Bypassing a password???

[jimclarke]

I got a used computer surplus from my employer.  The machine was used to connect to our company server by using a username/password which would come up immediately after the system boots up (in win 2000pro).  In the bios setup, password protection is disabled so apparently it is looking for the password to get into the server which does not exist here at home.  What I would like to do is use this machine for some of the older games I still like.  It is a Dell GX1 with a 500MHZ CPU.

Can I just install a different hard drive?  Do I need some software or something to reformat?  Are there some jumper settings or something to get around the password?

Sorry I'm not real computer savvy.  But any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jim

[ctjoyce]

Just reformat. Grab a Windows 2000 disk, and reformat.

Other than that, there really is no other way.

Cheers
Cameron

[eno]

Jim......... just try hitting enter ...... it was one of the quirks of 2000 that it would ask for a password wether one was required or not ...... My step son's computer has the same quirk.

[Politically Incorrect]

XP is the same if it asks for a password and you never assigned one "enter" will work so worth a shot.

Although if it was a work computer i would think your best bet would be a reformat, unless there is data you need off it first.

[kipman725]

Try booting into safe mode (tap f8 on bootup) and see if it has a blank admin password.

If the local admin account has a pasword then you will need a fast pc and about 30 days to brute force a strong windows password.. probobly better just to reformat
http://www.remote-exploit.org/index.php ... 2_and_John
the guide here "Cracking Syskey and the SAM on Windows Using Samdump2 and John" works well although if the password is strong and needs to be brute forced it will take a long time...

[jimclarke]

If I want to reformat with a different OS, how would I do that?

Thanks again,

Jim

[ctjoyce]

Just boot up the say windows XP CD. It will ask you if you want to creat a new partition to install, or if you want to reformat the drive and install. Reformat and install. Simple as that.

Cheers
Cameron

[PisTon]

Ummm, don't you remove something from the motherboard to remove passwords, turn on computer, then put it back on and restart?

My Intel 925XE does that atleast...

[kipman725]

Ummm, don't you remove something from the motherboard to remove passwords, turn on computer, then put it back on and restart?

My Intel 925XE does that atleast...

are you thinking of a bios password? this is a windows password.