Dell Chromebooks

[River Valley Computer]

This is probably an embarrassing question but the three of us are totally lost. A regular customer of ours bought five Dell Chromebooks from the local HS. He brought them to us to set them up so he can give them to his grandkids. I guess we have been snobs but I would venture to say we have only worked on maybe five to ten Chromebooks in that last 10 years. Thought we could just do a refresh - not! We have researched and found procedures to do it but we can't get into the Developer Mode (if that is what you do). He caalled the HS but they said no support - sale as is. Any ideas all you geniuses out there, or do these turn into door stops like IPads? TIA

 

[ThatPlace928]

This is probably an embarrassing question but the three of us are totally lost. A regular customer of ours bought five Dell Chromebooks from the local HS. He brought them to us to set them up so he can give them to his grandkids. I guess we have been snobs but I would venture to say we have only worked on maybe five to ten Chromebooks in that last 10 years. Thought we could just do a refresh - not! We have researched and found procedures to do it but we can't get into the Developer Mode (if that is what you do). He caalled the HS but they said no support - sale as is. Any ideas all you geniuses out there, or do these turn into door stops like IPads? TIA

If you're able to get in, open Chrome, go to settings and select Powerwash. It will erase everything on it and return it to factory specs.

 

[Markverhyden]

I would expect those types of machines to be locked down just like Apple equipment with find my Mac setup. Did you see the below?

• Perform a Powerwash
  1. Sign out of your Chromebook
     
     
     
  2. Press and hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift+r
     
     
     
  3. Select Restart
     
     
     
  4. Select Powerwash in the box that appears
     
     
     
  5. Continue and follow the steps
     
     
     
  6. Sign in with your Google Account

 

[Markverhyden]

If you're able to get in, open Chrome, go to settings and select Powerwash. It will erase everything on it and return it to factory specs.

beat me to it. LOL!!!

 

[ThatPlace928]

I would expect those types of machines to be locked down just like Apple equipment with find my Mac setup. Did you see the below?

• Perform a Powerwash
  1. Sign out of your Chromebook
     
     
     
  2. Press and hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift+r
     
     
     
  3. Select Restart
     
     
     
  4. Select Powerwash in the box that appears
     
     
     
  5. Continue and follow the steps
     
     
     
  6. Sign in with your Google Account

Your way sounds easier. Wish I'd known, when I had to reset one the other day.

 

[Markverhyden]

Your way sounds easier. Wish I'd known, when I had to reset one the other day.

Was it an educational model?

 

[ThatPlace928]

Was it an educational model?

The one I reset was not. It was one I used as a rental and I had a tough time with my own password, since it doesn't get used often. I finally got in and did the Powerwash.

 

[Markverhyden]

The one I reset was not. It was one I used as a rental and I had a tough time with my own password, since it doesn't get used often. I finally got in and did the Powerwash.

The OP mentioned devices from a school. So I'm sure Google has something like Find My Mac which will make a device unusable if it's nuked. Been a while since I've been in a school setting. But when they get Chromebooks they get them by the pallet. Probably even preconfigured for their school account.

 

[River Valley Computer]

The OP mentioned devices from a school. So I'm sure Google has something like Find My Mac which will make a device unusable if it's nuked. Been a while since I've been in a school setting. But when they get Chromebooks they get them by the pallet. Probably even preconfigured for their school account.

That's what we are wondering Mark. Can't do either what you suggested or what ThatPlace suggested. I understand why they do that but then I don't understand why they do it. More landfill!!!!

 

[AlohaTech]

Call the school back and talk to the Technology Department. I know they said no support. What you want to ask them is are these devices still in their Google Admin Console. Ask them to Deprovision the Chromebooks from the Google Admin Console.

 

[britechguy]

Ask them to Deprovision the Chromebooks from the Google Admin Console.

Not that I don't think your idea is a good one, but you'd think this would be part and parcel of the deaccessioning process. What earthly good does it do on the school's side to cast off who knows how many devices without having done this? Why would you sell something deaccessioned that the purchaser cannot set up for their own use?

But it would not shock me one bit if this had not happened. Having worked for school systems in Virginia and New York I can definitely say that everyone's "spread thin" no matter what role you're in. IT departments (if you can call the one IT person a department) at the individual school level even thinner.

 

[Porthos]

Why would you sell something deaccessioned that the purchaser cannot set up for their own use?

Parts.

 

[britechguy]

Parts.

True, but in most cases when that's being done it's clearly stated up front. I certainly would not expect that in a situation like this unless it was specified pre-sale.

 

[Porthos]

but in most cases when that's being done it's clearly stated up front.

Not everyone reads the fine print.

 

[Markverhyden]

Not that I don't think your idea is a good one, but you'd think this would be part and parcel of the deaccessioning process.

You're thinking logically and we all know that logical thinking is not very prevalent in society.

Call the school back and talk to the Technology Department. I know they said no support. What you want to ask them is are these devices still in their Google Admin Console. Ask them to Deprovision the Chromebooks from the Google Admin Console.

This is exactly along the lines of what I was talking about. But just be aware that access to that might be controlled at the School District level and not at the individual schools.

 

[britechguy]

You're thinking logically and we all know that logical thinking is not very prevalent in society.

While I can't disagree with you on that, school systems tend to be very bureaucratic about tons of things, IT stuff being at the top of the list. There is virtually always a formal process for deaccsessioning, having "been there, done that," for state and local agencies and school districts in the past.

Sale terms are also usually made crystal clear if the buyer actually pays attention. I had forgotten that @River Valley Computer stated that these were purchased by a third party and handed to him. It's entirely possible that the terms were "for parts" and that purchaser paid absolutely no attention. But it's also possible it wasn't. He needs to check what he got at the time of sale, as if terms were "for parts" you're not going to have any recourse whatsoever.