System Password Issue

Matt_Cookie3

Hi, I recently bought a Acer Aspire Switch 10. The previous owner had a password. He could not remember the password. How do i go about restoring to factory settings? 

padgett

If this was a Windows password, you should be able to use alt-F10 on boot to completely reload the device.

Matt_Cookie3

This was a log in to an offline machine. If that makes sense.. 

billsey

Sure, what Padgett was asking was whether the password stopping you was the Windows password or the BIOS password. Since it is the Windows password things are easier. Search the Acer support site for Alt-F10 and you will get at least one article talking about resetting the OS to the factory defaults. If we assume the previous owner (P.O.) didn't wipe out the recovery partition you'll end up with the computer back in the same state it was when originally purchased. You'll then go through a *bunch* of updates, and potentially an OS upgrade and eventually get current, except with your own login and password.

If you want to bypass the restore/update process you will either need to get the P.O. to login and remove their password or do some googling to figure out how to bypass the password for a local account. If the P.O. were logging into a Windows account instead of using a local login it's tougher. (That one of the reasons it's recommended you use a Microsoft account for your login, it's more secure even though it's done through the internet.