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Windows 10 Password

Darts

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Jan 15, 2017
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Ok, so someone in my neighbourhood moved out and left some stuff on the curb, including a Windows 10 desktop. I took it home and turned it on and the damn thing is password protected. Of course, I have no idea what is the password.

Question: What is the solution to get around the password?
 

WoodPeckr

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Google is your friend,
 

Darts

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Google is your friend,
My most "geeky" friend said he could partition the drive and install Linux so I can use the computer with a Linux O/S. He said that he can also view the data in Windows 10 but he doesn't know how to get around the password.
 

WoodPeckr

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Yes a Linux OS will let you look into the Windows OS to see what is in there.

Years ago I had a similar problem as you have.
I gave M$ a phone call and they helped me reset the password to get back in.
Not sure if M$ is still that helpful.
 

Darts

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Thanks for the input guys but I am 110% computer incompetent.

I don't care what the other guy had on the harddrive, however, I would like to be able to use Windows 10 on the computer. (Yes, I heard that Linux is very good, free and safe.)

I went to a couple of the computer stores on College Street and they said they can reset the computer. I lose the other guy's data but I don't care. However, they said they can save Windows 10 because the computer has a COA.
 

Darts

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Years ago I had a similar problem as you have.
I gave M$ a phone call and they helped me reset the password to get back in.
Not sure if M$ is still that helpful.
I assume in your case, you were the original owner of the computer and didn't find it on the curb because someone moved out of their apartment.
 

clules

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Jul 6, 2002
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On another computer, download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft site. Then plug in a empty or new USB stick, the stick must be 8 Gb or bigger. Run the media creation tool to setup the USB stick as a bootable Windows 10 setup stick.

Now use media on the USB stick to boot up the computer you found.. You will now be able to Install a complete new Windows 10 setup on the computer, this process will delete all existing files on the PC . You should now have a working Windows 10 computer that you can use.
 

Darts

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Thanks clules.

Does the "new" Windows 10 have the same COA as the "old" Windows 10?

Would this method also work to upgrade a Windows 7 to Windows 10 (probably not)?
 

RideOrDie10

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Feb 2, 2017
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Thanks clules.

Does the "new" Windows 10 have the same COA as the "old" Windows 10?

Would this method also work to upgrade a Windows 7 to Windows 10 (probably not)?
Depending on the specs of the computer, RAM, CPU, Storage etc
 

clules

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Almost all recent computers have the OEM Windows license built into the BIOS of the machine. This type of license will automatically activate as part of the install process.

Older machines will have a sticker with the license on it. Machines with a Windows 7 Professional license can be used to activated Windows 10 Pro. For others you will need to get a license key from somewhere.
 
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CLOUD 500

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Best option is to reformat and reinstall Windows 10. Obviously all the data on the hard drive will be lost.
 

Darts

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Best option is to reformat and reinstall Windows 10. Obviously all the data on the hard drive will be lost.
1) Back in the old days when we had XP I would get the installation disc and re-install XP but I wasn't sure how to do it with Windows 10 without an installation disc, however, clules' post covered that scenario.
2) I don't mind losing the old data as that belongs to somebody else.
 

CLOUD 500

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^^^^^
Well like with WinXP you would have to buy the OS which is what I did with all OS. When I get a new PC I always buy the OS just in case things go bad then I can reformat.
 

Darts

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Darts

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Guys, thanks for all the feedback. I think I found the perfect solution. I was talking to one of my neighbors and he said he knows exactly what to do and has successfully done it in the past.
 
Feb 15, 2003
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Most laptops will have a recovery partition on the hard drive and a boot sequence option for accessing it. Do a search with the model of your found laptop and the terms factory reset or recovery partition to see what steps you need to take. This is probably what your neighbor is planning to do. If you can get it to work, and are given the option of saving existing files, it's better to not do this so you start from a clean state. Windows 10 will still have to update itself because the version in the recovery partition will not be current.
 

Darts

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Most laptops will have a recovery partition on the hard drive and a boot sequence option for accessing it.
Thanks for your input. Actually, what I found is a desktop.

My neighbor downloaded a fresh copy of Windows 10 from the Microsoft site onto a USB key. He said all I have to do is to re-install Windows 10 on the found computer (not done yet). I lose the previous owner's data but that is fine by me as I don't want somebody else's data on my computer.
 

Darts

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A product by lsoft.net will help reset a password called Active Studio
Thanks. This will be very useful if I ever lose/forget the password on my own personal computer. Also, is this a free service?

Will the restored password still preserve all my data?
 
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