses all that.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058422843/how-to-reset-laptops-without-knowing-the-user-passwords

If you're erasing data and doing it properly then there is no need (or justification) to access their accounts. Realistically only a domain or local admin should have access to be able to log the systems on now anyway, so you're snookered in that respect.

I'd start off by looking up the user manual to check whether the systems support secure erase from the system BIOS. Here's the Dell one for example:

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000146892/dell-data-wipe

Then you'll need a Windows ISO/recovery key and new license key as the original licensed entity has ceased trading.

Option 2: Wipe fully and install Linux Mint. 😀

lostinsuperfunk

I've used this on Windows 7 systems to reset passwords, but not sure if works for more recent o/s : http://trinityhome.org/

You need to create a device (e.g. USB) with a bootable image of the Trinity Rescue o/s (a Linux implementation), then change the boot order in the BIOS to make the USB drive the first in the boot sequence.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763337#Comment_123763337

Really your only option is to reinstall the OS, it can do both goals of removing user data and making the laptops useable again

A straight reinstall won't securely remove the data, you need to use a few extra steps to properly destroy the existing data

First you can create a Linux bootable USB stick and use it to mount the drives on the laptops and wipe them using the shred command like below

https://linuxiac.com/best-ways-to-securely-erase-disk-in-linux/

Once that is done you can install an OS of your preference. I'd recommend a Linux distro since Windows 10 is out of support and Windows 11 is a dumpster fire

Fedora is my personal favourite, although Mint is designed to be very like Windows in terms of user experience

the_amazing_raisin

On a side note, what's the deal with a business just giving you 4 laptops?

Surely if the business went bankrupt then they would be sold to cover the debts of that company?

Whoever was doing the IT for the company should have cleared them out first, there could be sensitive information on them

Spear

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763686#Comment_123763686

Small company goes bust, with no real IT person, no asset tracking, it's easy to imagine no proper liquidation happening in such a scenario. All the more reason to utterly nuke the contents of them to ensure there's no company data left on them.

Kalimocho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763366#Comment_123763366

But I don't have OS available. I would like to continue with Windows as it is but accessing. Any alternative?

Kalimocho

But I don't have Windows for installation.

CalamariFritti

Your only option is full wipe and clean reinstall.

You will not be able to salvage these installations with any confidence of them being uncompromised and clean. And thats assuming you're having the admin passwords for the machines, which you dont.

Without admin passwords you simply wont be able to attempt this even.

In a sense you're actually better off not having those passwords.

Edit: Just seeing your other problem. If the lack of installation media for window is the problem, those can be downloaded. If you dont have the product keys, well thats a problem. Is Linux an option?

Spear

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763975#Comment_123763975

It's a free download from MS:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d

smuggler.ie

Laptops for business most likely will be with bitlocker ON - unlikely would be able to access drives, even with third party tools, to create local admins.
Fresh install,as suggested above, would be simplest option, however, sometimes original OS could be Home edition (locked in hardware) upgraded to Pro(retail) - fresh install wont retain Pro license, unless you happy with Home edition.
you should be able check initial/original OS version by device SN/ST on official manufacturer support site
If concerned about data present on disks - destroy them and replace with new SSD's with fresh install (note above about licenses) - not so expensive these days

There is potential to enable build-in Administrator account that allow full access to device, but somewhat convoluted, and i have not tested(24h not enough in the day) on Win10/11 so cant comment if it still works(did on WIn7/8)

halkar

If they are dell laptops you can get recovery tool from dell using another laptop or computer. You will need the service tag which could be under the laptop if not you can get from bios.

https://www.dell.com/support/contents/en-ie/article/product-support/self-support-knowledgebase/software-and-downloads/dell-os-recovery-tool

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763974#Comment_123763974

What you're trying to do is not ethical. These devices likely have confidential data or possibly PII on them. They need to be securely wiped.

