Can I return this laptop? What happens to my personal data?

[Hoochyhoo]

I bought a laptop from Argos a few days ago. It’s started not working properly tonight and just has a funny screen so I can’t even log in :(
Will Argos let me return it? Also what will happen with the laptop? I have photos of my children on there that I can’t erase before taking it back as I can’t log in.

Yes you can return it, can you hook it up to an external monitor so that you can log in to delete the photos?

As it is faulty you have the right to reject it and receive a full refund.

Couldn’t hook it up to an external monitor as don’t have the right lead.
Argos have taken it back and refunded.
I asked about my data and they said it should be erased automatically when it goes back to manufacturers.
Does this mean they will have access to my photos?
I had a log in pin to log into windows

There are sophisticated and less sophisticated ways to hack into accounts even with pin or password protection. But it would be time consuming and pointless from the manufacturer’s perspective. Their process won’t involve someone trying to look at the files you’ve saved on there. So technically someone else has the drive and it has your data on - there is the potential for someone to get it. Realistically, very unlikely to happen.