How to Reset Password of Power-on Authentication / Reset Factory Settings?

[Febiyan]

Hi,

This is a funny story -- I found an HP Elitebook in my apartment's electronic trash bin.

Yes. You read it right. I myself was surprised.

It seems to be a quite not-too-old model judging from the fact that it uses Core i5 7th Gen, USB-C power port, and this "Bang & Olufsen" Speaker. The screen size is smaller than my Macbook Pro 15, so it is assumed to be a 13 inch model.

So I cleaned the laptop and I would like to use it as my secondary laptop. It looks like a little nice small machine.

However, I'm stuck at the Power-On Authentication screen.

What I have tried:

- Entering wrong password 3 times. No pass code was shown afterwards. Just "System Locked" message and then I needed to restart.

- Pressed "Esc" button repeatedly before the Power-On Authentication screen. The text "Entering Setup Menu" showed up in the bottom left screen, but it still went to the Power-On Authentication anyway.

What can I do to access and then clean up the laptop?

I'm okay with having the disk erased and getting a new Windows license, if needed.

I don't have anything else other than the laptop, what can I do?

[REO51ST · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the HP Support Community  @Febiyan 

As of 3/1/2019 the HP Support Community will no longer provide BIOS/Power-on bypass support.

Contact HP in your region:  https://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-contact-us.html

Best regards,

REO