If you had access to Windows Erase you would need to run the "clean the drive" option, but as this isn't available to you then a boot-disk or BIOS level erasure is recommended.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763965#Comment_123763965

Yeah I could see it happening but I really thought that stuff had all been farmed out to vendors at this point

I agree wiping the data is the ethical choice, however you'd wonder if there was a potential for some legal hold on data contained on those laptops

OP would have to prove they got the laptops in good faith and didn't steal them to destroy the data

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763974#Comment_123763974

You can download Windows installation media from Microsoft and install it on a USB key. You can then use this to reinstall Windows

However, it's likely the laptops are running Windows 10 which is not supported anymore. You would have to install Windows 11 which may face issues if the laptops don't have a TPM2.0 module installed

In any case you may face issues with the license keys for the laptops. You should be able to reuse the keys but if they're OEM keys then Windows might not activate

Honestly it's this BS that led me to install Linux, none of these licensing issues exist and everything just works out of the box

If your goal is to sell the laptops then it's probably better to just wipe all the data and sell them as blanks. Most folks after 2nd hand laptops are probably capable of installing an OS

FishOnABike

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1496247/how-to-i-remove-and-or-reset-an-administrator-pass

or

https://4sysops.com/archives/factory-reset-of-windows-10-and-11-without-a-password

might work

User567363

Its too late for them, batterys are probably dead, and can only run windows 10

Capt'n Midnight

Go into BIOS / Setup - it depends on brand , keep a key pressed until until it tells you - Esc / F1 / F2 / F10 / F12 etc

Find out what CPU it has, if it's a intel then anything below 8000 in the bit after i3/i5/i7 means it can't run windows 11

Even if it has an option to re-install without keeping data you should still wipe the free space on the drive afterwards as a minimum,

cipher /w:c

Any half decent corporate laptop will have an option in setup to wipe / secure erase the HDD

Or use https://dban.org/

Most laptops will have the license for windows embedded in the BIOS or if older on a sticker underneath or under the battery. So easy enough to reinstall. Use Rufus to burn the ISO to bypass TPM checks and some other BS

A live Linux CD is the easiest way to show them working.

ItHurtsWhenIP

The OP said the laptops were 2018-2020 era … my 2018 Dell had no problem taking Win11.

@con747 's video above is the solution here:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763280#Comment_123763280

… though at 0:17, I would take the step to clean the entire drive during the reset.

If the Windows were using OEM licenses, these should be held in the BIOS and should still be valid.

styron

The revamped Hiren's Boot CD has a couple of utilities (security→passwords) that can give a straightforward reset or blank the password on local administrator/user accounts to enable access, by booting from a USB outside the OS (W11-7).

Use of NT Password Edit v0.7 is shown in the How To's list.

Windows Login Unlocker v2.1 is similar with added functions including the very useful ability to create a new local administrator account with a blank password - giving you the access you need,. even if all existing ones are domain or MS accounts.

The ISO (3GB): https://www.hirensbootcd.org/download

USB creation with Rufus as recommended is here: https://www.hirensbootcd.org/usb-booting/

FishOnABike

Ventoy is also very useful for creating a bootable USB drive.

https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html

You can then just copy the ISO for Hirens BootCD PE (and any other utilities ISOs you might want) to the ventoy USB drive and have a choice of utilities to boot from a menu.

Kalimocho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123763614#Comment_123763614

I am not familiar with Linux… which version? where can I get it, please?

Kalimocho

Thanks but they're running Windows 8.1 (they support Win 10) and doesn't work this one

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123774348#Comment_123774348

Okay, so to start you don't get Linux, you get a distribution of Linux. There are a lot of distributions out there and some of better suited to desktop users than others

The most popular option is Ubuntu which is maintained by Canonical. You'll want the desktop version here

https://ubuntu.com/desktop

My personal favourite is Fedora, which is an open source version of RedHat Linux. You'll want the workstation version here

https://fedoraproject.org/workstation/

Why is it my favourite? Simple, I learned to use Linux on Redhat and Fedora is the simplest open source alternative. I'm just used to it, that doesn't mean it's in any way better than the others

Having said that, I did find the user interface on Fedora very easy to figure out compared to earlier versions of Ubuntu

Another good option is Mint. It's specifically designed to be easy to use for people who aren't Linux experts. I haven't used it myself but I believe they try to give it a very similar look to Windows so it's easy to switch over

https://www.linuxmint.com/

the_amazing_raisin

OP, if you aren't confident installing Linux then consider heading to this meet up with the Dublin Linux Community

https://www.meetup.com/dublin-linux-community/events/305751148/?eventOrigin=group_events_list

Basically they've a bunch of volunteers installing Linux on computers since Windows 10 is ending support