Help with my pc

[BallinFootJackson]

So here’s the story I have a PC that’s a hand-me-down from my partners aunt who passed away I need some help getting into it I know windows is on it just not sure 10 or 11 or what we want to keep the files either on it  or move them so I can do a reset on the whole thing the only place around los Banos (where we live) will do it for $100 but I’ve been told that’s too much for something like that so I either need the knowledge in what I’m doing since I am a newb when it comes to computers or I need someone to do it for me. 

[MistahHaskins]

Windows 10 and 11 are drastically different

To find what Windows you are using you can type in the "Start Menu" Settings > System > About and it should show your current Windows Edition and Version.

You could always remove the drive and replace it with another drive; If you don't mind watching YouTube videos. Or you could get a very big drive and just move everything over onto it

If it were me I would go for a new drive and keep the other one intact. Start fresh with a newer SSD and go from there

[podkall]

28 minutes ago, MistahHaskins said:

Windows 10 and 11 are drastically different

To find what Windows you are using you can type in the "Start Menu" Settings > System > About and it should show your current Windows Edition and Version.

yes, sometimes all you need to do is look how the interface looks like, and you know the version

 

33 minutes ago, BallinFootJackson said:

So here’s the story I have a PC that’s a hand-me-down from my partners aunt who passed away I need some help getting into it I know windows is on it just not sure 10 or 11 or what we want to keep the files either on it  or move them so I can do a reset on the whole thing the only place around los Banos (where we live) will do it for $100 but I’ve been told that’s too much for something like that so I either need the knowledge in what I’m doing since I am a newb when it comes to computers or I need someone to do it for me. 

Are you saying there's like a password or something?

 

Are there any files on the PC you want to recover/save but can't access them for example because of the password?

[SimplyGone]

41 minutes ago, MistahHaskins said:

To find what Windows you are using you can type in the "Start Menu" Settings > System > About and it should show your current Windows Edition and Version.

Only OP can't get in to Windows in the first place.  Please read the post before jumping in with an answer.

 

10 minutes ago, podkall said:

Are you saying there's like a password or something?

Either way forum rules say we can't help circumvent passwords.  I'm guessing it's the Windows/M$ password/pin that's stopping them.

 

OP, we can't help you get around people's private passwords/pin codes on this forum.

 

41 minutes ago, MistahHaskins said:

You could always remove the drive and replace it with another drive

This:

 

I can also suggest you open the machine up.  take out the current hard drive/SSD put it somewhere safe then plug in a new/second hand one and reinstall Windows.  That will get you up and running.  Then once that's done install the original drive as a secondary.  That way you can see/modify all the files on it without needing the original pin.  Providing Bitlocker or some other encryption software isn't protecting the files

[podkall]

3 minutes ago, SimplyChunk said:

Either way forum rules say we can't help circumvent passwords.  I'm guessing it's the Windows/M$ password/pin that's stopping them.

 

OP, we can't help you get around people's private passwords/pin codes on this forum.

we can help with other things though

[SimplyGone]

59 minutes ago, podkall said:

we can help with other things though

yep, which is why i quoted dude up top about swapping the hdd/ssd then installing the original as a secondary

 

edit:

if it's getting to the Windows Pin/Password spot we already know the hardware somewhat works.  Now we just need a working copy of windows on it.  what else is there?

[podkall]

28 minutes ago, SimplyChunk said:

yep, which is why i quoted dude up top about swapping the hdd/ssd then installing the original as a secondary

 

edit:

if it's getting to the Windows Pin/Password spot we already know the hardware somewhat works.  Now we just need a working copy of windows on it.  what else is there?

not much, my idea was second-driving, of course the only roadblock would be encryption

[E-waste]

Ultimate Boot CD, the HDD section of that tool will help recover files.  And this is family, it's not theft from a stranger so OP should have EVERY right to get complete access to the system, so I think there should be zero hesitation in mentioning tools to clear a password.

 

Besides, that's not even necessary since the disk probably not bitlocker encrypted, having access to the disk, even Linux can read and access every single file on it, without a password even on the Linux system.  No passwords for Windows or Linux are required at all--but if OP would like to know how to do that in this ethical situation, we should have every right to share and help provide the knowledge of those tools.

[MistahHaskins]

3 hours ago, E-waste said:

Ultimate Boot CD, the HDD section of that tool will help recover files.  And this is family, it's not theft from a stranger so OP should have EVERY right to get complete access to the system, so I think there should be zero hesitation in mentioning tools to clear a password.

 

Besides, that's not even necessary since the disk probably not bitlocker encrypted, having access to the disk, even Linux can read and access every single file on it, without a password even on the Linux system.  No passwords for Windows or Linux are required at all--but if OP would like to know how to do that in this ethical situation, we should have every right to share and help provide the knowledge of those tools.

OP only needs the ability to boot into windows. Once they get there they can access the drive via SATA.

 

 

7 hours ago, SimplyChunk said:

Only OP can't get in to Windows in the first place.  Please read the post before jumping in with an answer.

 

Either way forum rules say we can't help circumvent passwords.  I'm guessing it's the Windows/M$ password/pin that's stopping them.

 

OP, we can't help you get around people's private passwords/pin codes on this forum.

 

This:

 

I can also suggest you open the machine up.  take out the current hard drive/SSD put it somewhere safe then plug in a new/second hand one and reinstall Windows.  That will get you up and running.  Then once that's done install the original drive as a secondary.  That way you can see/modify all the files on it without needing the original pin.  Providing Bitlocker or some other encryption software isn't protecting the files

I know they cannot get into it - I'm not saying anything that isn't true. Besides the chance anything on that drive has BitLocker or any other Encryption is very low

[E-waste]

18 hours ago, MistahHaskins said:

OP only needs the ability to boot into windows. Once they get there they can access the drive via SATA.

Disk can be accessed and read by ANY operating system with ntfs support, and read all files.

 

This can be done on another pc with windows, any version past 98, just by attaching the disk.

 

Mac OS I assume can also read NTFS.

 

Linux, the operating system that operates over 90% of all servers, and all top 500 super-computers, and the Mars rover,

 

can also read NTFS.

 

This bypasses the need for the user account password, but it can also be cleared if needed and you want to see the desktop interface or directly use the installed software.