handling user profiles

[A. Toczko]

Hello. I bought a second-hand computer from a company, and user profile
information is still in place. This is the information I have collected
from the 'users profiles' in 'system properties':

account unknown 4.21 MB
account unknown 61.3 MB
ABC\user10 3.46 MB
PC10\name1 57.8 MB
pc10\name2 936 KB

The computer is on domain 'ABC', and I have the logon password for the
account ABC\user10, and I do not have the Administrator password.

I would like to set up this pc for my own user name, get the familiar logon
screen back (without using ctl/alt/del to start), and ensure that I don't
mess up the pc or lock myself out in the process. How should I proceed?
Thanks.

 

[R. McCarty]

Very bad IT practice to sell a PC with company accounts in place.
Best thing to do if a complete, fresh install isn't possible is..
(1.) Go to Control Panel (Classic) Add/Remove programs and
uninstall anything you won't be using.
(2.) Right Click My Computer and Change it's name.
(3.) Run Network Setup and place it in a Non-Business environment
Workgroup (Mshome) instead of Domain
(4.) Create a New User with Administrator privileges, then remove
all other accounts.
Did the company supply you with Software or "As-Is". The reason I
ask is most company PCs aren't licensed for Non-Business use. Not
that the "Software Cops" will come looking for you, but without media
you'll have no way to re-install or repair the computer. Most business
PCs should be formatted or cleaned before re-sale. That's really for
your protection. If company secrets are on the PC and somehow get
released, your possession of that PC might come back to haunt you.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "A. Toczko" <[email protected]>

| Hello. I bought a second-hand computer from a company, and user profile
| information is still in place. This is the information I have collected
| from the 'users profiles' in 'system properties':
|
| account unknown 4.21 MB
| account unknown 61.3 MB
| ABC\user10 3.46 MB
| PC10\name1 57.8 MB
| pc10\name2 936 KB
|
| The computer is on domain 'ABC', and I have the logon password for the
| account ABC\user10, and I do not have the Administrator password.
|
| I would like to set up this pc for my own user name, get the familiar logon
| screen back (without using ctl/alt/del to start), and ensure that I don't
| mess up the pc or lock myself out in the process. How should I proceed?
| Thanks.
|

As R. Mcarthy stated "PCs should be formatted or cleaned before re-sale". You are highly
"at-risk" with a used computer with information on it. It could have a viruses or viruses
are a Keylogger Trojan, etc.

You should WIPE the computer clean of all data and reinstall an OS from scratch !!

That is your *best* advice.

 

[A. Toczko]

Thanks for the help. I'll follow your advice.

 

[Plato]

Hello. I bought a second-hand computer from a company, and user profile
information is still in place. This is the information I have collected

Best thing to do after buying any used pc is wipe the HDD and install
the OS you want to use fresh.

 

[A. Toczko]

I wish to wipe the HD, problem is the only user logon I have is NOT an
administrator, so I seem to be unable to do a thing. How can I start a
clean install of WinXP?

 

[Alias]

Boot into your BIOS and set your computer to boot from the CDROM. Stick the
XP CD into your CDROM. Reboot. Follow the instructions.

Alias

I wish to wipe the HD, problem is the only user logon I have is NOT an
administrator, so I seem to be unable to do a thing. How can I start a
clean install of WinXP?

 

[R. McCarty]

You boot up the PC with the Windows XP CD-ROM. Before that
you need to verify that BIOS Boot device sequence is set correctly.
Most times the default 1st device is the floppy. You'll need to change
that to CD drive.
M. Stevens has an excellent tutorial on his website:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

I wish to wipe the HD, problem is the only user logon I have is NOT an
administrator, so I seem to be unable to do a thing. How can I start a
clean install of WinXP?

 

[A. Toczko]

When I do that, it will only let me boot to profile 1, the current install
of WinXP.

Boot into your BIOS and set your computer to boot from the CDROM. Stick
the XP CD into your CDROM. Reboot. Follow the instructions.

