Hi all, I had a custom built PC stolen last month and was wondering if there's any way to deregister the Windows 10 that's running on it? I found a similar question on the forum, and it pointed to the account.microsoft.com/devices page, but I apparently never set up a Microsoft account. I still have the disc and product key, so I was hoping to use them when I get around to building a replacement PC. Any suggestions? Thanks much.
I do recommend this website when you purchase a new PC: Tracking software: find stolen laptops, phones tablets | Prey
Not possible as far as I know. And linking to your Microsoft Account is just an added feature. It's not tied to activation. It's just an aid to transferring your license to another PC. I can remove a device from my online list under my account. That doesn't deactivate that device though. All it does is remove it from my list of devices that are linked to my account.
What I would do is do your clean install on the new hardware. Enter your key and see if it activates. If it fails, run the activation troubleshooter and go from there. If need be do the phone activation and explain what happened.
Thanks to both of you, I'll give it a try with my new build when I get around to it. I've also heard about Prey and will probably install that as well. Happy Thanksgiving!
"I've also heard about Prey and will probably install that as well. "
Not even necessary if you use a MS account the next time. You can turn on device Location in All settings/Privacy/Location/'Location for this device'/On. Then when you sign into your MS account on accounts.microsoft.com, it shows you on a map where your device is within a few blocks. Clicking on the map gives you blowup view too. At least would have given you a rough location on your stolen PC.
I did not know that was built into Windows. Thanks for the tip."I've also heard about Prey and will probably install that as well. "
Not even necessary if you use a MS account the next time. You can turn on device Location in All settings/Privacy/Location/Location for this device. Then when you sign into your MS account on accounts.microsoft.com, it shows you on a map where your device is within a few blocks. Clicking on the map gives you blowup view too. At least would have given you a rough location on your stolen PC.
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"I did not know that was built into Windows. Thanks for the tip. "
Screenshot added.
PC at the Cemetry? Prob. gone to PC heaven? LOL"I've also heard about Prey and will probably install that as well. "
Not even necessary if you use a MS account the next time. You can turn on device Location in All settings/Privacy/Location/'Location for this device'/On. Then when you sign into your MS account on accounts.microsoft.com, it shows you on a map where your device is within a few blocks. Clicking on the map gives you blowup view too. At least would have given you a rough location on your stolen PC.
Jokes aside... does it not depend that the thief has privacy setting set off? ( btw -- In Ubuntu there was a huge hoo-ha about GPS broadcasting not so long ago) - I suspect the same is used here (a good thing IMO, to get location for time and what-not)
"does it not depend that the thief has privacy setting set off?"
There's an old saying, something like "It's a good thing criminals aren't all that smart". If they were, they wouldn't use a computer already signed in, change the Privacy settings or they'd wipe and do a clean install, all of which would render this tool useless. But it's a way to catch the dumb ones within a few hrs. of an incident.
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