Can A Laptop Be Tracked After Factory Reset? Solved!

Having a laptop stolen can be a frustrating and stressful experience, mainly if the laptop contains important data or personal information. One concern that you may have is the possibility of the thief tracking the laptop after a factory reset. In this article, we will explore the factors that can affect the ability to track a laptop after a factory reset, the methods that a thief may use and the precautions you can take to protect your laptop.

Factors That Affect the Ability to Track a Laptop After a Factory Reset

There are several factors that can influence the ability to track a laptop after a factory reset, including:

The presence of tracking software or remote access tools: If the thief leaves tracking software or remote access tools installed on the laptop, it may be possible to locate the device using these tools. However, this will only be possible if you have previously enabled the tracking software and linked it to your account or if you have the login credentials for the remote access tools.
The ability to access the laptop’s serial number or IMEI number: The laptop’s serial number or IMEI number is a unique identifier that you can use to track the device. If the thief removes or damages the serial number or IMEI number, it may be more difficult to locate the laptop.
The presence of personal information or accounts on the laptop: If the thief leaves personal information, such as your name, address, or phone number, or accounts, such as email or social media accounts, on the laptop, it may be possible to use this information to track the device.

Methods for Tracking a Laptop After a Factory Reset

If your laptop is stolen and you suspect that the thief may have performed a factory reset, there are several methods you can use to try to locate the device:

Using the laptop’s serial number or IMEI number: You can use the laptop’s serial number or IMEI number to report the theft to the police or contact the manufacturer to try to locate the device.
Using tracking software or remote access tools: If you have tracking software or remote access tools installed on the laptop and they are still enabled, you may be able to locate the device using these tools.
Reporting the theft to the police and providing identifying information: You can report the theft to the police and provide any identifying information, such as the serial number or IMEI number, that may help them locate the laptop.
Using Computrace.

What Is Computrace?

Computrace is one most popular anti-theft software that is integrated into the Laptop’s BIOS. This excellent program was launched in 2005 and was named LoJack for Laptops. The application’s only purpose is to track stolen or lost Laptop’s location along with features enabling users to delete files remotely using it.

The software can quickly fetch your lost or stolen Laptop’s location. When the Laptop is tracked, the information is passed on to the local police, which can make getting your Laptop back easier. Unfortunately, most people don’t know about this application, and if it has not been enabled, it will be of no use to get back your Laptop.

How To Enable Computrace On A Laptop?

To be safe from regret, consider enabling Computrace on your Laptop, so if it gets lost or stolen, you can trace the location and have a high chance of getting back your device.

Shut Down Your Laptop
Turn On the device and press the F2 key when the logo appears.
Find Security and select it by using the keyboard.
Now click on Computrace
Now select Activate

Does Computrace Work On Linux?

Using Computrace can be challenging if you own a Linux computer, as the application is typically invisible on Linux PCs. However, some features work on Linux while others fail.

How To Check If Computrace Is Installed On My Laptop?

One thing you should know is that Computrace is not available on all Laptop models, so it’s better to check if the software is available or not. To find the program follow these steps:

Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on the keyboard
Windows Task Manager will open up.
Select the Services Tab
A list of programs running on the device will appear
Sort the programs in alphabetical order to make searching easier
Scroll down slowly and try to find under the Name column for rpcnet.exe
If seen, look for Computrace in the description column.

So if you have found Computrace, the software is already installed and running on your Laptop. However, if not found, the application is unavailable, not pre-installed on your device, and requires installation.

How To Install Computrace on Laptop?

As mentioned earlier, if you don’t find Computrace on your device and decided that this is the best anti-theft application on the internet, then follow the instructions below:

Sign Up to the Absolute website and log in
Select Agent Management
Click on Download Full Agent Installer
After the download is complete, install and verify the program

Follow the instructions correctly, and Computrace will be successfully installed to check if it’s installed following the Windows Task Manager Method mentioned earlier.

How To Disable Computrace On A Laptop?

If you are not comfortable or don’t require Computrace on your Laptop, you can easily disable the application by following these steps:

Shut Down Your Laptop
Turn On the device and press the F2 key when the logo appears.
Find Security and select it by using the keyboard.
Now click on Computrace
Now select Deactivate

How To Uninstall Computrace on Laptop?

If disabling Computrace is not enough for you, then there is a way to uninstall the application from your BIOS. Follow these steps:

Launch your browser and visit Absolute Software’s official website
Place a request to remove Computrace from your device.
After completing the request, select Submit.
You will receive an email to verify the request.
Once verified, Absolute Software will remove the application automatically from your Laptop.

Can You Replace BIOS-Chips Without Disabling Computrace?

After years of use, the BIOS-Chips may not work correctly and not stay flashable anymore. This indicates that your chip needs an update, and since these are socketed PLCC or DIP chips, you must handle them carefully.

So coming to the question of whether you can replace the BIOS-Chips without disabling or erasing Computrace on your Laptop, the answer to your query is Yes. Replacing the chips on your device can be done quickly without affecting the Computrace LoJack Application.

Should You Remove Computrace From Your Laptop?

With growing technology, Laptop related crimes have also gone. Thousands of people become victims of stolen Laptops, or if you have forgotten your device somewhere, it may not be returned. Getting your Laptop stolen is a very traumatizing event because Laptops are pretty expensive, and getting a new device can be a bit of a hassle. In addition, they have tons of data installed which you will lose if your device is not recovered.

Another huge issue is your privacy; when your device is stolen, the thief can access all your data which is why getting your Laptop back is necessary. As mentioned earlier, Computrace is an excellent anti-theft program, so disabling or completely removing it from your device can be a stupid decision considering how well it works and creates no problems for the user.

Having a laptop stolen can be a frustrating and stressful experience, mainly if the laptop contains important data or personal information. One concern that you may have is the possibility of the thief tracking the laptop after a factory reset. In this article, we will explore the factors that can affect the ability to track a laptop after a factory reset, the methods that a thief may use and the precautions you can take to protect your laptop.

Precautions to Take to Protect Your Laptop from Being Tracked After a Factory Reset

To protect your laptop from being tracked after a factory reset by a thief, there are several precautions you can take:

Back up important data and files: Before you travel or leave your laptop unattended, back up any critical data and files you want to keep. This can include documents, photos, music, and other files stored on the laptop. You can save your files by using an external hard drive, cloud storage, or other backup methods.
Disable tracking software and remote access tools: If you have tracking software or remote access tools installed on your laptop, disable them before leaving the device unattended. This will prevent the tools from being used to locate the laptop if stolen.
Remove personal information and accounts: Before you leave your laptop, be sure to remove any personal information, such as your name, address, and phone number, as well as any accounts, such as email or social media accounts, that are linked to the device. This will protect your privacy and prevent unauthorized access to your accounts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a thief can track a laptop after a factory reset, depending on the factors and methods mentioned above. However, by taking precautions such as backing up your data, disabling tracking software and remote access tools, and removing personal information and accounts, you can reduce the risk of your laptop being tracked after a factory reset.