Startup key on disk, disk drive fried

[Guest]

I know, this may sound dumb, but this sounded like a good idea at the time.

I set up my computer to use a startup key disk instead of a master password.
However, my disk drive is now fried and the drive cannot read the disk.

A) Something tells me that I am screwed, and I need to completly start over,
or

B) If anybody has any way of helping me out, legal or otherwise, I would
greatly appreciate it.

~Peanut
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Lem]

I know, this may sound dumb, but this sounded like a good idea at the time.

I set up my computer to use a startup key disk instead of a master password.
However, my disk drive is now fried and the drive cannot read the disk.

A) Something tells me that I am screwed, and I need to completly start over,
or

B) If anybody has any way of helping me out, legal or otherwise, I would
greatly appreciate it.

~Peanut
(e-mail address removed)

You mean something like this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310105
(which says: "Click Store Startup Key on Floppy Disk to store the system
startup password on a floppy disk. This requires that someone insert the
floppy disk to start the operating system.")

Floppy drives aren't a dime a dozen, but they're pretty close to that.
E.g.,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...SubCategory=13&N=2000020013&SpeTabStoreType=0

Now, if the floppy *disk* is fried, rather than the drive, your problem
is a bit tougher:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=bypass+syskey&btnG=Google+Search

The tool at http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/ that is mentioned
at some of the sites from the Google search is often recommended in this
NG for lost admin password. I *think* it will work in your situation,
but you might want to look at:
http://groups.google.com/groups/sea...group:microsoft.public.*&safe=off&qt_s=Search

--
Lem -- MS-MVP - Networking

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Guest]

You mean something like this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310105
(which says: "Click Store Startup Key on Floppy Disk to store the system
startup password on a floppy disk. This requires that someone insert the
floppy disk to start the operating system.")

Floppy drives aren't a dime a dozen, but they're pretty close to that.
E.g.,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...SubCategory=13&N=2000020013&SpeTabStoreType=0

Now, if the floppy *disk* is fried, rather than the drive, your problem
is a bit tougher:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=bypass+syskey&btnG=Google+Search

The tool at http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/ that is mentioned
at some of the sites from the Google search is often recommended in this
NG for lost admin password. I *think* it will work in your situation,
but you might want to look at:
http://groups.google.com/groups/sea...group:microsoft.public.*&safe=off&qt_s=Search

--
Lem -- MS-MVP - Networking

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

Hmm... the disk won't read in the other computer, so my guess is the disk is
fried. I will try it and i'll get back to you.