passwords

[steve_482]

i recently bought a used compaq computer..and i can get passed the user name password at login..it says the computer is locked and only a administrator can get pass this..how do i over write the password?...i have added new user name accounts and passwords to see if this would work..but an error apears on the screen, saying no access...only a administrator can add new users...plz reply

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

I guess this is Microsoft Windows installed on that computer.
I suggest you to purchase (download) the
ERD commander software.
After you burn it on CD-you can boot from it and you have administrative access to your computer.Reset administrators password-and there you go.

P.S.
I would reformat it from scratch anyway...

[Jerome Henry]

Yes,

Here you'll find bootdisk tool to acces your sam and reset admin password :

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html

But sure that a full clean re-install...

J

[Steven E. Protter]

Whatever data is on that system is someone elses private data. Just becasue they were stupid and careless does not give you the right(morally,ethically) to view the data.

I strongly urge you simply boot of the OS cd of choice and reformat the entire system.

There are good IT reasons as well:

1) What if the guy had a virus?
2) What if the machine wasn't licensed properly?

Now if you bought the system anticipating an OS license came with it, you may have a problem. If you have a OS install code, some manufacturers, like HP will honor that and ship you a new copy of the OS or boot CD.

Dell does not honor such licenses, just in case you are picking up other equipment.

SEP

[unknown_6]

Greetings,
In the event this is a *BSD box. Restart the
machine, when it starts the countdown before
booting the default kernel, tap the spacebar.
This will present you with the boot prompt.
Type boot -s. When it finishes booting and
you are at the prompt (no login prompt in
Single User mode ( -s )) type passwd root,
then type in your desired password. Done.
Tho given that you mentioned "Administrator"
I guess I should figure this isn't a *BSD box.
But there you go, just in case.

Chris out...