Password Login

[Annie]

I acquired a laptop but it has two user logons. Passwords unknown. How can I get rid of these and start fresh?

TIA

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I acquired a laptop but it has two user logons. Passwords unknown.
How can I get rid of these and start fresh?

Used laptop?

My recommendation for any used computer of any sort - wipe everything on
it - burn it down and install everything FRESH. You have no idea (even if
you think you do) what might be on that computer, what the last user
did/left there, etc. Start with a clean slate and you know all that.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I acquired a laptop but it has two user logons. Passwords unknown. How can I get rid of these and start fresh?

TIA

If the person from whom you "acquired" the computer cannot give you
the passwords, (and the installation CDs for the OS and any other
software installed), you'd be wise to check with local law enforcement
agencies to ensure that you haven't inadvertently purchased stolen property.

Anyway, 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:



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

 

[Annie]

The computer was given to me due to the family's child passing. I had wanted to see if there was anything on it they might appreciate having, but format and start fresh it shall be.

Thanks for the information.


: Annie wrote:
: > I acquired a laptop but it has two user logons. Passwords unknown. How can I get rid of these and start fresh?
: >
: > TIA
:
:
: If the person from whom you "acquired" the computer cannot give you
: the passwords, (and the installation CDs for the OS and any other
: software installed), you'd be wise to check with local law enforcement
: agencies to ensure that you haven't inadvertently purchased stolen property.
:
: Anyway, 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:
:
:
:
: 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

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I acquired a laptop but it has two user logons. Passwords unknown.
How can I get rid of these and start fresh?

The computer was given to me due to the family's child passing. I
had wanted to see if there was anything on it they might appreciate
having, but format and start fresh it shall be.

Thanks for the information.

But... The first thing you asked for was...
"... and start fresh?"

If you need to hack into it - that's fine to - but you should state your
reasoning/purpose.

After you have hacked into it and seen if there was anything you needed to
get off it - the advice is the same - start anew.

If Windows XP Home:
Boot into safe mode and logon as the user named "Administrator" --> it
likely has no password. Change your password and any others needed
once you get logged into safe mode as the actual (and hidden in normal
mode) administrator in Windows XP Home. Reboot and log back in as
your user with the new password.

If Windows XP Professional(et al):
At the "Welcome Screen", press CTRL+ALT+DEL twice in a row (quickly.)
That will bring up the Classic Logon Prompt. Enter "administrator" as the
username (no quotation marks) and try entering nothing (leave it blank)
for the password and log on. If it lets you in, change your password
and any others needed.

Doesn't work?

Look through these:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=forgotten+password+in+"Windows+XP+Home"

Look through those who had this issue before you:
http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=forgotten+password+in+"Windows+XP+Home"&num=100&scoring=r

What Microsoft recommends:
How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your
password or if your password expires
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305

Here's a list of possible things to try:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

Including a downloadable diskette or CD:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
.... with instructions clearly on the page for use.

 

[Annie]

My error in the way I phrased it. sorry. will do better next time.

Thanks for your useful information.


: Annie wrote:
: > I acquired a laptop but it has two user logons. Passwords unknown.
: > How can I get rid of these and start fresh?
:
: Annie wrote:
: > The computer was given to me due to the family's child passing. I
: > had wanted to see if there was anything on it they might appreciate
: > having, but format and start fresh it shall be.
: >
: > Thanks for the information.
:
: But... The first thing you asked for was...
: "... and start fresh?"
:
: If you need to hack into it - that's fine to - but you should state your
: reasoning/purpose.
:
: After you have hacked into it and seen if there was anything you needed to
: get off it - the advice is the same - start anew.
:
: If Windows XP Home:
: Boot into safe mode and logon as the user named "Administrator" --> it
: likely has no password. Change your password and any others needed
: once you get logged into safe mode as the actual (and hidden in normal
: mode) administrator in Windows XP Home. Reboot and log back in as
: your user with the new password.
:
: If Windows XP Professional(et al):
: At the "Welcome Screen", press CTRL+ALT+DEL twice in a row (quickly.)
: That will bring up the Classic Logon Prompt. Enter "administrator" as the
: username (no quotation marks) and try entering nothing (leave it blank)
: for the password and log on. If it lets you in, change your password
: and any others needed.
:
: Doesn't work?
:
: Look through these:
: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=forgotten+password+in+"Windows+XP+Home"
:
: Look through those who had this issue before you:
: http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=forgotten+password+in+"Windows+XP+Home"&num=100&scoring=r
:
: What Microsoft recommends:
: How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your
: password or if your password expires
: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305
:
: Here's a list of possible things to try:
: http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm
:
: Including a downloadable diskette or CD:
: http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
: ... with instructions clearly on the page for use.
:
: --
: Shenan Stanley
: MS-MVP
: --
: How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
:
:
: