Retrieving admin password

[smirk]

Hi, I don't know if this can be done, but I thought I'd ask.

My wife works for a company that seems (to me) overly cautious security-wise, to the point that it interferes with her productivity. She lacks authority to install software and change basic settings like the duration before the display goes to sleep. The trackpad driver was never installed, so double-tap and scrolling don't function. Printer drivers aren't installed. They're still on IE 7, which is maddening to someone used to a current web browser. Possibly the worst is that the drive is severely fragmented (you can hear it thrashing away) and takes something like three minutes to boot up to the desktop... but we lack authority to defragment. The IT department so far hasn't been very responsive, and always seems busy fighting larger fires.

I realize the computer is company property, but I'd like to do a few small things to help, like install those drivers and a PDF writer like CutePDF. The problem, of course, is her logon can't install software. Is there any way at all to retrieve an admin password or fool the installer into running as an admin? This is on Windows XP.

Thanks!

 

[gsaldivar]

Unfortunately, you will have to go through your IT department for this. To push your request to the top of the priority list, you might focus on describing how the problems are impacting your productivity and ability to perform basic work tasks. Try to understand that IT departments are often understaffed/overworked, and while your issues are serious, they might be a small blip on the radar of overall priorities. Raise the issue politely but be persistent.

Good luck.

 

[postaled]

From the sounds of it she probably has office, and if she has office 2007 it should have saving to PDF's built in... at least I think it does.

Do what was mentioned above, just mention that it interferes with productivity and hopefully it will be fixed.

Also, welcome to understaffed IT?

 

[Nothinman]

Hi, I don't know if this can be done, but I thought I'd ask.

My wife works for a company that seems (to me) overly cautious security-wise, to the point that it interferes with her productivity. She lacks authority to install software and change basic settings like the duration before the display goes to sleep. The trackpad driver was never installed, so double-tap and scrolling don't function. Printer drivers aren't installed. They're still on IE 7, which is maddening to someone used to a current web browser. Possibly the worst is that the drive is severely fragmented (you can hear it thrashing away) and takes something like three minutes to boot up to the desktop... but we lack authority to defragment. The IT department so far hasn't been very responsive, and always seems busy fighting larger fires.

I realize the computer is company property, but I'd like to do a few small things to help, like install those drivers and a PDF writer like CutePDF. The problem, of course, is her logon can't install software. Is there any way at all to retrieve an admin password or fool the installer into running as an admin? This is on Windows XP.

Thanks!

Bypassing company security for any reason isn't condoned here. Your opinion of her employer's security policies don't matter in any way shape or form. If the laptop is that much of a hindrance have her tell her boss and work the system properly, otherwise she'll be the one penalized for your "good" deeds.

And quite frankly, the only valid complaint I see is the lack of the touchpad driver and that's a minor inconvenience. Just plug in a USB mouse. IE7 may be required for internal apps, a lot of companies don't care about web standards since they control the environment in which it will be used.
Disk thrashing probably isn't caused by a fragmented drive, fragmentation has a minimal affect in most cases. The real culprit is probably A/V and any other software and services they have installed and loading at bootup.

 

[jtvang125]

Bypassing security policies can be grounds for termination or being written up. The proper channel would be for her to go to her supervisor and explain the situation. This will help escalate the issue if her problems are valid.

 

[smirk]

Yeah, ok guys, I got it. Thanks.