I have a problem with my Windows account and I'd be very, very happy
if you could help me.

Here's my problem: my Windows account is limited, it can't install any
software which I'm looking a solution for.

I don't know administrator password. I've thought to find or reset it.
I've found several programs for this but they require booting from
either floppy or cd-rom and my first boot device is set to hdd. I
can't enter bios either, it's also password protected. I'm afraid to
pull bios battery..

I only want to able to install software. Can you please give me any
light on this?

Re: Difficult password situation by Roger

Roger
Mon Feb 12 13:11:35 CST 2007

<deastr@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171299029.127353.155550@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I have a problem with my Windows account and I'd be very, very happy
> if you could help me.
>
> Here's my problem: my Windows account is limited, it can't install any
> software which I'm looking a solution for.
>
> I don't know administrator password. I've thought to find or reset it.
> I've found several programs for this but they require booting from
> either floppy or cd-rom and my first boot device is set to hdd. I
> can't enter bios either, it's also password protected. I'm afraid to
> pull bios battery..
>
> I only want to able to install software. Can you please give me any
> light on this?
>

No

You have stated you already know what must be done,
assuming you have no one to contact this is an admin.

--
Roger Abell
Microsoft MVP (Windows Server : Security)



Re: Difficult password situation by Shenan

Shenan
Mon Feb 12 18:02:30 CST 2007

deastr wrote:
> I have a problem with my Windows account and I'd be very, very happy
> if you could help me.
>
> Here's my problem: my Windows account is limited, it can't install
> any software which I'm looking a solution for.
>
> I don't know administrator password. I've thought to find or reset
> it. I've found several programs for this but they require booting
> from either floppy or cd-rom and my first boot device is set to
> hdd. I can't enter bios either, it's also password protected. I'm
> afraid to pull bios battery..
>
> I only want to able to install software. Can you please give me any
> light on this?

Is this your own, bought and paid for yourself, computer?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html



Re: Difficult password situation by deastr

deastr
Tue Feb 13 06:40:57 CST 2007

On Feb 13, 2:02 am, "Shenan Stanley" <newshel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> deastr wrote:
> > I have a problem with my Windows account and I'd be very, very happy
> > if you could help me.
>
> > Here's my problem: my Windows account is limited, it can't install
> > any software which I'm looking a solution for.
>
> > I don't know administrator password. I've thought to find or reset
> > it. I've found several programs for this but they require booting
> > from either floppy or cd-rom and my first boot device is set to
> > hdd. I can't enter bios either, it's also password protected. I'm
> > afraid to pull bios battery..
>
> > I only want to able to install software. Can you please give me any
> > light on this?
>
> Is this your own, bought and paid for yourself, computer?
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Wayhttp://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


It's my work PC. But it's not like you think. The previous worker has
setup Windows like this. He recently quit and left without user
password information also took the our Windows cds with him. I'm
asking your help with the approval of my boss, he himself asked me to
do something about it. So I'd be very happy if you could help me.


Re: Difficult password situation by Bogwitch

Bogwitch
Tue Feb 13 07:35:20 CST 2007

deastr@gmail.com wrote:
> On Feb 13, 2:02 am, "Shenan Stanley" <newshel...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> deastr wrote:
>>> I have a problem with my Windows account and I'd be very, very happy
>>> if you could help me.
>>> Here's my problem: my Windows account is limited, it can't install
>>> any software which I'm looking a solution for.
>>> I don't know administrator password. I've thought to find or reset
>>> it. I've found several programs for this but they require booting
>>> from either floppy or cd-rom and my first boot device is set to
>>> hdd. I can't enter bios either, it's also password protected. I'm
>>> afraid to pull bios battery..
>>> I only want to able to install software. Can you please give me any
>>> light on this?
>> Is this your own, bought and paid for yourself, computer?
>>
>> --
>> Shenan Stanley
>> MS-MVP
>> --
>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Wayhttp://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
> It's my work PC. But it's not like you think. The previous worker has
> setup Windows like this. He recently quit and left without user
> password information also took the our Windows cds with him. I'm
> asking your help with the approval of my boss, he himself asked me to
> do something about it. So I'd be very happy if you could help me.

