Converting old company laptop into useable device

stphnstevey

I bought a laptop in a boot sale from a guy who said it was his old works laptop that he said they let him keep as they upgraded them and were just going to dispose of them. It was cheap because it came with a few obstacles to turn it into a working device. I thought It would take a punt as I enjoy trying to work these things out and thought might be able to get it working

The problems are:
1) has admin rights turned on, so can't alter anything
2) has windows 7 professional installed but is complaining it hasn't got a product key
3) has McFee antivirus but doesn't want to update (I suspect this and the windows problem are maybe due to it possibly being connected to a network in some way which provided these as a group policy)

If anyone can help overcome any of these issues I would be very grateful as I would love to get it up and running. Thanks

Owain_Moneysaver

1. Google windows 7 admin password reset for methods, such as this one

2. and 3. Install Linux Mint or another Linux version.

that

make sure the bios is not password protected, because when it goes wrong, or you want to upgrade it could be a mare.

They let him keep his old work laptop, but he just cant remember the password that he has been typeing?

You could have given the make and model?

this has 2 password changers https://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

stragglebod

It was cheap because burglars prefer to get rid of stolen laptops as quick as possible.

EveryWhere

It's like asking someone to fix your car remotely, but telling them nothing of the make and model.....

You have already been asked about the make and model number of the device, in post #3.