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Message
Re-setting old work laptop
Posted on 2/18/26 at 2:29 pm
Posted on 2/18/26 at 2:29 pm
My wife (no pics) has an old work laptop running Windows 10 Enterprise. When they migrated her to a new machine, IT told her they didn’t want the old machine back.
I figured it would be a good machine to let the kid use. It has bitlocker, so I can’t just wipe the drive and re-set it without the key and/or admin password. Is there a way for a dummy like me to wipe the C drive and then I can just buy and install Windows 11 for a cheap kid computer?
I figured it would be a good machine to let the kid use. It has bitlocker, so I can’t just wipe the drive and re-set it without the key and/or admin password. Is there a way for a dummy like me to wipe the C drive and then I can just buy and install Windows 11 for a cheap kid computer?
3
Posted on 2/18/26 at 3:29 pm to GeauxldMember
Couple things:
You don’t need to buy w11 before installing and it will never force you to enter a key.
Admin password usually refers to a password in the UEFI that prevents changes. (Like booting from a thumb drive). The only way around modern ones is to reflash the bios chip which often involves soldering.
Before modifying, need to make sure you ca enter system menu and enable boot from external drive. If you can do that, then you can install whatever you want.
If you’re locked out of changing the boot order, then you might be able to get a system board for like $40 or so on eBay assuming it was a w10 PC. Thats how I got my current laptop and am in it for like $100 for a perfect 12th gen i5 latitude.
You don’t need to buy w11 before installing and it will never force you to enter a key.
Admin password usually refers to a password in the UEFI that prevents changes. (Like booting from a thumb drive). The only way around modern ones is to reflash the bios chip which often involves soldering.
Before modifying, need to make sure you ca enter system menu and enable boot from external drive. If you can do that, then you can install whatever you want.
If you’re locked out of changing the boot order, then you might be able to get a system board for like $40 or so on eBay assuming it was a w10 PC. Thats how I got my current laptop and am in it for like $100 for a perfect 12th gen i5 latitude.
This post was edited on 2/18/26 at 3:38 pm
Posted on 2/18/26 at 4:44 pm to GeauxldMember
Install Linux Mint on it, will feel like a new computer.
Posted on 2/21/26 at 9:15 am to GeauxldMember
There is a strong possibility the hardware is not supported by Windows 11 (The likely reason the business gave it away). We had to replace about 30% of our PCs last year as they couldn’t be upgraded from Win 10 to 11. So check that before you spend any time or money on a brick.
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