How to remove Pointsec from PC? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

alltherage · 10-08-2009, 12:09 PM

Hey guys, this is a tough one. I have two towers from my old office that my boss would like reformatted so we can sell them. They have the old office software on them though. Pointsec is locked on both and I have no passwords.

My question is, is there a way to reinstall windows around this? The computers are "Antec" brand which looks like might be a franken-build. There is no Windows Genuine Whatcha-ma-callit on the back, so I have no serial numbers. Therefore, I need to remove the software from it somehow.

Am I boned?

Bobblehead · 10-08-2009, 12:17 PM

Antec is a case builder (among other things), so those are some sort of custom builds.

So is this encryption software (which I assume Pointsec is) preventing you from reformatting?

Or do you want to get the Windows Serial Numbers off of it first to allow re-install and can't log in?

What exactly is Pointsec stopping you from doing?

alltherage · 10-08-2009, 12:26 PM

Pointsec asks for passwords before windows even starts loading.

I just want to remove Pointsec. If I can't do that, finding the installation codes would be helpful. I can... *find*... what I need obviously, but I dont want to. I want to sell these towers legitimately.

Bobblehead · 10-08-2009, 12:32 PM

Ahh, so you can't log in.

If you can't get in at all AND there is security software installed then I'm think you are boned as far as being able to recover the Windows Keys. Any attempts to circumvent login in should be prevented by Pointsec (or else it would be pretty crappy security software).

Wiping the drive is no problem but without the security password I think you are boned for recovering the keys.

So your old boss doesn't even know the passwords?

alltherage · 10-08-2009, 01:52 PM

Unfortunately he doesnt know the passwords. These machines are about a year old and they had other employee's logins on them.

Oh well, time for the old "other way" of "fixing" things.

psicodude · 10-08-2009, 03:33 PM

Yeah, PointSec is full disk encryption software, now owned by CheckPoint. I've heard that you can call them up and (for a cost) they will send you a bootable floppy that has a backdoor decryption key on it. I am certain you will have to prove you are the legal owner of both the hardware and the Pointsec software.

Long story short...you are boned.

FanIn80 · 10-09-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psicodude

Yeah, PointSec is full disk encryption software, now owned by CheckPoint. I've heard that you can call them up and (for a cost) they will send you a bootable floppy that has a backdoor decryption key on it.

85% Off-Topic: Always go open-source for your disk encryption needs.

Hack&Lube · 10-09-2009, 10:49 AM

Formatting is easy, put the drives in another system...but recover encrypted passwords or serials is pretty much impossible without any knowledge of the original methods of access or help from Pointsec.

Titan · 10-10-2009, 01:05 PM

We use Pointsec for our laptops. I work at a bank. Commence boning.

A question though. If you just want to wipe the drives can that be done? Would you have to put it in another computer and wipe it from there? Just curious more than anything.

Cscutch · 10-10-2009, 02:59 PM

Pointsec encrypts the hard drive but doesn't prevent you from formatting the drives. Boot in a bootable CD/DVD OS Installation disk and when it asks which drive to use for installation select the HDD and format the drive.