Pawn Shop Bought HP windows 8 laptop

I bought a computer from the local pawn shop (mom made me buy one from there despite it being MY money). I first noticed that it was a bit slow starting up, then once I connected it to internet, I was going to go to google and find a virus protection, but as soon as I got to the google homepage the computer freaked out. A LOT of popups came up, and a million voices went off, "Warning your computer is at risk..." As well as the traditional, "Congratulations you won..." I couldn't move anything, and not even Clt Alt Dlt worked. My mom got frustrated, and pushed the button that you are NOT supposed to use to turn it off (despite my having lectured her for years about it). I turned it back on, and then it wouldn't load anything, I would just freeze up automatically (although the cursor could still move). I then decided to try to reset the computer to factory settings, hoping that it would take care of any viruses that was on it. The first time I tried to reset it, I said it couldn't reset because "necessary hardware" was missing. I tried it again, and it got to the point where it said "please wait" and under it, it said "preparing"... Me and my mother had enough time to go to the gym, and out to dinner and it still hadn't moved by the time we got back! Someone please help me Q.Q I just want to reset the settings, and get rid of the virus(es) that are on the laptop! Is there any hope? Or will I have to pay out more than it would cost to buy a new one to fix this one?

 

Personally I would take it back to the pawn shop and demand your money back, it is certainly not fit for use or original purpose.
Once you have your money back give mom a good telling off for making you spend it on rubbish.
It could cost a large amount of time if our security guys lead you through cleaning it, and certainly extra money if you take it elsewhere, and no guarantee that it is up to anything after the malware is removed.

Nev.

 

Just to pile on here the best advice given is return the laptop. Things like that should not happen right after buying a pc either new or used because that means the item was not ready for sale.

 

Our largest Pawn Brokers here in OZ are not even allowed to sell a Computer or Laptop with a hard drive, unless it's a brand new empty Hard drive, let alone an operating system. That's "Cash Convertors"
Maybe different laws for Pawn Brokers in other countries.

 

Looks like Cash Converters are an international company, that is where I got my laptop. However here in the UK I assume it must be OK providing it has been returned to factory condition, as that is how mine was, a good few hours of updates to install once I powered the thing up.

Nev.

 

yes cash convertors wont even buy it off you unless you the seller have put it back to factory settings and uninstalled everything on it and they run it and test it before they even buy it off you, then when they sell it they test it again.