Erased ALL my cookies...can't open Windows XP

[Guest]

I ran a window washer program and it deleted ALL my cookies, now when I begin
my computer it prompts me for a username and password - I never used to have
to enter a password, just hit ok and it loaded my computer. Now it has locked
me out - Any ideas??? I've already tried starting in Safe Mode and it prompts
me for the same thing?????????????
Thank you very much!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I ran a window washer program and it deleted ALL my cookies, now
when I begin my computer it prompts me for a username and password
- I never used to have to enter a password, just hit ok and it
loaded my computer. Now it has locked me out - Any ideas??? I've
already tried starting in Safe Mode and it prompts me for the same
thing?????????????
Thank you very much!

If all you *did* was erase cookies.. That would not set a Windows logon
password.

Tried logging into Safe Mode as the user "administrator" with a blank
password?

 

[Guest]

Well it erased *everything* - actually it's my bosses computer and he doesn't
always tell the the "entire truth" which means he could have run something
other than a simple window washer. We have tried, unsuccessfully in Safe Mode
and have been told by out IT guy that he is pretty much out of luck. Can you
think of anything else that could have been done to cause an issue like this
one?

 

[Guest]

Hi,
perhaps you should try to reset the admin password.
Personnaly, I would use a bootable linux security disc (whoppix/backtrack),
but you could find some easier ways here:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm
hope this helps.

 

[Vanguard]

Well it erased *everything* - actually it's my bosses computer and
he doesn't
always tell the the "entire truth" which means he could have run
something
other than a simple window washer. We have tried, unsuccessfully in
Safe Mode
and have been told by out IT guy that he is pretty much out of luck.
Can you
think of anything else that could have been done to cause an issue
like this
one?

Then he really didn't run just a window washer to get rid of cookies.
If he is going to lie to you, why bother solving his problems? Just
lie right back and tell him it's all there but that he's been
blacklisted by Spamhaus and will have to await the outcome of that
lawsuit.

If everything got erased then the OS needs to be reinstalled and his
data recovered from backups. He does have backups right? If not then
he decided his data wasn't important enough to protect from equipment
failure.

If it wasn't a secure erase, tell him that there are forensic
companies that will charge LOTS, like $1500 to $3000, or more, to
recover the files off the hard disk's platters. That will let him
ponder as to just how valuable are those files he thinks he needs back
(since the OS should be a licensed copy that can be simply reinstalled
or restored).