Got a Hand‑Me‑Down Computer… But It’s Locked? Here’s What to Do

Dec 22

So your uncle passed down his old computer—great! But there’s one small problem: he can’t remember the password. The system is locked, you can’t get in, and he’s not worried about keeping any of his old data. You just want a clean, fresh machine you can call your own.

Good news: you can reset the computer and start from scratch. Even better news: you don’t have to do it alone.

Let’s walk through your options.

Option 1: DIY — Wipe and Reinstall Windows

If you’re comfortable doing a little hands‑on tech work, you can reset the system yourself. Here’s the basic process:

1. Create a Bootable Windows USB

You’ll need access to another working computer. From there, download the Windows installation media and create a bootable USB stick.

2. Boot From the USB

Plug the USB into the locked computer, restart it, and boot from the USB drive. Most systems let you do this by tapping a key like F12, F2, or ESC during startup.

3. Wipe the Hard Drive

Once the Windows installer loads, choose the option to delete the existing partitions. This clears out all old data—including that forgotten password.

4. Reinstall Windows

Follow the prompts to install a fresh copy of Windows.

5. Install Drivers & Updates

Once Windows is up and running, install any necessary drivers and run all Windows Updates to make sure the system is secure and fully functional.

It’s a straightforward process, but it does take time, patience, and a bit of technical comfort.

Option 2: Let Us Handle Everything

If all of that sounds like more work than you want to deal with, we’ve got you covered.

Bring the computer to R‑Tech Computers, Inc., and for the cost of one hour of billable time, we’ll:

Wipe the system
Reinstall Windows
Install all necessary drivers
Run all Windows updates
Ensure everything is running smoothly

Our typical turnaround time is 1–2 business days, depending on our current workload.

You can check our current pricing anytime here:
http://www.r-tech.com/pricing

Final Thoughts

A forgotten password doesn’t have to mean a dead computer. Whether you want to tackle the reinstall yourself or prefer to hand it off to professionals, you’ve got solid options. And once the system is refreshed, you’ll have a clean, fast machine ready to make your own.

Roger Ahuja