Question Dell Inspiron 15 Do I have a paperweight? (Windows reinstall)

[ThePhilster]

Ok, events as they happened,

1. Windows 10 got corrupted.
2. Tried the reload on the recovery petition.
3. Started the recovery process and surprise! It wants a recovery code.

This is supposedly asked for at initial install. Of course, it came installed from Dell, I don't remember ever entering a code. Thinking this was a Microsoft software thing (which it is/isn't?), I wiped the disk and tried again with an install disk, and it still asked for the code. So I got fed up with it and installed Linux, which installed successfully. Well, not as useful as I thought (or just not as familiar with it as I thought.)

I head a rumor that the code is actually installed on a chip on the system board. Is there a way to reset this? Or is the laptop not even recoverable to give to someone in the family with Windows? 🙄

Thanks!

 

[COLGeek]

Have you contacted Dell?

 

[ThePhilster]

Have you contacted Dell?

Yes for a million dollars we'll fix it.... (I exaggerate) .... but out of warranty.

 

[COLGeek]

Are you the original owner of the Dell? Or was this previously owned (particularly an office environment)?

Can you take a picture of the "code" request (upload to a site like imgur.com and then post a link here) so others can see what is being requested?

I ask because I was involved in a similar thread/topic with a Dell owner who had purchased a refurbished Dell that had a similar issue. His only resolution was to contact Dell for support to get what I believe was a "release" code. That system had previously been used in a corporate environment.