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How to change a computer's ownership

Anonymous
2023-06-19T20:39:47+00:00

Hello

I have a computer laptop with my Microsoft Account. I want to give this computer to another person with a different Microsoft Account to own. So when this other person logs in (turns on the computer) they can see their name and enter their PIN as if they bought the computer themselves.

How can I do this?

thank you very much

Craig

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows Hello, lock screen and sign-in

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-06-20T19:18:51+00:00

    Thanks Craig, for the additional information so i can have a good understanding of what barrier you were facing there. This is the challenge of communicating via forum, so any additional information is appreciated as curved ball can happen.

    Alright, so from what you described, it means the factory reset didn't go through successfully, or it was corrupted during this process. That can happen sometimes when the image it used for the reset process is already corrupted to begin with. No worries, this is not the dead end here.

    Ideally, the best solution that will work for sure is the second option. It is what we call the clean install. You will download the image (what we call .iso file) into a flash drive from Microsoft. This way you know this image is clean and not damaged. And then use that to perform a clean install and override everything you have on this computer now. That's the instruction I laid out for you in option 2.

    I include the tutorial videos in case it is helpful:

    First half of the instruction: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/videoplayer/emb...

    Second half of the instruction: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/videoplayer/emb...

    ========================================

    If this clean install process is too daunting , this can be an alternative workaround since you are sign into your account right now, right?

    Here are the steps:

    1. Type netplwiz in the search on the taskbar and hit enter. When launched, click on "Add". On the next window, click on the bottom where it says to create an account without Microsoft email. This will allow you to define your own username. Make sure it doesn't contain space or special character. Set it up as a local user.
    2. When the above user is created, back to the main netplwiz page, double click on this new user, go to the Group Membership tab, make it administrator. Save the change.
    3. Restart the computer. Sign into the new user you created in Step 1.
    4. Type sysdm.cpl in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, go to Advanced tab, click on the "Settings" button at the User Profile section. Then delete the old user profile.
    5. Launch netplwiz again, delete the old user from there.

    This way you remove your user, and the data folder that comes with your user. And you will have a new local user for the new owner. Make sure you share the new username and password with the new owner then.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-06-20T16:27:13+00:00

    thanks for your note..I tried the steps but when I start the PC again it still says my Name in the middle and underneath the field for my PIN or other sign in options like Microsoft Account Password.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2023-06-19T21:14:22+00:00

    Hello, this is Emily.

    Did Windows come with this device? If so, you can simply do a factory reset, and when the factory reset is done and restarts, don't go through the language, region selection, etc. Leave it at that. So the next person can start from there to set things up on their own, just like when you take the computer out of box.

    To perform a factory reset, hold down Shift key while you choose the Windows restart option, then choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC. Then choose the option that deletes everything.

    =================

    Now, if Windows didn't come with the device and you purchased Windows license separately, you will want to do a clean install instead. Once again, when the clean install is done and restarts, leave it at that. Don't go through the initial set up. Let the new owner do that.

    To perform a clean installation of Windows 10 using the Windows Media Creation Tool:

    The following steps should be done on a working Windows computer:

    Download the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's official website. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

    Run the tool and select "Create installation media for another PC."

    Choose your language, edition, and architecture (32 or 64-bit) and select "Next."

    Choose "USB flash drive" as the media to use for the installation and select "Next."

    Connect a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of free space to your computer.

    Select the USB flash drive you want to use, and then select "Next."

    The tool will then download the required files and create the installation media.

    =====================================================

    Now these steps will  be done on your problematic computer:

    Go to the computer's BIOS boot menu to have it boot from the USB drive.

    Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10, making sure to choose "Custom install" and select the option to delete all existing partitions. When prompted for license, choose the option that says "I don't have a product key"

    Once the installation is complete, you'll have a clean installation of Windows 10 on your computer. When the computer restarts, you can turn it off. Do NOT go through the initial set up.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-06-20T16:31:04+00:00

    Hi Craig. I gave you two options. Which one did you go by? It’s not normal for either option to come back with your name to be still on it. So it will be helpful if I know which one you go by so I can go more in-depth with the instructions. Thanks.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-06-20T14:53:08+00:00

    Hello CraigCB, the solution provided is very standard for your situation. However, if it doesn't work for you, I would need additional information. Did you run into any difficulty during this process, or is there any specific scenario that needs consideration and it wasn't mentioned in your original post? Without any additional information, I wouldn't be able to provide any further advice. Thanks!

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