Rescuing an XP machine

[Oakridge]

We 'inherited' an XP machine from a worker doing a particular project. When
he left (uncontactable) there was only the Administrator user with a
password. I have solved that little hurdle but now it wants to log onto an
unknown domain. Can anyone help me solve this one.

Thanks in advance

Malcolm

 

[Ted Zieglar]

Easy answer. Whenever you acquire a second hand computer, by inheritance
or otherwise, the very first thing you do is erase the hard disk and
reinstall all the software. If you inherited a used hot dog from
someone, would you eat it? Same idea with a computer.

If you don't have the software, you need to buy it. That's part of the
cost in acquiring a computer from someone whop doesn't include the
(legitimate) software in the sale.

 

[Oakridge]

That, of course, is what I usually do, but Compaqs don't appear to like you
doing that. There must be something in the BIOS which makes it difficult to
use anything but their recovery discs. This has retained the Administer
password and associated logon.

We acquired the machine quite legitimately, along with three others when we
took over management of a project from the local authority. When this
project ended he left and we retained the computers. The other three were
perfectly sound but this one was in a mess and so required recovery.

Malcolm

 

[Ted Zieglar]

The BIOS doesn't have anything to do with a Windows XP password. Could
you be referring to the password for the BIOS itself?

If the BIOS was password protected you would not, for example, be able
to change the boot order to allow booting first from a Windows CD.

BIOS passwords can be reset, but you need to ask Compaq how to do this.

 

[Guest]

If it is the Bios password try pulling the password pin on the motherboard.
the Kids at my school used to pull that prank al the time. its easy to do.

Weit

 

[Oakridge]

I think I've sent us all barking up the wrong tree in mentioning the BIOS -
please erase that from your minds. The problem is how can I stop a machine
attempting to log onto a domain when there is only the one user.

Malcolm

 

[Ted Zieglar]

With the Network Administrator password.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I think I've sent us all barking up the wrong tree in mentioning
the BIOS - please erase that from your minds. The problem is how
can I stop a machine attempting to log onto a domain when there is
only the one user.

Log on with a local account.

Remove machine from said domain (since you have a local account - but you
may want to create a second local account just to be safe) if there is no
need to logon to that domain.

 

[Oakridge]

The problem is that as soon as I enter the Administrator password an error
message comes up complaining that the machine is unable to connect to the
domain. There are no other users and I cannot get far enough to set one up.

Malcolm

 

[Ted Zieglar]

You will have the choice of logging in to the domain or just to the
local machine IF the original network administrator setup the computer
that way. Otherwise I believe you are SOL, since the machine is looking
for a network to log into.