Work computer Running XP Pro to be used as a home pC

[speedy2]

I thought there was a way to do this. But, this Dell PC has XP Pro on it. It was used somewhere(school, business, etc) and has a bunch of networks to login to. There is no known password even for the PC itself. Is there a way to by pass all of them and create a new login account? Even booting in safe mode I'm not seeing anything but a window that asks for User Name & Password.

Here is what I see in normal mode

Here is what I see in Safe mode

 

[Texashiker]

Even booting in safe mode I'm not seeing anything but a window that asks for User Name & Password.

Unless someone changed it, XP safemode username is administrator and leave the passsword field blank. That should get you into the system.

After so many people locked themselves out of windows 2000, microsoft added a backdoor to xp that you can only access through safemode. But a lot of system admins change the administrator password to keep people from booting the system into safe mode and making their own changes.

 

[speedy2]

I have tried that. Still doesn't let me in.

 

[Texashiker]

I have tried that. Still doesn't let me in.

format c: /q and reinstall windows xp

Or, do a side-by-side install of windows. Is there a cd key sticker on the side of the case? If so, that is all you need.

 

[speedy2]

format c: /q and reinstall windows xp

Or, do a side-by-side install of windows. Is there a cd key sticker on the side of the case? If so, that is all you need.

That's my other problem. There is no COA on the side, top, or bottom of this case. Although, it does look like there was one. But it's been removed. Is there a way to pull the HD and scan the windows install for a key? I also do not have XP Pro disks. Only Home SP2 & Home SP3.

 

[Texashiker]

That's my other problem. There is no COA on the side, top, or bottom of this case. Although, it does look like there was one. But it's been removed.

When I get rid of a factory made computer, I will pull the cd key sticker off - that way I can use the license on another system.

It appears to me that you got a bare system, and the person who had it before you wanted to retain their xp license.

How old is the system and what are the system specs? If nothing else,get windows 7 and put on there, or download a flavor of linux.

 

[speedy2]

It's a Dell Optiplex GX270. It's not mine. I'm working on it for someone, who got it from someone else. I think a business or something went out or either upgraded and got rid of the old systems. It's a P4 system. They just want to use it as a home PC. Light internet/word processing use.

 

[Texashiker]

They just want to use it as a home PC. Light internet/word processing use.

Sounds like a job for Linux.

Firefox + open office

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu

 

[quikah]

After so many people locked themselves out of windows 2000, microsoft added a backdoor to xp that you can only access through safemode. But a lot of system admins change the administrator password to keep people from booting the system into safe mode and making their own changes.

This is only even remotely true if the original installer didn't bother to setup ANY security on the system. It is not a "backdoor".

This has worked for me in the past, but I haven't used it in a LONG time, so no idea if it still works:

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

If that doesn't work, try some of the other tools listed here: http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

 

[speedy2]

I'll ask this here since it would be for this computer. Is there a way to check online if a COA is valid without installing windows and entering the key?

 

[Texashiker]

This is only even remotely true if the original installer didn't bother to setup ANY security on the system. It is not a "backdoor".

The username / password combination people setup during the install of windows xp does not affect the "real" local administrator account.

To change the local administrator account blank password, you have to run control userpasswords2 from start - run, or boot into safe mode and change it.

Just about any windows xp computer you can sit in front of, you can take control of - unless the administrator account password has been changed to something besides blank.

 

[speedy2]

This is only even remotely true if the original installer didn't bother to setup ANY security on the system. It is not a "backdoor".

This has worked for me in the past, but I haven't used it in a LONG time, so no idea if it still works:

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

If that doesn't work, try some of the other tools listed here: http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

Did the first tool. It shows a few accounts. I cleared the passwords. And still nothing in normal or safe mode.

 

[speedy2]

Again. With the first tool.

I cleared the password for the "Administrator" account. But, I never see the account. Typing in "Administrator" into the windows shown in the original post, do nothing.

Is this because I don't even have access to any local accounts? I guess I'm going to have to find a CD for Pro.

 

[quikah]

The username / password combination people setup during the install of windows xp does not affect the "real" local administrator account.

To change the local administrator account blank password, you have to run control userpasswords2 from start - run, or boot into safe mode and change it.

Just about any windows xp computer you can sit in front of, you can take control of - unless the administrator account password has been changed to something besides blank.

OK, sorry, I guess we both need to qualify our statements. In XP Home, what you say is true. In XP Pro it asks for an administrator password during the install. The OP has XP Pro.

Speedy are you able to logon with any of the other accounts? You need to set the "Log On To" field to the local computer.

 

[speedy2]

Yes. Even choosing the Local login does the same thing. Just going to get a copy of XP Home or something and do a clean install.

 

[quikah]

Try resetting the password to something at least 7 characters long. It is possible that the policy was set to disallow blank passwords which would not allow you to login (though it seems to work OK in my limited testing).

 

[Texashiker]

Try resetting the password to something at least 7 characters long. It is possible that the policy was set to disallow blank passwords which would not allow you to login.

If your going to do that, go ahead and make it a complex password with upper and lower case and a symbol - just in case a policy has been setup to enforce complex passwords.

 

[JackMDS]

LOL.

A guy has an old junky blocked computer with No COA and every body clings to it as thought it is Treasure.

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Windows XP Pro Installed with COA $114

http://www.surpluscomputers.com/348157/dell-gx-p4-2.8ghz-512mb.html

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In New City you can find many "Treasures" like this at curb side the night before the next day garbage collection.

 

[Steltek]

LOL.

A guy has an old junky blocked computer with No COA and every body clings to it as thought it is Treasure.

------------------
Windows XP Pro Installed with COA $114

http://www.surpluscomputers.com/348157/dell-gx-p4-2.8ghz-512mb.html

-------------------
In New City you can find many "Treasures" like this at curb side the night before the next day garbage collection.

+1

Another reason not to waste much money is that the GX270 was one of those Dell models which suffered from the defective capacitor issue on the motherboard.

I'd open it up and examine the motherboard very carefully for any sign of swelled caps before I even thought about dropping money on an XP CD. If there are any there, it ain't worth a plug nickel much less the expense of a retail XP install...

 

[lxskllr]

I wouldn't drop money on XP regardless of capacitors. I suppose an obsolete O/S is a good match for an obsolete computer, but it's just a waste on money imo. I like the Linux suggestion, especially with regard to the intended use.

 

[speedy2]

Yeah. I'm either scrapping the thing or going to find some COA's from other machines. Not worth purchasing like you guys said, and if the capacitors are shot, not even worth doing anything. Thanks for all your help.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Generally, when someone comes in with a locked-down computer, especially when it was used by a business, one tends to think it was stolen. Especially laptops.

I don't think that is the case here, but something to be concerned about if you run a computer shop.

Most businesses, if they are going to discard a machine, do a low-level drive wipe to prevent anyone from stealing their data. Some, like hospitals, even shred their HDs, believing that a drive wipe isn't enough.

 

[airdata]

I think I got banned from yahoo answers for explaining to somebody how to use *****...


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So you do the same here?

Jack
Moderator.


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