I recently discovered an old HP laptop from around 2014, but I'm completely locked out since I can't remember the password. The laptop is linked to an old Yahoo account that I've also lost access to because I changed phone numbers and moved houses. We've tried the Yahoo recovery process, but no luck there. I don't really care about the files on the laptop, I just want to use it again. Is there a way to bypass the login or reset the laptop without using a USB drive? Or is a factory reset my only option? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
If you have another Windows computer, you can create a bootable USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool. Just install Windows on your laptop from there and choose a fresh install. This will wipe everything, so it's a clean slate!
Another option is to interrupt the boot process a few times. Start the laptop and when you see the HP logo, hold the power button until it shuts off. Repeat this a couple of times, and it should lead you to the WRE where you can reinstall Windows.
First, I'd ask what operating system the laptop is running on. If it's Windows 10, you're in luck! One way to get back in is by accessing the Windows Recovery Environment (WRE).
Yeah, it seems to be Windows 10 based on the login screen, so you might be able to access WRE. You can try pressing F2 repeatedly as it boots, or force a few shutdowns to enter recovery mode.