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Toshiba C55 with Windows 10/Previous Owner

Anonymous
2018-04-02T09:04:26+00:00

I recently purchased a Toshiba C55t-C5300 laptop from a thrift store. I took a chance because I couldn't turn it on due to no power cord, and I only gave $5 for it. It is a 2017 model according to Toshiba, running Windows 10. As I suspected, when I was able to get in powered up, I found that it has a password set by the previous owner. What is the best method for recovery? Can a clean install, using media I created on a USB be used? Hate to have to purchase another copy of Windows 10. Thanks in advance.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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  1. DaveM121 872.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2018-04-02T09:09:52+00:00

    Hi Hoosier, your best option is to Reset Window, you will end up with a clean machine and it will be like it came out of the factory . . .

    On the Login Screen at the bottom right, on the power button, press the Shift Key and click Restart

    Your PC will boot into the Windows Recovery Environment

    Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Options - Reset this PC

    Choose to keep nothing

    Then start the Reset

    If you cannot get into Windows:

    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 nothing

    Then start the Reset

    If you are unable to reset the laptop, then clean install Windows 10

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

    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

    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

    If you have problems booting from a boot disc, you may have UEFI BIOS:

    Insert the Bootable Installation Media, then go into your BIOS and make the following changes:

    1. Disable Secure Boot
    2. Enable Legacy Boot
    3. If Available enable CSM
    4. If Required enable USB Boot
    5. Move the device with the bootable disc to the top of the boot order
    6. Save BIOS changes, restart your System and it should boot from the Installation Media

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  2. DaveM121 872.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2018-04-02T09:56:11+00:00

    OK Hoosier, please let me know how it goes . . .

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-04-02T09:53:01+00:00

    Thank you. I will give that a try. I have gone into Bios and there are no user or Supervisor passwords. Of course, that is Toshiba Utility setup. I have been unable to get into anything in Windows. I made a bootable USB drive, but have been unable to get it to boot. I will make the changes you provided and try again. Thanks again for the help!

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