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Reformatting a used computer without purchased code from auctions

Felix -  
brucine Posted messages 24783 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -

Hello, I am interested in a used Lenovo ThinkPad being sold by an online auction site from judicial sources. The starting price is appealing, but it’s stated that it needs to be reformatted since they do not have the code. Given that I am not an expert at all in computers, I would like to know if getting the computer up and running is complicated, and if I ask a shop to do it, how much it could cost me (to see if the total cost is still appealing).

2 answers

  1.
    quentin2121 Posted messages 9063 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   Ambassadeur 1 312
     

    Hello,

    You need to reinstall Windows 10 from a USB stick via the Microsoft website, download the media creation tool, then the ISO file, mount it on the USB stick, boot from it in the BIOS, F2 at startup, and then the installation will take place; if the Microsoft license key is still on the PC, it will activate itself! Good luck!

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    1. georges97 Posted messages 14567 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   2 919
       

      Hello,

      Lenovo Thinkpad is a range, some models of which may be 20 years old or more (the purchase of the IBM range in 2005). Therefore, nothing guarantees that you will be able to:

      - install Windows 10 on this model

      - install enough RAM (8 GB minimum, provided you can find compatible modules at a reasonable price) for Windows to run at an acceptable speed

      - boot from a USB drive since the booting was done via CDROM or DVDROM back then, though this is not a dealbreaker.


      - enter the BIOS if it's a company computer locked at this level (although there are legal procedures to reset the BIOS protection of older PCs, not the more recent ones).

      - obtain the drivers for the peripherals (graphics card, sound card, disk cards, USB cards) prior to installation to integrate into your burn, or risk being stuck.

      In a nutshell, I don't want to discourage you but rather to warn you that, contrary to what this site suggests, it's not just about installing a brand new OS, but about identifying and understanding the essential characteristics needed to pair an older PC with a contemporary environment.


      Otherwise, you may come back to ask us for solutions that we might not be able to provide due to the inability to upgrade obsolete hardware.

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  2. Felix
     

    Thank you for your advice. The computers for sale are from a company (there are 20 of the same type for individual sale), they are very recent (2021/22), have 8GB RAM, and are i5/i7. What do you think? Is it possible/easy/cheap to reformat them? Thank you for a quick response so I can participate in the auction.

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    1. miguen
       

      Warning, you must ensure that the BIOS is not also locked by a password, or else the password must be provided. If the BIOS is locked by a password and you don't have it, you won't be able to do anything with it!

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    2. georges97 Posted messages 14567 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   2 919
       

      Just check or have certified that they are not blocked by a BIOS password or that you communicate it to you (imperatively the same for each PC or a precise list with identification of each PC otherwise) to effectively verify before purchase the possibility of accessing them. After that, it will be too late to protest.

      The rest (the indicated characteristics) are correct and will allow for the installation of a recent Windows (we do not know about Windows 11 since no model reference is mentioned).

      Is it possible/easy/inexpensive to reformat them? Yes, by following the tutorials you will find on CCM. For the price, check the main online sales sites offering installation files and licenses (mandatory) at different prices.


      Furthermore, the verification operations at the BIOS level and installation must be carried out by a person with a minimum of practice on a computer, capable of following a tutorial and answering any questions posed by the interveners they consult.

      Thank you for a quick response to be able to participate in the auctions, no response, however quick, dispenses from the essential checks and skills mentioned above.

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      1. brucine Posted messages 24783 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 161 > georges97 Posted messages 14567 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention  
         

        Hello,

        In my opinion, the auctioneer is not a computer expert; he won't incur reset costs and complicate things unnecessarily: he will likely just delete the personal data and the BIOS from the computer, which is the least of his concerns, especially since he is not supposed to know the code if there is one.

        If this BIOS prevents installation from a USB key, we are out of luck unless we have legal proof of possession to reflash it using low-level methods since, by definition, we would no longer have access to a USB installation; such a procedure can be expensive and is only within the reach of a qualified technician or the brand.

        Therefore, it would be wise to inquire first with these parties, but the outcome seems uncertain enough in my opinion to warrant abandoning this type of purchase.

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