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.
support/hardware-en-lifecycle/tpm-secureboot-bij-refurbishedsteps: 4
Try this first
- In Windows: Win+R, type 'tpm.msc'. Status must read 'The TPM is ready for use' with version 2.0.
- BIOS/UEFI: set Secure Boot to Enabled. Ask the seller up front; no BIOS password lock either.
- When buying refurbished: demand evidence (screenshot, document) that TPM 2.0 is active and Secure Boot is on. A serious refurbisher delivers that unprompted.
- Under 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.
None of the above fits?
Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.
Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.