how to find a stolen laptop

shrz · Dec 28, 2013

Aually my laptop has been stolen 2 days ago from my home during my absence. I've lodged the report to the police and also have informed the HP by providing the serial number.

At this stage I'm wondering if there is any other way to get the laptop back because otherwise I'll lose all of my previous data and I'm also scared as if someone misuse it if found. Although my laptop had windows 8 and locked with my Microsoft password which I'm sure he cannot get it but he can easily install a new windows and may remove all the data from C: drive but the thing to worry about is all my personal record is in D: and it is very risky if someone found it.

Anyways, I heard if the case is high profile the police can help to locate a laptop but on the other hand for a normal case they don't bother. And they can track the laptop through BIOS chip number.

Is there anyone can help me in this regards?

vrumor · Dec 28, 2013

Nope, youve done about all you can do unless you had already installed a tracking type of software which can be bypassed by simply reinstalling the OS anyhow.

Guest · Dec 28, 2013

There are billions of computers connected to the internet, so there's no way to find a specific one even if there was some way to identify it over the net, and then it would be nearly impossible for you to track its IP address to a physical location. It's like finding a needle in a haystack. The only way is to have that computer already set-up to find you, and like the previous reply says, if the OS is reinstalled without even booting that software can be circumvented.

In the future, the strongest solution is to set a BIOS password to keep a thief from booting to CD for reinstall. Install a software on your computer that encrypts your hard-drive and something like Lo-jack that checks in with a server to help locate it.

Even then, BIOS pass can still be physically reset, and the hdd can be removed and put into another computer to get the data off of it, but if it's encrypted the thief will have a hard time and probably not go to the trouble.

shrz · Dec 28, 2013

There are billions of computers connected to the internet, so there's no way to find a specific one even if there was some way to identify it over the net, and then it would be nearly impossible for you to track its IP address to a physical location. It's like finding a needle in a haystack. The only way is to have that computer already set-up to find you, and like the previous reply says, if the OS is reinstalled without even booting that software can be circumvented.

In the future, the strongest solution is to set a BIOS password to keep a thief from booting to CD for reinstall. Install a software on your computer that encrypts your hard-drive and something like Lo-jack that checks in with a server to help locate it.

Even then, BIOS pass can still be physically reset, and the hdd can be removed and put into another computer to get the data off of it, but if it's encrypted the thief will have a hard time and probably not go to the trouble.

All I'm seriously worried about my data and pictures of my family. This seems me a life time loss to me and I cannot control myself and crying on my fate as how unlucky I'm.

Search

how to find a stolen laptop

shrz

Honorable

vrumor

Distinguished

Guest

Guest

shrz

Honorable

Similar threads

TRENDING THREADS

Moderators online

Share this page