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Reset Computer without recovery key or microsoft ID

I have 2 old laptops that I need to totally wipe and reset. I do not have the Recovery Key and am not sure what Microsoft account they are affiliated with. They are HP laptops with windows operating system. Is it possible to reset the device without either? I don't have any of the passwords, admin login, etc. 

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Hi Imogen

I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

Do you have Windows 10 installed on those laptops?

If so, you can reset or re-install Windows 10 without the need to insert a product key . . .

1
Reset Windows 10:

Start your PC, just as Windows attempts to load (spinning dots), press and hold Power Button for 5 - 10 seconds to perform a Hard Shut Down

Do this twice

On the third start Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment and from there you can access System Repair, Safe Mode, Command Prompt . . . etc.

Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Options - Reset this PC
Choose to keep your files and apps, just your files or to keep nothing
Then start the Reset

2
Re-install Windows 10

You can reinstall Windows 10 at any time and it will not cost you anything !

Click this link:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...
to download the Media Creation Tool (Click on Download Tool Now), with that you can download the latest Windows 10 ISO (Select Create Installation Media for Another PC), you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 8GB) using that tool

Then, Boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created (change Boot Order in your BIOS) to begin installing Windows 10

Since you previously had Windows 10 installed and activated on that PC during the installation process skip the steps which ask for a product key and select the option 'I am Reinstalling Windows 10 on this PC', and activation will not be an issue, your PC will have a digital entitlement stored on the Microsoft Activation Servers

Make sure you install the same Edition of Windows 10 (Home, Pro . . . etc.) you previously had installed to avoid Activation issues
___________________________________________________________________

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Hi Dave, thank you for your quick response. 

I believe is a Windows 10 system. 

The steps above are the ones I originally tried to take. I went to trouble shoot, advanced, and then to reset. I chose the 'erase all' option. However, after a do this, a blue screen appears that asks for 'Enter the recovery key to get going again'. 

There's a 'skip this drive' option below, but clicking that only puts me back to the home login screen. 

So, the issue is not the Windows 10 recovery, but the system reset. 

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Hi Imogen

If you are asked for a Recovery Key, not a Windows 10 Product key, that means the drive on that PC is encrypted with Bitlocker by the previous owner and you would need that key to unlock the hard drive on that PC

Where did those PC(s) that you are working on come from, do you have access to the original Microsoft Accounts used on those PC's?

If not, then a full clean install from a Windows 10 USB is the only option, a reset will not be possible . . .
___________________________________________________________________

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Yes, exactly, it is a Recovery Key Bitlocker problem. I don't have access to the original microsoft accounts (or the ones I thought they were linked to aren't working).  

A full clean install sounds like the right move. How do I do that? 

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Hi Imogen,

Click this link:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...
to download the Media Creation Tool (Click on Download Tool Now), with that you can download the latest Windows 10 ISO (Select Create Installation Media for Another PC), you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 8GB) using that tool

Then, Boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created (change Boot Order in your BIOS) to begin installing Windows 10

Since you previously had Windows 10 installed and activated on that PC during the installation process skip the steps which ask for a product key and select the option 'I am Reinstalling Windows 10 on this PC', and activation will not be an issue, your PC will have a digital entitlement stored on the Microsoft Activation Servers

Make sure you install the same Edition of Windows 10 (Home, Pro . . . etc.) you previously had installed to avoid Activation issues
___________________________________________________________________

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Well, windows is still currently on the PC. What is necessary is for me to be able to wipe everything that's currently on the device. Will a new install do that? 

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Hi Imogen

Sorry, I was offline, did you perform a full clean install?
___________________________________________________________________

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Hi Dave, 

I'm working on it now. I've successfully downloaded the installation media onto a drive and have tried to install it. I hit shift and restart, then clicked the 'Install New media' option. The computer then started to do its thing, but the machine isn't wiped. I need to do a reset and wipe the computer. Am I doing something wrong? 

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Hi Imogen

Yes, you cannot do that from the Shift - Restart method

You need to insert that USB into your PC, then boot from that USB

The method to do that varies form PC to PC, what is the Make and exact Model No. of the laptop - that will be printed on a sticker on the bottom casing . . .
___________________________________________________________________

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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The laptop is an HP Probook 450 G5, productID: 3JJ4OUT#ABA

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Last updated June 3, 2024 Views 171,676 Applies to: