Recover password protected OEM laptop with out recovery CDs?

osaddictosaddict London, UK
edited March 2010 in Science & Tech
Ok so we have an Acer travelmate laptop which somebody was using in a different office.

This has been returned back to me today, nobody knows the password for the user who had the laptop previously.

It's just a standalone laptop with no other accounts on it to logon to (all other laptops have tech accounts - typical!)

They neglected to put the Acer recovery CDs in the bag (but did include some Dell ones lol).

Even if I boot into the recovery partition it prompts for the password.

So, besides having the CDs (which may be hanging around in the other office and if found will be posted to me at some point) do I have any other options?

I don't want to keep any of the data on the machine, just restore it to a standard Vista Business install from which I can run a script to put it on our domain and add additional tech accounts etc.

Comments

  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    edited February 2010
    Yea, just format the drive and install Vista with your corporate image.

    This isn't a bios password, right?
  • osaddictosaddict London, UK
    edited February 2010
    Yeah, that's the problem - we don't have a corporate image - we get all our desktops and usually laptops from Dell. We then just run a script over the OEM install to get rid of some junk, install some stuff and configure bits and bobs.

    Not a bios password, just a Vista password.
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    edited February 2010
    osaddict wrote:
    Yeah, that's the problem - we don't have a corporate image - we get all our desktops and usually laptops from Dell. We then just run a script over the OEM install to get rid of some junk, install some stuff and configure bits and bobs.

    Not a bios password, just a Vista password.
    Any Vista install disk will work, you will just have to manually add drivers first. You just need a Vista OEM DVD that works with the "key" on the bottom of the laptop.

    I have had good success with just an OEM Vista download or even Dell disk, as long as it isn't a "recovery" for another unit, just a Dell/HP/anyone actual Vista disk.
  • osaddictosaddict London, UK
    edited February 2010
    Hmm, after about 10 attempts based on the persons passwords we do know for other stuff and making slight variations I think I've guessed it lol. ... creates tech account with tech login ASAP!
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    edited February 2010
    osaddict wrote:
    Hmm, after about 10 attempts based on the persons passwords we do know for other stuff and making slight variations I think I've guessed it lol. ... creates tech account with tech login ASAP!
    LOL!!.. nice.
  • osaddictosaddict London, UK
    edited February 2010
    Scratch that - after a few attempts it seems the 'welcome' screen hangs for ages before telling you it's an incorrect password. Original post still stands.

    Oh ok, I never thought of using a Dell disc. I have plenty of Dell Vista Business desktop OEM discs. Not sure how I can tell whether it works with the key on the laptop?!
  • AlexDeGruvenAlexDeGruven Wut? Meechigan Icrontian
    edited February 2010
    Alternatively, you could have gone this route:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ovrT3OEDUo

    I had to use this, myself on my BIL's Girlfriend's lappy, 'cuz her dad forgot the password.
  • osaddictosaddict London, UK
    edited February 2010
    I can't access youtube here (I've banned it haha), what's the basis of the video?!
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    edited February 2010
    osaddict wrote:
    Scratch that - after a few attempts it seems the 'welcome' screen hangs for ages before telling you it's an incorrect password. Original post still stands.

    Oh ok, I never thought of using a Dell disc. I have plenty of Dell Vista Business desktop OEM discs. Not sure how I can tell whether it works with the key on the laptop?!
    You would have to try an install, only knowing once you get to the key entry screen unfortunately :grumble:
  • osaddictosaddict London, UK
    edited February 2010
    @Alex, just tried the youtube link on a test PC I setup earlier which isn't on the domain. Looks fun, but something I'd rather try after the Dell CD...
  • osaddictosaddict London, UK
    edited March 2010
    A friend just passed on a gem of a tip - when the Acer is booting hit Alt + F10 - this loads some kind of 'secret' recovery partition or something :) - The laptop is currently being restored to factory settings as we speak.

    This (so I'm told) has the added benefit that a recovery disc can be created when it's finished doing it's thing.

    So, so far looking good!
  • SnarkasmSnarkasm Madison, WI Icrontian
    edited March 2010
    Ah, yep. Lots of laptops come with a small (~10GB) partition that will restore to how it was shipped. Watch out for crapware, but at least you'll be back to a known starting point. :)
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