Alias

 

[Alias]

Do you know how to boot into the BIOS?

Alias

When I do that, it will only let me boot to profile 1, the current install
of WinXP.

 

[A. Toczko]

It is definitely booting to the CD drive.

You boot up the PC with the Windows XP CD-ROM. Before that
you need to verify that BIOS Boot device sequence is set correctly.
Most times the default 1st device is the floppy. You'll need to change
that to CD drive.
M. Stevens has an excellent tutorial on his website:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

[A. Toczko]

Yes.

Do you know how to boot into the BIOS?

Alias

 

[R. McCarty]

Huh? - You are mixing terms that don't apply. Booting to the XP CD
ROM would not involve a profile or login (Username). When the PC
is set to boot from the CD-ROM you'll see a screen with text that
says "Press Any Key to Boot from CD". During this time you have to
press a key to begin the XP installation process.

 

[A. Toczko]

The BIOS is set to boot to from CD by default, then HD. On boot it says
Boot from CD:, then I press the space bar, and this time it worked! And I
have no explanation, but thanks for the help. I am now on my way to a clean
install.

And another small problem.... I added a second HD to a system, and in the
BIOS set it to be auto detected.
It was detected, and all is well, but when I power off the pc, the settings
are lost, and on power on, the black and white boot screen reports a disk
failure for that disk. If I go into the BIOS and auto detect again, the
problem repeats. What is the problem? Thanks.

 

[R. McCarty]

On which controller did you add it ? (Primary or Secondary). Make
sure that all devices have their addressing jumper set. Many BIOS's
automatically toggle new devices into the Hard Drive priority tree.
Add the device, then check BIOS settings and ensure that the HD
priority is for your original drive, not the new one. After settings are
applied - Make sure you ESC to the Save Settings & Exit option.

 

[A. Toczko]

Yes, I did all of that. I've often moved IDE devices between pcs and when
the jumpers are set wrong, it does appear obvious, but this time the problem
seems different.

I've added it in as the primary slave, and have set the jumpers as slave.
The primary master is still in place (original drive) so I had no jumper
changes to do there. I thought of the CMOS battery, but I haven't lost the
time, so I ruled that out.

 

[R. McCarty]

OK, the problem with answering Posts is the inability to know what
the poster's knowledge & experience are. Does the new drive have
any existing partitions/data on it ? At this point I would probably not
connect the 2nd drive and just proceed with the fresh install. Then
after you get a base install going, add the drive back in to the config.
It would probably help in analyzing your issue to know which vendor
and model PC you're working with. I would spend a little time on
BIOS settings before starting the XP install. Things like disabling any
on-board peripherals you won't be using. If you have alternate ability
to the web, I would check the vendor website and download drives
for the box and see how many Revs down your BIOS is.

 

[A. Toczko]

OK. This is a P4 system (the second-hand one from a company which last
night you advised to wipe and clean install). As the system is about 1.5
years old, I'd rather leave BIOS updates alone, as I think it will be
adequate. The original HD is a Maxtor Diamond 8 plus, the second HD is a
Maxtor Diamond 9 plus. Both drive have only the single partition. I admit
I did not go through the BIOS settings, and perhaps I should take a look.
The clean install just finished, and I have all of the downloads from the
board manufacturer which I will now install. I'll post back when I'm done
that to give further info. Thanks for your interest.

 

[R. McCarty]

Good Luck - Since it's a P4, get the latest Intel Chipset Driver package
and install before you do DirectX (9.0c) and the Video driver. Latest is
available here:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...uctID=816&OSFullName=Windows* XP Professional

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "R. McCarty" <[email protected]>

| Good Luck - Since it's a P4, get the latest Intel Chipset Driver package
| and install before you do DirectX (9.0c) and the Video driver. Latest is
| available here:


DirectX 9.0c is included in WinXP SP2 and it is *highly* suggested that WinXP SP2 be
installed as soon as the OS is installed and is Internet coonnected.