My 7 months old Optimus IV laptop was stolen yesterday from my house in Dublin. Help?

[edwkel]

Hi,

My 7 months old Optimus IV laptop was stolen yesterday from my house in Dublin. I am gutted over this as we didn't have contents insurance on the house. The dirty scumbag just took the laptop itself and left hard drives and power supply behind them. I was just wondering is there anything i can salvage from it. I bought windows 8 with the laptop, can that purchase be transferred to another laptop or is it linked only to my stolen laptop.

I dont suppose PC Specialist offer any kind of discount to someone who purchases another laptop from them within seven months. I am really gutted over this? Loved the laptop and it was my intention to buy from PC Specialist again just hopefully not for a few more years.

Will they be able get passed my windows password and wipe the laptop?

I changed my chrome password, email, iTunes etc

Anything else i need to consider. Gutted over it.

 

[keynes]

Sorry to hear that, I experienced something similar a couple of years ago. Have you try contacting Microsoft regarding the OS?

 

[edwkel]

Sorry to hear that, I experienced something similar a couple of years ago. Have you try contacting Microsoft regarding the OS?

No, i am a bit all over the shop with it this morning. After dealing with the Gardaí last night, this is about the most productive thing i have done so far. Head is wrecked thinking about it.

 

[ubuysa]

Really sorry to hear your sad news, I'd be gutted too if someone stole mine.

Would it help I wonder if you posted your order number on here? It's not impossible that they're dumb enough to ask on here how they can get a new power supply for it....?

If you still have the license key for Windows 8 I would contact Microsoft and tell them that a laptop with Windows 8 using that key has been stolen. That won't get it back but it will stop them getting any updates.

Did you have any credit card details on there or other financial info? If so it would be worth contacting your bank and letting them know. At the very least they would flag your account looking for unusual activity and at best they'd change your cards etc.

I feel for you mate. But look on the bright side, it is just a laptop and it's replaceable. It could have been so much worse.....

 

[edwkel]

Really sorry to hear your sad news, I'd be gutted too if someone stole mine.

Would it help I wonder if you posted your order number on here? It's not impossible that they're dumb enough to ask on here how they can get a new power supply for it....?

If you still have the license key for Windows 8 I would contact Microsoft and tell them that a laptop with Windows 8 using that key has been stolen. That won't get it back but it will stop them getting any updates.

Did you have any credit card details on there or other financial info? If so it would be worth contacting your bank and letting them know. At the very least they would flag your account looking for unusual activity and at best they'd change your cards etc.

I feel for you mate. But look on the bright side, it is just a laptop and it's replaceable. It could have been so much worse.....

Would the windows key have been anywhere else in the documentation sent out by PC Specialist or is it just on the base of the laptop? Do PC Specialist have the serial number, windows key for my laptop available? i have my order reference number if that is any good?

 

[vanthus]

Would the windows key have been anywhere else in the documentation sent out by PC Specialist or is it just on the base of the laptop? Do PC Specialist have the serial number, windows key for my laptop available? i have my order reference number if that is any good?

The key is usually just on the base of the laptop.
Not sure what you can do about this but I would contact PCS,they may not be able to do much about it but I think they will at least give you some advice.

 

[edwkel]

The key is usually just on the base of the laptop.
Not sure what you can do about this but I would contact PCS,they may not be able to do much about it but I think they will at least give you some advice.

Thats another sickener... I have no way of getting the product key back so? I have a windows live account would it be anywhere in there?

 

[Rakk]

Thats another sickener... I have no way of getting the product key back so? I have a windows live account would it be anywhere in there?

As Vanthus said, I'd give PCS a call, they may know what the Windows key was (though they may not, I don't know).
I'd also definitely call Microsoft and see if they can do anything with the information you have.

 

[vanthus]

Thats another sickener... I have no way of getting the product key back so? I have a windows live account would it be anywhere in there?

I don't think it will be in your windows live account,even if you did have the key it will probably be of no use as it's already being used.
Maybe PCS or even microsoft as mentioned will be able to help.
Edit. what Rakk said.

 

[mitchell65]

Hi,

I bought windows 8 with the laptop, can that purchase be transferred to another laptop or is it linked only to my stolen laptop.



Will they be able get passed my windows password and wipe the laptop?

