My laptop was stolen. Is there a way to trace it with the serial number

[Oluwaseunfx]

My laptop got stolen. I'll like to know how to trace it please with yhe serial number, if there's a way, because that's the only information I have on it.

Please, my life's work is on it

[itsmyname]

@Oluwaseunfx -- you are not the first person to ask the question.  See:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-Notebooks/Stolen-Laptop/m-p/8275652

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Software-and-How-To-Questions/stolen-laptop/m-p/8288202

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Wireless-and-Networking/Stolen-Laptop/m-p/8261414

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Boot-and-Lockup/Stolen-laptop/m-p/8077093

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Any-way-to-trace-my-stolen-lap...

to see if any of those threads are helpful to you.

[PortlandiaIT]

All you can do is offer a reward, no questions asked, that is higher than what the thief could sell it for.  Post it on a local public forum like craigslist.  Include description of the machine and where and when it was stolen.  Include your phone number.  Usually this is best to do by pasting a sticker with your name and number in the laptop.

If the thief sees it then he will call you and arrange a public meeting in a heavily populated area within a short time like 15 minutes.  He will say he "found" it.  Don't question him.  Usually they pick places like grocery store parking lots near the door.  Arrive with the cash.  Be very visible.  He will arrive and you won't see him and he will throughly check out the area for cops. He will then walk up, show you the "found" machine, you hand him the cash, he will turn and disappear on foot.

Needless to say next time you need to get into the habit of backing up.

[Oluwaseunfx]

Thanks for the help. I really appreciate. But i stay in Africa and the thieves here just sell it to other users for ridiculously cheap prices

[Prométhée]

Hello
Giving your phone number may not be a good idea either.
In addition, you risk having double trouble!
The guy, who once stole a computer, could very well take the money and run away..
Sorry, the idea seems rather crazy to me!

Do what is indicated in the given links
you can't do much better

[itsmyname]

@Oluwaseunfx -- re: you can't do much better

On your next laptop, set a "power-on" password. So, when the thief starts the computer, he/she/they will not know the password, and the computer will NOT load Windows -- making it unusable by the thief.  Also, explore "full disk encryption" -- available on newer computers, to prevent the thief from removing the disk-drive, to try to access the contents.

[Prométhée]

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@itsmyname wrote:

@Oluwaseunfx -- re: you can't do much better

On your next laptop, set a "power-on" password. So, when the thief starts the computer, he/she/they will not know the password, and the computer will NOT load Windows -- making it unusable by the thief.  Also, explore "full disk encryption" -- available on newer computers, to prevent the thief from removing the disk-drive, to try to access the contents.

---

Yes, I am talking about the currently stolen computer, so too late
Passwords, yes, that's good, but on condition that you don't do like many users, who then are no longer able to use the computer

The best protection is not to tempt thieves
There are several means of protection, only, either paying, not easy to set up (gps tracker)
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Software-and-How-To-Questions/Accuracy-of-My-Laptops-Find-My-...

[itsmyname]

@Oluwaseunfx --   On your next laptop, set a "power-on" password. 

>  so too late

That claim by the Other Person is incorrect.

For your _NEXT_ computer, it is _NOT_ too late to take some actions, e.g., automatically backing-up to the Microsoft "cloud", or setting a password, or full-disk encryption.