Should I check TPM and Secure Boot when buying refurbished?
Yes. TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required for Windows 11 and will stay required for upcoming versions. A laptop without or with TPM off is a buying problem, not a later-IT problem.
Try this first
- 1In Windows: Win+R, type 'tpm.msc'. Status must read 'The TPM is ready for use' with version 2.0.
- 2BIOS/UEFI: set Secure Boot to Enabled. Ask the seller up front; no BIOS password lock either.
- 3When buying refurbished: demand evidence (screenshot, document) that TPM 2.0 is active and Secure Boot is on. A serious refurbisher delivers that unprompted.
- 4Under Windows 11: Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Device security. Shows 'Standard hardware security' status.
When to bring us in
Refurbisher won't confirm TPM status? Don't buy. We can do pre-purchase checks on a batch if you're unsure.
See also
- Should we buy or lease laptops as a 5-person company?Both work. Lease is predictable but pricier over the term; buying needs cash and your own depreciation. The difference is mostly admin.
- Is buying refurbished smart or asking for trouble?For office work fine, if from a serious vendor with warranty and a clean OS install. The trap is shady marketplace listings.
- How much RAM and SSD for office work in 2026?Rule of thumb for knowledge work: 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD as a comfortable minimum. 8 GB already feels tight; 32 GB is for heavy tools.
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