Windows NT 4.0 I don't remember password.

[Goopster]

I have a old computer which i hooked up today and it has windows NT 4.0 i don't remember its password anymore. How do i Log into the system? I don't even have a windows NT CD.

 

[Lord Evermore]

How did you get this computer? Is the original owner still using the copy of Windows NT that was on it? Are you legally the owner now of the license for the copy on that machine? 🙂

If you search for "password" in these forums, you will find the answer.

 

[Goopster]

Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
How did you get this computer? Is the original owner still using the copy of Windows NT that was on it? Are you legally the owner now of the license for the copy on that machine? 🙂

If you search for "password" in these forums, you will find the answer.

It is my brother's computer he got it from work about a year ago to use it as a remote computer and later on we got a faster computer and we never used this one. My brother's boss told him that he no longer need to return the computer and my brother said we can do whatever we want with this. I was gonna throw it out and then i decided to turn it on to see what's on it and now we no longer know the password.

any help will be appreciated.
Thanks.
I will search for password.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Legally I'll say that you don't have the right to use the copy of NT that's installed on that machine. While it's doubtful that the company is going to install a copy based on that license onto any other machine, they do still have the license, keys, et cetera for it and could still use it (well, sort of, since MS says they can't install it on any other machine).

Of course, that doesn't mean you CAN'T use it.

 

[Goopster]

Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
Legally I'll say that you don't have the right to use the copy of NT that's installed on that machine. While it's doubtful that the company is going to install a copy based on that license onto any other machine, they do still have the license, keys, et cetera for it and could still use it (well, sort of, since MS says they can't install it on any other machine).

Of course, that doesn't mean you CAN'T use it.

I just want to get the access of the computer. I don't want to use there software if i don't have to.
Can i install something else on this computer since i am having a problem reseting the password.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Just format the hard drive and install whatever else you want to.

 

[SaigonK]

If you can get your hands on NTFSDOS, you can access the harddrive of the workstation.
Then go into C:\WINDOWS\system32\config and delete the file called "SAM" this will reset the password on every account, actually it will remove pretty much every account except the default ones, allowing you access to the system again.

If you have data in any user id's that you want to keep , this might not be the best solution for you.

 

[Goopster]

Originally posted by: SaigonK
If you can get your hands on NTFSDOS, you can access the harddrive of the workstation.
Then go into C:\WINDOWS\system32\config and delete the file called "SAM" this will reset the password on every account, actually it will remove pretty much every account except the default ones, allowing you access to the system again.

If you have data in any user id's that you want to keep , this might not be the best solution for you.

I don't have any data on any user id. how do you get to NTFSDOS?

 

[Goopster]

Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
Just format the hard drive and install whatever else you want to.

Is there an option to format hard drive in BIOS. After i start the computer it takes me to logon prompt.
What are the steps?

 

[juiio]

Just reformat. If this machine really is what you say it is, then you shouldn't care if the data gets wiped out.

 

[Goopster]

Originally posted by: juiio
Just reformat. If this machine really is what you say it is, then you shouldn't care if the data gets wiped out.

How do You reformat? Is there an option in BIOS.

 

[MasterSamwise]

Boot dos .. Boot disk.. bootdisk.com (any windows boot disk should work though)

type the command:

Format C:
go through the prompts (asks if sure exc.. )

after the drive is erased (even a small one will take a while) do

fdisk /mbr

Thats it

Pop in the o.s. you want to install and run the setup via floppy if you can't boot from cdrom.

ms

 

[juiio]

If you're installing an OS off a bootable CD, you can just put the CD in the drive, reboot, and choose to boot off the CD (you will have to change the boot oder in your BIOS so taht CD rom is before hard drive, if it isn't already done that). The OS installer will then give you the option to format the drive.