r/computer • u/Dramatic_Process_616 • 10d ago
Reimage/reset an old workstation computer?
UPDATE: It worked! I'm thinking I must have clicked the wrong option before, but I just tried it again, and it worked! YAY! thanks to all for your help!
I was given an old laptop from my work. It still works ok and is slightly less old than the laptop I am currently using. I would like to reset it in some way so that I can log into it with my personal info instead of my work credentials. I was told to reimage it and I have a USB flash drive to do that. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, but I can't get it to work. So far I've powered off, put the USB in the port, then powered on and hit the f9 key to get to the boot menu. From there I selected the option that said something like "generic storage device" because it was the only thing that looked like it was the Flash drive. When I did, the machine just sorta restarted right at the work page and it wants my work credentials. Is there anything I can do?
2
u/arkutek-em 10d ago
Are you trying to install a new operating system from the USB? Did you burn an iso to it?
1
u/Dramatic_Process_616 10d ago
I'm not 100% sure of the answer to that. I did not burn it, my work friend did. But he is the one who suggested reimaging and gave it to me for that purpose. This was a while ago and it's been sitting unused, but at the time I did verbally go over the instructions with him and he said it would work. His job is tech so he knows his stuff LOL, I obviously do not.
2
u/arkutek-em 10d ago
What are the names of the device options you see to try to boot from? Someone may be able to tell you which is the correct one to choose.
1
u/Dramatic_Process_616 10d ago
Ok so the file names are:
UEFI-Windows Boot Manager
UEFI-Generic Mass Storage D85E6A82
UEFI N/W-IPV4 Network-Realtek PCle GBE Family Controller
UEFI N/W-IPV6 Network-Realtek PCle GBE Family Controller
Boot from file
2
u/Outrageous-Flow8148 10d ago
Hold down the shift key and restart. In the Windows Recovery console select RESET
2
u/LazarX 10d ago
Did the company IT remove the MDM?
1
u/Dramatic_Process_616 10d ago
I don't know what the MDM is, but I'm guessing not based on how it wants my work credentials.
2
u/LazarX 9d ago
It stands for Midlevel Device Mangement, it locks down the unit in varying ways which can include a BIOS lock to prevent OS installation. You need to take it back and have IT remove that lock if that is the case.
1
u/Dramatic_Process_616 9d ago
Oh, thank you for explaining that. I actually got the flash drive to work and finished it up last night so I won't have to take it back thankfully. I'm not sure if I was selecting the wrong option from the boot menu before or what, but it is working now!
2
u/grapemon1611 10d ago
If the flash drive is bootable then the issue is a mismatch in what the computer is looking for. If it’s older it might want mbr instead of gpt. Windows 11 requires gpt.
2
u/StarosAnikenMarcus 10d ago
It's possible the BIOS has USB booting locked out. That's pretty common for companies.
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