help needed with xp machine

[Guest]

Hi,

I just bought a few second hand xp machines.

The machines where sold as is, and seem to work just fine.

The problem is that the machines where used to run demo applications, so
they auto log in, and then run the companies demo application.

I can break out of the demo program, but then I get a bit stuck as the
features on the machine are very limited.

The only option I have access to is the programs group, and within that
group only to internet explorer.

Is there a way I can get into the XP OS and change how it is behaving. I
want it to be able to have a normal login screen, and then have a normal XP
features.

I really don't want to have to reinstall the OS at this stage.

Thanks

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Format & reinstall Windows.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi,

I just bought a few second hand xp machines.

The machines where sold as is, and seem to work just fine.

The problem is that the machines where used to run demo applications, so
they auto log in, and then run the companies demo application.

I can break out of the demo program, but then I get a bit stuck as the
features on the machine are very limited.

The only option I have access to is the programs group, and within that
group only to internet explorer.

Is there a way I can get into the XP OS and change how it is behaving. I
want it to be able to have a normal login screen, and then have a normal
XP features.

I really don't want to have to reinstall the OS at this stage.

Thanks

There isn't really a choice other than to wipe and reinstall, because of the
policy restrictions on the systems. The machines should have been wiped
and the OS reinstalled before you got them, but so it goes.

However, if the systems are identical, you can wipe and install just one,
then clone the disk to the others. You'll need to change the install keys
to reflect the COA stickers before re-activating them (tools like the Magic
Jellybean keyfinder have a key change tool). You'll be done all of them in
a few hours.

HTH
-pk

 

[Jose]

Hi,

I just bought a few second hand xp machines.

The machines where sold as is, and seem to work just fine.

The problem is that the machines where used to run demo applications, so
they auto log in, and then run the companies demo application.

I can break out of the demo program, but then I get a bit stuck as the
features on the machine are very limited.

The only option I have access to is the programs group, and within that
group only to internet explorer.

Is there a way I can get into the XP OS and change how it is behaving. I
want it to be able to have a normal login screen, and then have a normal XP
features.

I really don't want to have to reinstall the OS at this stage.

Thanks

Oh, there are plenty of options for you. It's just that not too many
of them are pleasant if you are not really good at fixing misbehaving
computers.

A complete "scorched earth" scenario is the best in terms of
satisfactory, long term and predictable outcome.

Do you have a friend that is involved in IT as a profession and a
hobby? I mean, somebody that really likes it. People like us here
that spend a perfectly good Sunday trying to help other people with
their IT problems.

Get them to inventory what you purchased, and what you might have yet
to purchase that you did not get, like legal copies of software, if
you want to be legal. At least the Windows software in case you
really need help later that you can't find for free here. There are a
lot of decisions to make and starting over after making a poorly
thought out decision can be time consuming and frustrating.

Convince, entice or bribe somebody to help you get started. You can
even do both machines at once if you have enough hardware. Why not
let them do one and you do the other? That way, you will learn as you
go and they will be right there if you get stuck. That is the best
way to learn.

Plan on a day or maybe a couple. Plan on starting over a time or
two. Expect things to go wrong.

You will probably want to be able to have immediate access to a
computer that works and is already on the Internet so you can download
and look things up. Software updates, manuals, etc.

This sounds like a fun project to me.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,

I just bought a few second hand xp machines.

The machines where sold as is, and seem to work just fine.

The problem is that the machines where used to run demo applications, so
they auto log in, and then run the companies demo application.

I can break out of the demo program, but then I get a bit stuck as the
features on the machine are very limited.

The only option I have access to is the programs group, and within that
group only to internet explorer.

Is there a way I can get into the XP OS and change how it is behaving. I
want it to be able to have a normal login screen, and then have a normal
XP features.

I really don't want to have to reinstall the OS at this stage.

Thanks

With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers but
perhaps even if acquired from a family member or friend, your wisest
course of action would definitely be to format the hard drives and start
fresh. You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may
have filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because
the original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi,

I just bought a few second hand xp machines.

The machines where sold as is, and seem to work just fine.

The problem is that the machines where used to run demo applications, so
they auto log in, and then run the companies demo application.

I can break out of the demo program, but then I get a bit stuck as the
features on the machine are very limited.

The only option I have access to is the programs group, and within that
group only to internet explorer.

Is there a way I can get into the XP OS and change how it is behaving. I
want it to be able to have a normal login screen, and then have a normal XP
features.

I really don't want to have to reinstall the OS at this stage.

You may not want to, but there's no question that that's exactly what
you should do.

If I acquired a used computer, no matter who previously owned it, the
first thing I would do with it would be to reinstall the operating
system cleanly. You have no idea how the computer has been maintained,
what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and
spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody
else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddy porn, etc., and I
wouldn't recommend that anyone else do either.