Format laptop without Admin logon?

ivrytwr3 · 8 May 2018 at 20:40

Once again i have been asked to sort other people's pc troubles!!

We have a laptop that has been bought 2nd hand, the laptop has an admin logon from the previous owner, but no password (i assume the previous owners stuff is still on there too!)

You guys helped me with a similar problem where i was able to create a second admin acocunt and delete the first - but that took me an age.

Am i able to format the laptop whilst keeping the OS etc?

Orcvader · 8 May 2018 at 22:06

What OS is the laptop running? If it's Windows 10 you can download it from here and it can make a bootable USB for you to do a clean install, which will bring the laptop to a clean fresh state. And since it's the Spring Creators update rolled in there will be hardly any updates to do afterwards.

AHarvey · 9 May 2018 at 09:13

Why not just do a windows 10 factory reset?

You'll have a choice to wipe or keep data and you'll get a fresh install without the hassle of needing serial codes.

Glanza · 9 May 2018 at 11:09

If it's 2nd hand always go with the clean install.

Orcvader · 9 May 2018 at 11:58

As above, and usually OEM laptops will have 20gb or so used for the recovery partition, so doing a clean install and getting rid of that will also give them extra space.

Won't need the key anyway since once it's online it'll activate itself.

bledd · 9 May 2018 at 12:36

Create a Windows 10 USB stick, boot from that, wipe existing partitions.