Need help resetting a laptop I purchased used

[cruzer131]

I bought a laptop from the pawn shop a few days ago, and I have not been able to reset it to factory. The reason being that I need a password to get that option. I restart the computer and enter F8 until I get to the Advanced Boot Options screen where I can select repair computer. When I select repair computer it takes me through the System Recovery Options to a window that asks me for a password. What can I do? Any info would be helpful thanks

 

[Golden]

You can't do much I'm afraid.

Is there a COA sticker underneath and laptop or inside the battery compartment? If so, are all the letters of the product key still legible? What version of Windows does the sticker refer too (e.g Hm Prem, Ult)?

Do NOT post the product key here!

Regards,
Golden

 

[cruzer131]

This Product key How many letters- numbers are we talking about

 

[Golden]

25 letters and characters

 

[cruzer131]

That number would be on the blue sticker I think right if it is Im S O L because that sticker was ripped off

 

[Golden]

Does the laptop boot at all?

 

[cruzer131]

Yes it has all normal functions I can use the computer it starts up fine but like I said I can't get to the option of restoring the computer without the password. Might you know of anything else I could try?

 

[Golden]

Ahhh, OK. There is a glimmer of hope........

Try OPTION2 here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/153626-product-key-number-windows-7-find-see.html

If we can find the key, then you can do a clean install which is better than a factory reset.

 

[cruzer131]

Dumb question here where do I find the product key for Windows 7? Sorry for being so computer illiterate.

 

[Golden]

Read the tutorial. You can use either option 2,3,4,5 or 6.

 

[cruzer131]

Again I'm sorry but where do I read the tutorial

 

[Golden]

Click this blue text ---> http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/153626-product-key-number-windows-7-find-see.html

 

[cruzer131]

Where do I read the tutorial, again sorry

 

[cruzer131]

Disregard last post sorry

 

[cruzer131]

I found the product key, yippie, now what do I do?

 

[Golden]

Lets check - does it contain the letters OEM in it?

 

[alphanumeric]

If that product code is the factory OEM-SLP code, its no good. It will be permanently blocked on the Microsoft activation servers. It will be flagged as not valid if you try to phone activate with it too. You need the code from the COA sticker to do a clean install. The MGADiag.exe tool will likely tell you if your using SLP activation.
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=52012
The actual product code will not have the letters OEM in it. The "Product ID:" shown on the system page will if its OEM.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I think a bigger question is, did you pay for a license as part of the sale, or just for the laptop hardware?

 

[gregrocker]

Go to Control Panel>System, scroll down to the Product ID to see if it has OEM in the character string. If so then you have the factory preinstalled Win7 still on there unless the seller installed a cracked illegal Win7 copy.

If you could see enough of the COA sticker to know which OS was licensed to the unit and provide some of it during phone activation after reinstall, we have reports MS will issue a new key. They have ways of knowing from the sticker if a worn Product Key was there.

If there is no OEM in the string then we assume it's a legal Product Key you can audit using Belarc Advisor to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

If you'd like to stick with the current install you can also Clean Up Factory Bloatware and Optimize Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums which may make it a keeper the way it is. A Win7 backup image would then serve as your Recovery.

 

[greyoldchief]

Download a Belarc Advisor and run it. It may list your product key.