I'm guessing it's a small organisation with no dedicated IT support.

If you have no confidence in removing the CMOS battery, you should call
in a professional to fix your problem. Removing the CMOS battery is a
fairly straigtforward operation, in fact, a lot of motherboard
manufacturers have a jumper that will clear the CMOS configuration
without removing the battery.
You have not mentioned if this is a laptop or not. I hope not, as modern
laptops will not erase a CMOS password by removing the battery.

You say the previous user left the company with the Windows CDs? Maybe
you should call them and ask nicely for the passwords and disks in order
to prevent you from reporing them for theft?

Bogwitch.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com


Re: Difficult password situation by Shenan

Shenan
Tue Feb 13 07:23:17 CST 2007

deastr wrote:
> I have a problem with my Windows account and I'd be very, very
> happy if you could help me.
>
> Here's my problem: my Windows account is limited, it can't install
> any software which I'm looking a solution for.
>
> I don't know administrator password. I've thought to find or reset
> it. I've found several programs for this but they require booting
> from either floppy or cd-rom and my first boot device is set to
> hdd. I can't enter bios either, it's also password protected. I'm
> afraid to pull bios battery..
>
> I only want to able to install software. Can you please give me
> any light on this?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Is this your own, bought and paid for yourself, computer?

deastr wrote:
> It's my work PC. But it's not like you think. The previous worker
> has setup Windows like this. He recently quit and left without user
> password information also took the our Windows cds with him. I'm
> asking your help with the approval of my boss, he himself asked me
> to do something about it. So I'd be very happy if you could help me.

Who is the System Administrator?
Or is this company so small there isn't one?
Is the computer the 'same' as anyone elses in the office?

If so - use their CDs to reinstall Windows XP (likely the CD key is on the
side of the computer) - there's no telling what else the 'employee that
left' did if they were vengeful enough to take thje software, etc.

Even if you cannot do that - the business is probably better off buying the
software you need and reinstalling the computer from scratch. If the last
employee left any 'surprises' on the computer - that is the only way to be
sure they are gone.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html



Re: Difficult password situation by Shenan

Shenan
Tue Feb 13 07:33:03 CST 2007

deastr wrote:
> I have a problem with my Windows account and I'd be very, very
> happy if you could help me.
> Here's my problem: my Windows account is limited, it can't
> install any software which I'm looking a solution for.
> I don't know administrator password. I've thought to find or
> reset it. I've found several programs for this but they require
> booting from either floppy or cd-rom and my first boot device is
> set to hdd. I can't enter bios either, it's also password
> protected. I'm afraid to pull bios battery..
> I only want to able to install software. Can you please give me
> any light on this?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Is this your own, bought and paid for yourself, computer?

deastr wrote:
> It's my work PC. But it's not like you think. The previous worker
> has setup Windows like this. He recently quit and left without user
> password information also took the our Windows cds with him. I'm
> asking your help with the approval of my boss, he himself asked me
> to do something about it. So I'd be very happy if you could help
> me.

Bogwitch wrote:
> I'm guessing it's a small organisation with no dedicated IT support.
>
> If you have no confidence in removing the CMOS battery, you should
> call in a professional to fix your problem. Removing the CMOS
> battery is a fairly straigtforward operation, in fact, a lot of
> motherboard manufacturers have a jumper that will clear the CMOS
> configuration without removing the battery.
>
> You have not mentioned if this is a laptop or not. I hope not, as
> modern laptops will not erase a CMOS password by removing the
> battery.
> You say the previous user left the company with the Windows CDs?
> Maybe you should call them and ask nicely for the passwords and
> disks in order to prevent you from reporing them for theft?

I do like the last idea...
However - if and when you get all of that - I still believe you should
completely format the system and start from scratch.

First - if there is no IT support at this company, you learn something and
you know exactluy what is on the computer from the beginning.

Second - someone spiteful enoutgh to password protect everything and take
all the media - who knows what else they have done.

Third - it's just common sense. Even if the last person left on good terms,
everything intact, they could be trusted 100% - you are not them and do not
likely work like them. Start out with your own fresh start.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html