Password needed to replace battery?

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Password needed to replace battery?

imd6662

119 posts

Master Geek

#312777 16-May-2024 12:31

I just tried to get a battery replaced in my Dell XPS laptop so took it to a local fix-it service.

I was surprised when they insisted that they would need my Windows sign-in password 'in order to check the battery health'. Surely this is just a BIOS operation?

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1573 posts

Uber Geek

#3231285 16-May-2024 12:36

They may be trying to go a bit further with service beyond just replacing the battery. However; I'd be "No, just replace the battery".

If they insist, and give good enough reasons, then I'd say "fine, but I'm doing it with you".

imd6662

119 posts

Master Geek

#3231293 16-May-2024 13:24

Yes, I agree. In the end I decided not to leave it there. It may indeed be innocent (probably is) but I'm not sure I want to trust someone who doesn't understand the security implications, not to mention that I'm sure this can be done perfectly well via BIOS.

cddt

1565 posts

Uber Geek

#3231295 16-May-2024 13:25

Nowadays your Windows password is your Microsoft password which is your Outlook password and your OneDrive password...

Zero chance I would be sharing any password in this situation (or any situation really).

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imd6662

119 posts

Master Geek

#3231297 16-May-2024 13:27

Not to mention all that lovely Chrome autofill stuff.

If this really were a requirement then you're pretty much at the stage where any Windows install needs a specific, sealed maintenance account.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

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#3231306 16-May-2024 13:57

I took my phone to a repair store yesterday. They asked for my pin so they could test the fix afterwards (screen issue).

I said no. Nowdays giving up that info is just way to much power. They would have access to my NFC payments, my email, get my 2FA codes. In the end I've bought a cheap 2nd phone. Once that arrived Ill setup that, wipe my broken fold 4 and send that to Samsung for repair.

Pin/Password for a repair... yeah nah.

CamH

569 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3231311 16-May-2024 14:17

Back when we used to do retail IT support, we'd boot the laptop up after replacement, charge it to full and do a full discharge running a long YouTube video or something and record the time the new battery lasted for.

Probably wasn't needed, but customers seemed to appreciate it.

I absolutely wouldn't be giving out my main login though, just create a new limited user for them.

mattwnz

20180 posts

Uber Geek

#3231328 16-May-2024 15:01

I had this issue when I went to get an iphone battery replaced by an authorised dealer. It seems crazy IMO that they can't check things after a battery replacement from a diagnostic screen without booting into the full OS. It is one reason I had non user replaceable batteries in devices.

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freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79316 posts

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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3231330 16-May-2024 15:03

I just created a new non-admin user for repairs—no way I'd give full access to my laptop connected to a Microsoft account.

CYaBro

4590 posts

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#3231346 16-May-2024 15:18

mattwnz:

I had this issue when I went to get an iphone battery replaced by an authorised dealer. It seems crazy IMO that they can't check things after a battery replacement from a diagnostic screen without booting into the full OS. It is one reason I had non user replaceable batteries in devices.

Apple do tell you to backup your iPhone and factory reset it before taking it to an AASP.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

mattwnz

20180 posts

Uber Geek

#3231350 16-May-2024 15:28

CYaBro:

mattwnz:

I had this issue when I went to get an iphone battery replaced by an authorised dealer. It seems crazy IMO that they can't check things after a battery replacement from a diagnostic screen without booting into the full OS. It is one reason I had non user replaceable batteries in devices.

Apple do tell you to backup your iPhone and factory reset it before taking it to an AASP.

That would require someone connect it to a PC and use itunes to backup, or purchase icloud. That is if it is operational to do this. Plus that is a lot of work and hassle, to simply swap out what is supposed to be a consumable. The inconvenience and relatively high price is probably why many people end up upgrading to a new device rather than getting it repaired / battery replaced .

Jvipers2

216 posts

Master Geek

#3231351 16-May-2024 15:28

Never give any password out to anyone in today's world. Scammers are everywhere..

Like everyone suggested, create a non-admin user if they have to run tests of the battery

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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#3231352 16-May-2024 15:29

Some Android devices have a "repair mode". Obviously not useful if you can't access the phone (dead screen for example).

lxsw20

3556 posts

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Subscriber

#3231368 16-May-2024 15:59

mattwnz:

That would require someone connect it to a PC and use itunes to backup, or purchase icloud. That is if it is operational to do this. Plus that is a lot of work and hassle, to simply swap out what is supposed to be a consumable. The inconvenience and relatively high price is probably why many people end up upgrading to a new device rather than getting it repaired / battery replaced .

If you're not backing it up somehow in the first place, obviously the data isn't that valuable.

mattwnz

20180 posts

Uber Geek

#3231370 16-May-2024 16:21

lxsw20:

mattwnz:

That would require someone connect it to a PC and use itunes to backup, or purchase icloud. That is if it is operational to do this. Plus that is a lot of work and hassle, to simply swap out what is supposed to be a consumable. The inconvenience and relatively high price is probably why many people end up upgrading to a new device rather than getting it repaired / battery replaced .

If you're not backing it up somehow in the first place, obviously the data isn't that valuable.

There is a difference between backing up data, and backing up the device for a full restore. For example in my case the iphone automatically backups all photos via dropbox to my PC, and email is in the cloud, but also downloads to my PC. So if the phone just dies there is no loss of actual data. But to manually reinstall and configure all apps and manually restore data is a big job if not doing it as a backup/restore. Even a phone backup retore via a PC is not a job everyone has the knowledge to do and I have known it to fail.

MarkM536

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3231442 16-May-2024 20:14

My guess is they may want to run a battery health report?

powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\battery_report.html" - Link to WindowsCentral.com

I absolutely agree with others on not to giving them the password since other Microsoft services use that same password.

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