I lost my laptop, is it possible to recover

[alekine322]

Hi

I lost my laptop, it is possible to recover it with some localization software on the network. digital
I know that with Win10 it can be located, but I have looked for it and I have not found it.
Maybe it was already formatted and they are using it.
It's a dell workstation laptop, I hope I can recover.

B.R.

[Jupiter]

If you had configured Find My Device feature of Windows, then sign-in online to your Microsoft account and open https://account.microsoft.com/devices link.

But even if you'll find your device in that list, the only option you have is to just lock it.
There is no option 'bring my device back', unfortunately.

So more adequate solution is to consult your local police dept, ask for video from cameras etc.

[Elisa3167]

Use https://preyproject.com/.

If you configured this previously you can get an estimated location.

[alekine322]

Jupiter
If I set up Find My Device with a windows account, however it is not available, the last time it was found, it was in the place where I live, one day before I lost my laptop.
On another website they say that if they formatted the hard drive and installed another version of windows it is no longer possible to find it, is this correct?
The laptop has SN, UUID NUMBER, Preinstalled OS license, OA3 Key ID, which are encodings that are in the Bios, does Microsoft not check this information to install the Windows OS?

Elisa3167
I checked the website that you indicate, but it only works if I configure with this software to locate my laptop, otherwise it doesn't work.
It is a very good option for companies.
For my case, it does not apply

Anyway thanks to both of you for your help.

[val2032]

Hello!
If your laptop has been formatted, there is no chance to track it.

If you have installed a licensed antivirus, you can ask the antivirus developer about updates Some antivirus software updates hourly, even if you are not logged in. Of course, this requires internet access.

Do not change all your account passwords, it might help.

[sendersu]

Originally Posted by val2032

Hello!
If your laptop has been formatted, there is no chance to track it.

If you have installed a licensed antivirus, you can ask the antivirus developer about updates Some antivirus software updates hourly, even if you are not logged in. Of course, this requires internet access.

Do not change all your account passwords, it might help.

If you BIOS has got CompuTrace/lojack/etc SW - there is a chance...

https://www.professormesser.com/free-a-plus-training/220-901/bios-security/

[sh3dow]

which are encodings that are in the Bios, does Microsoft not check this information to install the Windows OS?

Windows will use this key to activate itself assuming they use OS edition that compatible with the key. And even if they formatted and used another edition & key, there are many identifiers to know that this laptop was yours before it was formatted. So any attempt to connect to MS servers and they will log the thief IP, but I don't think MS will hand you the last IP that used this key [or a new key] and attempt to activate using MS servers unless you bring court order tho.

Also check if your social/other accounts and if they offer the ability to log your login history, pretty much any major website [FB/twitter/github/gmail....] will have this feature and warn that a new IP was used to login to your account.

As for Find My Device feature of Windows it will work if you had enabled it before. it will send its location to you assuming they didn't reinstall windows.

[cp74]

@alekine322, but how they can login to existing Windows? Didn't you have any login password or biometry? If there is a password, AFAIK, it's still possible to format notebook with F8 recovery option during boot.

Windows 10 safe/recovery mode is hard to use sometimes with F8 directly. Never tried but articles say you can access F8 if you turn off your PC 3 times by pressing power long during the small spinning circle of dots.

So without changing a disk, possible to get rid of existing Windows.

Stolen smart TVs, players like Tivo, Roku, etc, are always a hard topic. They do not require authentication. When SVoD services is used on these devices like Netflix, Amazon, again still articles say it's possible to track with IPs.

But lost notebook seems hard to track. There's authentication and not a clear idea what tools or programs will leave a track behind But i will consider this case, just in case.

[Elisa3167]

Here's my experience.

I lost so many notebooks. Until I got laptops with 4G LTE.

Most of the laptops sold, they don't have 4G LTE and no lojack with 4G LTE. and for sure, when your laptop gets stolen, you have to buy another laptop! repeat sales!

After you buy the laptop, you buy a sim-card and put data into the sim-card.

You can enable geo-fencing or put preyproject on your phone.

You cannot believe I tracked someone to his house 30 miles away! I asked for my laptop.

Get an Apple, or Leveno or Dell with 4G modem.

Those laptops come with built-in camera so you can take a photo of thief.

PS.
Don't buy laptops with external modems. For sure 100% thief will throw it away.

[Dicypher]

Yes, what Elisa said is a great idea -- adding 4G WWAN Cards.

As long as your laptop isn't "rugged" with a thick case (signal wouldn't pass through / antenna), you can potentially self-install a WWAN 4G card if your MB supports it.

[lordi]

with windows os, the best chance would be report to local police office, sorry