# reformatting/reinstalling old computers **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 28, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252 "2017-03-28T23:06:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/1 "2017-03-28T23:06:18Z")
A friend of mine has some old computers someone gave him. There’s some desktops (haven’t checked those yet), and a few laptops with Windows Vista. The laptops are password protected Dell laptops, and there doesn’t seem to be any way to get in or reset the passwords. I have bought my own install discs over the years for XP, Win 7, and Win 10, and I guess I could erase the hd’s and install windows 7, but then it would ask for a Windows key and eventually shut me off. I’ve used up the keys on my own comps and don’t have any unused keys for any version of windows. My experience building my own computers is that a lot of places that sell windows (discs and/or keys) are shady, and I’ve always bought my windows from New Egg because I know they’re reliable. But I don’t want to pay $100 for an OS on a $50 laptop. And I’m not installing an OS other than windows. So, how can I reset the comp without any starter discs and/or wipe everything out and start over without paying $100 for windows? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/2 "2017-03-28T23:39:14Z")
There are keyfinder programs: [https://www.lifewire.com/free-product-key-finder-programs-2625119](https://www.lifewire.com/free-product-key-finder-programs-2625119) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/3 "2017-03-29T00:03:22Z")
If you have an installation or recovery CD, [this method](http://www.lostwindowspassword.com/article/top-3-ways-to-reset-windows-7-password-without-disk.html) (“Way 3”) works. No need to use a 3rd party program. You don’t need the same one that was used to install on that machine, but I’m not sure whether a Win 7 disc will work with Vista or vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/4 "2017-03-29T12:07:39Z")
There are ways to reset the passwords, search online for “linux boot CD password reset” or the like. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/5 "2017-03-29T15:30:33Z")
Well, I suppose you already know you could learn Linux and install that. I mean, if you’re trying to get an old desktop working, you’re probably doing it for the fun of it anyway, since you can go to Micro Center or wherever and buy a perfectly serviceable refurbished desktop (with a legitimate Win7 -10 installation) for $120 or so. Likewise a brand-new laptop is $200 or so. So, if it’s for fun, why not learn something useful while you’re doing it? As a bonus, you won’t be frustrated by older CPUs trying to keep up with the insane demands of new Windows OS’s. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/7 "2017-04-06T02:54:14Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > There are keyfinder programs: > [https://www.lifewire.com/free-product-key-finder-programs-2625119](https://www.lifewire.com/free-product-key-finder-programs-2625119) Thank you, this worked great. I used it to delete the password and was then able to get into Windoze. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/8 "2017-04-06T03:39:21Z")
Which program did you use? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/9 "2017-04-06T09:36:42Z")
You should be careful. If those PCs are from a corporate, they may have been installed with a corporate license key which is not valid for your friend and will suddenly stop working. Fortunately, Dell laptops usually have the license key sticker on the bottom. From the Windows Server News mailing list: > [@](#): > > Some other suggestions in response to Karl’s question include the following one from a reader name Quentin: > > Karl’s laptops are probably running Windows under an enterprise or volume licensing agreement so the licenses may no longer be valid. The good news is that Microsoft are very generous to charities / NPOs and Karl can sign up his charity and purchase new licenses for very modest amounts - £10 to £20. > Microsoft’s homepage for charities is: > > [http://www.wservernews.com/go/t9wk3lhj/](http://www.wservernews.com/go/t9wk3lhj/) > > If Karl is in the UK he should use: > > [http://www.wservernews.com/go/aqsye1v1/](http://www.wservernews.com/go/aqsye1v1/) > > Another, perhaps simpler, solution, is to check the laptops for a license key sticker. Again, the laptops were likely imaged with a corporate license, and Karl will need to use the laptop’s original license key. Karl can run ‘slmgr /dlv’ at an elevated command prompt for details about the license. There’s a very easy way to correct the license key: run slmgr.vbs -ipk 11111-11111-11111-11111-11111 (replace the 1s with the correct license key) from an elevated command prompt. > Karl will then need to re-activate Windows using slmgr.vbs -ato ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/10 "2017-04-06T18:47:30Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > So, if it’s for fun, why not learn something useful while you’re doing it? As a bonus, you won’t be frustrated by older CPUs trying to keep up with the insane demands of new Windows OS’s. Eh? I think the last 5 years have been the first time in history where the CPU is not the major bottleneck in system performance. And from a gaming perspective, you can stay pretty up to date by getting a new GPU while saving by keeping the same CPU and RAM. Generally speaking. As far as OSes go, XP \> Vista increased the requirements a bit (hardly current though), Vista \> 7 was minimal, 7 \> 8 \> 10 was pretty minor change in requirements as well. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2017, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/11 "2017-04-09T02:32:05Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Which program did you use? Sorry for not responding sooner. I used [Hiren’s Boot Cd](http://www.hirensbootcd.org/), which worked very well, and has a lot of other nice and useful features on it Quartz, I got into Vista, cleaned up some obvious junk, rebooted a bunch of times to make sure it stuck, and gave it back to him. Haven’t heard anything back yet, but if he connects to the internet and runs into Windows expiring I’ll look back into it. ---
**Author:** ![juliane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@juliane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/juliane)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/14 "2019-06-12T08:26:46Z")
Cracking the password will help more than anything else you do. ---
**Author:** ![juliane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@juliane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/juliane)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-reinstalling-old-computers/783252/15 "2019-06-12T08:34:33Z")
> [@juliane](#): > > Cracking the password will help more than anything else you do. Seeing them: [Page not found](https://karanpc.com/kon-boot-download-101/) (Freeware) [Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor](https://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/) (Freeware) If they still don’t work,try this. [https://www.winpwd.com/](https://www.winpwd.com/)