Weird computer found

[tom_al]

I found an old laptop with all network drivers uninstalled n batt missing. I installed the drivers and will buy a new batt. For now AC is fine. My Q is- why would someone uninstall network, ethernet and other drivers but not reinstall them?

And my weird Q.could it have been done purposefully? so that someone would fix it n unintentionally connect it to the net w malware? (Told u it was weird.)

What free/low-cost clean this computer of malware service do u recommend?

Sorry if this question is too far fetched. Thanks for helping me understand.

 

[zer0c007]

If the battery is missing, chances are the original owner battery was dead and thrown away, now if you install windows without a battery and then insert the battery afterwards then windows will BSOD, at least windows xp would. So this may explain why only windows is installed and no drivers. Possibly the owner installed windows and waited for the new battery to arrive and when he inserted it BSOD so he chucked the laptop away and sold the new battery.

 

[Ralston18]

Windows OS? Is Windows Defender installed and enabled?

If the computer is working as it seems to be via your post; i.e., "For now AC is fine." then perhaps the previous owner/user never used or intended to use the laptop on any sort of network.

Or was somewhere sans any networks....

Yes it could be some sort of a trap but much easier and probably more effective means can be applied for such purposes versus dumping an old laptop somewhere. And hoping that someone would get it up and running, fill it with personal data, go-online without any AV and then have the laptop become infected, pwned, hacked whatever....

You can use Herd Protect or Malwarebytes to scan the laptop. Use a USB drive via another computer to download the AV files and then install on the found laptop.

If you do not connect the found laptop to any other networks and if you do not put any personal data on it before a couple of successful AV scans nothing bad should happen. Just be sure that whatever scans you use are as deep as possible.

Start with Windows Defender and go from there.

 

[tom_al]

Thank you both. It has win xp.