Domain Selection cannot be displayed...

[LetMeDoIt]

I purchased 'as is' a used HP computer running XP, a few month ago,
with the idea of installing Vista. I realize now that I would prefer
to keep XP.

I cannot log on becuase I do not have the userid and password.
Furthermore, the domain entry cannot be selected and cannot be
selected. Normally, expanding "Options" on startup allows the user to
select the domain. The domain selection is the entry after the
password on startup.

Any ideas on how I can display that domain selection?

many thanks,
cg

 

[Bookman]

If the computer has never been joined to a domain, then no you won't see an
option for domain selection.

 

[Malke]

I purchased 'as is' a used HP computer running XP, a few month ago,
with the idea of installing Vista. I realize now that I would prefer
to keep XP.

I cannot log on becuase I do not have the userid and password.
Furthermore, the domain entry cannot be selected and cannot be
selected. Normally, expanding "Options" on startup allows the user to
select the domain. The domain selection is the entry after the
password on startup.

Any ideas on how I can display that domain selection?

Best practice with a used computer - no matter where it came from - is to do
a clean install of Windows. Since you have an HP, you can usually get a
recovery disk set for that model from HP for very little money (around
$25). If the model machine you have doesn't have a recovery disk set
available (and you would find out when calling HP to order the disk set),
then go back to the seller and get the full XP disk if HP can't provide you
with one. They legally had to provide reinstallation media when selling you
the computer or they needed to sell you the computer with no Windows
operating system installed.

Malke

 

[LVTravel]

Best practice with a used computer - no matter where it came from - is to
do
a clean install of Windows. Since you have an HP, you can usually get a
recovery disk set for that model from HP for very little money (around
$25). If the model machine you have doesn't have a recovery disk set
available (and you would find out when calling HP to order the disk set),
then go back to the seller and get the full XP disk if HP can't provide
you
with one. They legally had to provide reinstallation media when selling
you
the computer or they needed to sell you the computer with no Windows
operating system installed.

Malke

In addition to Malke's post about dumping the previous install, is this
Windows XP Pro, Home or Media Center Edition (MCE) on the system? If Home
or MCE, there is no possibility of joining a domain.

 

[LetMeDoIt]

it's XP pro, and the laptop was probably part of a domain at one
time. It's one of these units that are sold by companies once the
laptops get too old. I'll probably do a reinstall based on some of
the suggestions above. Thank you for all the comments, they are
helpfull.

Now it's becoming more of a curiosity question now... is there a way
of display the domain entry from the startup even if I do not userid
and password. I was able to get to a DOS prompt throught Safe Mode or
the recovery process, but that's the extend of it..

 

[S.]

The "Log on To:" field, where the domain name is displayed, will only appear
if the computer belongs to a domain. If the computer is not part of a domain
then you log on locally so showing this field is irrelevent, that is why it
is not showing.

S.

 

[LetMeDoIt]

OK, many thanks for the numerous responses... I'll go ahead and
contact HP to try to get a CD.

CG