I recently bought a used laptop for my daughter, but it has no operating system installed. After I set up Windows, it requested a username and password tied to a local company that went bankrupt. Is there a way to bypass this issue, or should I return it to the seller?
4 Answers
It sounds like the laptop is set up with a feature called Autopilot, which businesses use for managing new devices. Unfortunately, since it's tied to the laptop's serial number, the best course might be to contact the now-bankrupt company to see if they can release it. If that doesn’t work, your best bet may be to return the laptop for a different one.
One option is to install Linux on the laptop. It's a great alternative, especially if Windows is locked to the previous owner's company. Just check if you're comfortable with Linux, as it can be a bit different from Windows.
If Windows is asking for the company login, you can access UEFI settings to format the NVMe/SSD completely and create a new installation medium. However, keep in mind that if the laptop is still registered with Intune, Windows might not work at all on this device.
If you want to stick with Windows, try installing Windows 11 Home. Some users have reported success without running into issues with company policies.
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