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Go to SolutionReset of Dell laptop fails, now PW not recognized, Windows 10
Hello,
My father recently died, and I am trying to reset his old Dell laptop so I can safely donate it. I have tried to use the regular reset function, then the Windows Recovery Environment for Start Reset. Each time, I get to 12-14% and the system says it is undoing the changes and I'm back where I started from. Only worse, because now the laptop will not accept the log-in password.
All I want to do is essentially reset, wiping all my dad's files, etc., so I can safely donate the laptop. I hope someone here will have suggestions.
Chino de Oro
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Posted June 26th, 2026 02:11
Hello @EeCeesf , the Windows 10 is now end of support unless users sign up or pay for extended support. Therefore, it's not necessary to put too much effort into restore, reset the operating system. You can just remove the drive when donating or wipe clean the drive for safety if you want to give away with the drive.
For purpose of tinkering with repair and resolving the issue, you can create a Windows 10 installer USB using Microsoft Windows Creation Tool. You can perform a clean installation, deleting all partitions on the boot drive and allow Windows to create all necessary partitions for a new installation. When the process gets to the part of setup a Microsoft account, you can power off the laptop and remove the USB drive. The next boot will allow new owner to complete the setup of account username, password, just like the OOBE process of a new computer, laptop.
EeCeesf
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Posted June 28th, 2026 14:23
@Chino de Oro I was able to use the reset process (triggered by pressing shift and the start button) in two steps, essentially. I first had the system reset only the Windows 10 files. Then I went back and used reset to delete all files. I now will donate the laptop.