jtf said:
I've just bought a second hand computer (4 years old?) running home XP and
the former owner has changed many of the system file names. When I try to add
programms the installer 'defaults' to a bespoke file and does not run.
Also, he's added passwords to many of the user settable dialogues (one
instance being the browser) so I am unable to change them.
The XP is as installed and I have no back up disc.
Any suggestions??
If the former owner sold you the computer without any way to return it
to factory condition, he is in the legal wrong. Take it back or get the
installation media from him. You need to do a clean install on this
machine and to do that you must have the XP install disk (or restore
disks if this is an OEM machine from a company like HP, Sony, etc.).
If there is no possibility to do the above, you have 4 choices:
1. Go to the store and purchase a full version of XP and do your clean
install.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows -
What you will need on-hand
2. Get the Product Key, either from a sticker on the machine or by using
one of these free keyfinder utilities:
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml - Key Finder
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html - Nirsoft Key Finder
Then take the machine to a local professional computer shop where they
may be willing to do the clean install for you with their own
installation media. The Product Key is your license to run Windows, not
the physical CD. Do not go to your local version of
BigComputerStore/GeekSquad. Get recommendations from family, friends,
colleagues.
3. If the machine is one that originally came with a set of restore
disks (HP, Compaq, eMachines, etc.) then call the company and purchase a
replacement set. If the restore disks are still available they are
normally not very expensive; i.e., around $25 USD. Although having the
physical restore disks is important in case the hard drive dies, in the
meantime see if there is a special restore partition on the hard drive
so you can restore the machine to factory condition. You would find this
out by going to the computer mftr.'s tech support website for that
specific model machine.
4. If none of the above works for you, then you can either live with
things the way they are (absolutely not a good idea because in addition
to hosing the operating system, who knows what pr0n, etc. the original
owner has got on that machine?) you can wipe the hard drive and install
a free operating system such as one of the Linux distros.
Good luck,
Malke