If Windows 8 was pre installed on the laptop then you will have an OEM licence which is tied to the one machine. It cannot be transferred to another machine. You need a full retail copy for that. It is not difficult to get passed the login password. It is, of course, illegal to do so but if the lappy is stolen anyway, that wont be a problem to the perpetrators. Usually these machines get sold quickly and the buyer will grub out the COA label, install a copy of Windows, usually the Ultimate version and "create" a licence key with a programme that i wont mention here. All OK until the eventual buyer tries to activate the key!
All that doesn't help you, of course.
I will put a tenner in the kitty towards a new laptop for you and talk to PCS, you never know what they may offer!

 

[edwkel]

If Windows 8 was pre installed on the laptop then you will have an OEM licence which is tied to the one machine. It cannot be transferred to another machine. You need a full retail copy for that. It is not difficult to get passed the login password. It is, of course, illegal to do so but if the lappy is stolen anyway, that wont be a problem to the perpetrators. Usually these machines get sold quickly and the buyer will grub out the COA label, install a copy of Windows, usually the Ultimate version and "create" a licence key with a programme that i wont mention here. All OK until the eventual buyer tries to activate the key!
All that doesn't help you, of course.
I will put a tenner in the kitty towards a new laptop for you and talk to PCS, you never know what they may offer!

This is what it says i ordered on my order reference

Genuine Windows 8 Standard Edition 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)

I have sent two emails to [email protected] this morning but i havent received a read receipt from either so not sure if they got to them. Very sound of you to offer that Mitchel65, hopefully PCSpecialist will have a discount code i could avail of or something. Ill be insuring the next laptop i get whatever it may be.

 

[tom_gr7]

Really gutted to hear about this mate.

On your next laptop/other systems, might be worth trying intels anti theft software - http://www.intel.com/content/www/us...chnology/anti-theft/anti-theft-discovery.html

not really sure, how it works, but its worth looking into.

 

[edwkel]

Appreciate all the sympathetic responses... This thread will prob just be a whingefest for me but it helps a bit. Hopefully someone else buying a laptop will see this and buy insurance alongside their laptop.

I feel sick over it now.

 

[keynes]

Hopefully someone else buying a laptop will see this and buy insurance alongside their laptop.

I just put a "Dell" sticker on mine, keep thieves away
It is just bad luck, I know you have emailed PCS but try to give them a call to see if they can help you retrieving the information for your OS.

 

[mitchell65]

This is what it says i ordered on my order reference

Genuine Windows 8 Standard Edition 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)

That will be the OEM version!

 

[edwkel]

From PC Specialist

Hello there,

Thank you for your email, we do have the OS key on file yes however the COA is on the bottom of your now stolen laptop. We would suggest changing your Microsoft password as well. We can put your replacement laptop on a fast track for you.


If you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us

Kind Regards

PC Specialist Support Team

 

[Wozza63]

I'm sorry to hear about the laptop being stolen, but I am slightly confused. You mentioned that they left the hard drive behind? If this is correct then they will not be able to access any of your data.
The email system also takes a while for a response. It is their 3rd line of support and placed in lower priority than the phone and live chat systems. I would definitely recommend giving them a ring, its low cost so you won't be paying £1/min. Here is the call waiting page where you can see how many people are waiting. This will save you more money if you wait to call when the lines are empty.

Other than phoning PCS and possibly Microsoft I don't really know anything that may help you, and to be honest, I don't think Microsoft would have the ability to do anything.

Sadly there is also no kind of tracking software that can be installed without having the laptop there. Unlike phones where apps can be remote installed.

And its not much but if we are going to start a kitty for a new one I'll put in a fiver

 

[edwkel]

I'm sorry to hear about the laptop being stolen, but I am slightly confused. You mentioned that they left the hard drive behind? If this is correct then they will not be able to access any of your data.
The email system also takes a while for a response. It is their 3rd line of support and placed in lower priority than the phone and live chat systems. I would definitely recommend giving them a ring, its low cost so you won't be paying £1/min. Here is the call waiting page where you can see how many people are waiting. This will save you more money if you wait to call when the lines are empty.

Other than phoning PCS and possibly Microsoft I don't really know anything that may help you, and to be honest, I don't think Microsoft would have the ability to do anything.

Sadly there is also no kind of tracking software that can be installed without having the laptop there. Unlike phones where apps can be remote installed.

And its not much but if we are going to start a kitty for a new one I'll put in a fiver

Sorry, I meant I had two external hard drives beside the laptop. I had everything backed up on them so at least I have that much.

 

[Wozza63]

Sorry, I meant I had two external hard drives beside the laptop. I had everything backed up on them so at least I have that much.

Ah ok then. Hope something gets sorted for you soon anyway

 

[moosEh]

Posting my emails up on the forum. Sorry to hear that your laptop got pinched.