Confused About My New Laptop: Did I Buy a Used One?
Asked by
CuriousGadget123
So, I bought a new laptop with Windows 11 about a month ago, and when I set it up, I noticed it already had a user profile without a password. There were also a bunch of apps installed, like AnyDesk and WinRAR, which made me wonder if something was off. I checked AnyDesk and found recent screen recordings, one dated June 26, 2025. Not only that, but my Command Prompt showed the original install date as July 5, 2025, which is after the recording date. I dug deeper via Event Viewer and saw the first event was on July 2, 2025, so I'm really concerned it was tampered with before I got it. I ran a virus scan with Malwarebytes, which found nothing, but now I'm wondering if I should factory reset the laptop or return it completely.
Answers
Return it if you can! It might have hardware issues too, not just software. They should be selling you a new, sealed laptop, not one that has been previously opened.
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If you just bought it brand new, it’s best to return it. It sounds like it might have been opened and used before. Even if you keep it, I still recommend wiping everything and reinstalling Windows from scratch. Better to be cautious, especially with suspicious apps like AnyDesk.
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It sounds like your laptop might have been used and returned before you bought it. The apps you mentioned are definitely not standard for a fresh install. I'd recommend doing a clean install from a USB drive and wiping everything on the system drive, just like you would if you bought a second-hand laptop. Better safe than sorry!
ResetOrReturn: Yeah, definitely do that. If you're not comfortable with the clean install, just return it and get a new one.
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ConcernedTechie: Agreed. There's no telling what else could be lurking on there!