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Purchased a second hand computer

Anonymous
2021-07-12T11:20:43+00:00

Hi there!

I would just like to ask what are the best ways to go about this.

I bought a second hand laptop and it came with Windows 10 Pro installed and activated. The previous owner purchased the laptop with an unactivated Windows 10. When I purchased it from him, he said he activated Windows 10 Pro on the laptop himself.

I've started using it and I have three questions:

  1. Are there any security implications I should be aware of? For example, is it possible that he installed some kind of malware or spyware without my knowledge?
  2. I would like the "out-of-the-box" experience with this laptop - what is the best way to do that? I am aware there are different levels of reset.
  3. If I reset the laptop - will I be able to retain Windows 10 Pro, or will it revert to the unactivated Windows 10, or no Windows at all?

Thank you for your help!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Licensing and activation

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  1. Van S 23,660 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-07-13T06:38:35+00:00

    Hi howei_89,

    You are most welcome, I am glad I was to assist.

    Best regards,

    Van

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Van S 23,660 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-07-13T05:20:58+00:00

    Hi howei_89,

    The digital license is just another way of activating Windows as long you have the product key, you can reuse it again on your machine.

    To retrieve your license key kindly follow one of the methods below.

    Method 1.

    1. Open the command prompt and run it with administrator rights.
    2. Type or copy-paste the below command in the command prompt

    wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

    1. The license key that has 25 characters should appear.
    2. If the license key did not appear kindly proceed to method 2.

    Method 2.

    1. Go to the Microsoft store. Search for ShowKeyPlus in the MS store search bar
    2. Download and Install the app.
    3. Once done, run the app. The app will show the current license key installed on your machine.

    Best regards,

    Van

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2021-07-12T15:37:01+00:00

    If I acquired a used computer, no matter how I got it or who previously owned it --even if it was  a relative or close friend--the first thing I would do with it would be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses andspyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddy p00rn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone else do so either.Your choice of course, but in my view, you're playing with fire if you don't reinstall Windows cleanly.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Van S 23,660 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-07-12T12:11:24+00:00

    Hi, I am Van. I'm an Independent Advisor and a Windows user like you. I'll be glad to help you today.

    If you chose to reset the PC and you don't have any files stored yet, select the second option "Remove everything". This option will remove everything from the machine and will install a fresh copy of Windows.

    Before performing the reset. Check first the type license installed on the laptop. Since it is a second-hand machine. You never know if the seller used a legit license key or not. To do this kindly follow the steps below.

    1. Click the start menu, then type CMD. Right-click the command prompt then select run as administrator.
    2. In the command prompt type or copy-paste the command below

    slmgr /dlv

    1. Send us the result of what it says on the description or product key channel from the pop-up window.

    Best regards,

    Van

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2021-07-12T11:29:50+00:00

    it is better to hard reset your PC 💻 removing everything

    Yes it will stay in windows 10 pro only

    If you reset you will automatically be welcomed with the OOBE (out-of-the-box experience) screen

    Feel free to ask anything if you have any further queries

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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