Make sure to not have AMT or Computrace, just use linux/bsd instead of windows just to be sure.
this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2025
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The first two things you need to do are:
-
Make sure you are not going to be legally liable for keeping that laptop with you even after getting let go. It's unfair, but even if it was their fault they forgot to take it back, you might get sued. You also likely agreed to return all office-issued equipment when you signed your contract with the company.
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After making sure the first point is clear, wipe it thoroughly in case there are tracking/monitoring tools on it.
Once both are done, then do whatever you want with it. Nobody cares if you install Windows on it or dual-boot it with Linux.
If OP got his last paycheck, done deal. Yes, he surely signed for it, but no laptop is worth the legal cost of a lawsuit.
SOURCE: Issued hundreds of laptops, of all varieties and prices, for multiple companies.
THROW LINUX MINT ON THAT BITCH
Step 1: validate that it doesn't have Intel AMT enabled.
Step 2: Wipe the hard drive with your own os, not lenovos recovery.
The only barrier I see is your imagination that forces you to generate some strange questions. Laptop is a laptop and made of laptop and capable of what laptops are capable of. No more but no less.
And your words show your lack of experience in the matter. Usually work laptops have their bios locked down, so you can't access it and change the boot sequence and install what you want.
Some just put a password that sometimes can be reset, other times there are full on lockdowns by dedicated security apps that are very difficult (if not impossible) to circumvent.
You're right (and upvoted accordingly), but if said evil company is as much of a clusterfuck as OP said, I wouldn't bet on them having competent security measures in place.
Step one is to try and access the bios. If you can, you just need a USB stick with your installer for the OS of your choice (Windows? Eew!).
If not, you'll need to search for information for your laptop model. You might be able to disassemble the case and remove the CMOS battery. Or, might be another trick?
If you can't get into the BIOS, you might have a bit more difficult road ahead. Then again, I recall back in the day there was a Linux distro that could launch from an .exe inside of Windows; is that still possible, though? I have no idea.
Good luck! And might not hurt to chat up the next autistic nerdy type you come across. 😂
Did the laptop have any kind of mobile device management on it? If so you will have to perform an offline install of windows otherwise the laptop will call home when installing to get security policies.
I would enable bitlocker on the drive to encrypt what is current there then do a secure erase just be 100% sure any leftover data is inaccessible.
I am also going to be that guy and say why run win8? A Linux distro with Proton will likely perform better and still receive security updates. Unless you are doing competitive ranked games.
What should I look out for as far as those security features?
I specifically want to run the Sims 2 with a 20+ gb mod folder, which idk how well that would work with proton.
Works fine on Proton, it even creates the mod folder in the correct place
Still, it's probably worth going with either 7 or 10.
Also, if it's registered with InTune (or whatever it's called nowadays), it may be under company control even after a completely clean install. You can easily check though.
The main risk on company laptops is confidential data on the machine itself or any access the machine has to internal resources, so most locks are designed to be hard agaist that. The device itself tends to have more "bypassable" protection.
By which I mean: If the machine is locked down, it's usually possible to clear and reset the lock somehow as long as you're fine losing the data on it.
The specifics vary, but try looking up the model and instructions for resetting and wiping the BIOS/UEFI and see if that has any hurdles.
Take out the sim card if it has one some TP do. Properly wipe the hdd or smash and trash get a new one. Windows 8 era ironically has an easier time on Linux, at least for me DirectX 10.1 stuff is well covered even surpassed with something's like luxtorpedia.
ThinkPad isn't a MacBook there will be little to no supply tracking.If there IT company has you registered as letting the laptop a liquidator might be in touch but usually they only sell lots based on on-prem assets.
I know a lot of people are going to say to use Linux.
I would honestly however go with a curveball answer you may not expect, try running Linux.
I run arch on my main ghetto rig. I like linux, I just want a windows machine too.
Ha, curve ball deflected!