Can Anyone Help, Please?

[Pinkslit]

In my sister's estate was a Dell Latitude CPx laptop computer (Windows 2000).
The family are unable to get past the Windows username and password as these are unknown.
I have spent hours on Google trying to find out how to bypass or delete the password system but it is all too technical and involves dismantling the laptop.
Does anyone know of an easier answer or do we have to dump it or take it to a computer shop where they charge $80 an hour?
A laptop in this country costs around $1500.

[CrAnIuM]

In my sister's estate was a Dell Latitude CPx laptop computer (Windows 2000).
The family are unable to get past the Windows username and password as these are unknown.
I have spent hours on Google trying to find out how to bypass or delete the password system but it is all too technical and involves dismantling the laptop.
Does anyone know of an easier answer or do we have to dump it or take it to a computer shop where they charge $80 an hour?
A laptop in this country costs around $1500.

Does the laptop have a floppy drive ?

[Pinkslit]

Does the laptop have a floppy drive ?

I believe there is one in the satchel of bits and pieces. I'll try and find it.

[CrAnIuM]

I believe there is one in the satchel of bits and pieces. I'll try and find it.

1. Are you trying to SAVE the data on the hard disk ? ( if you say NO .. its an EASY task ... if you answer yes .. plan to pull your hair out for a short while)

2. Do you have a copy of Win 95 or Win 2000 or Win Xp ?

3. Is the password issue a SYSTEM pass or the LOG ON to Win pass ?

[Pinkslit]

1. Are you trying to SAVE the data on the hard disk ? ( if you say NO .. its an EASY task ... if you answer yes .. plan to pull your hair out for a short while)

2. Do you have a copy of Win 95 or Win 2000 or Win Xp ?

3. Is the password issue a SYSTEM pass or the LOG ON to Win pass ?

There is a floppy disc module and a CD drive module.
1. No, we don't want to save any data on there.
2. It's Win 2000.
3. We can log onto the System, it's the LOG ON to Win pass that's the problem.

[4nik8]

There is a floppy disc module and a CD drive module.
1. No, we don't want to save any data on there.
2. It's Win 2000.
3. We can log onto the System, it's the LOG ON to Win pass that's the problem.

Check on this via google

I've read that you can start the comp in safe mode (continually hittin F8 as it starts) and you can change the pass word from there.

[CrAnIuM]

Easy way:

Reinstall the windows product via cd.

More difficult:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q258289/

OR

Even more difficult
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_admini...assword.htm#20



I recommend the EASY way.

[Pinkslit]

Easy way:

Reinstall the windows product via cd.

More difficult:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q258289/

OR

Even more difficult
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_admini...assword.htm#20



I recommend the EASY way.

Thank you. I have created a shortcut for your 2nd 2 options for further use. I will also try and obtain a CD as you suggest.
I have managed to access Windows now by typing in "administrator" for user name and leaving password blank but I fear this is only a temporary measure as I still can't change any passwords.

[Shade]

yea try to start in safe mode. if you just trying to reformat the computer, you can do that without the password. is it a windows password or a bios password? If its a bios password you figure out the bios and get whats called a flash rom to reset it.

[Pinkslit]

Check on this via google

I've read that you can start the comp in safe mode (continually hittin F8 as it starts) and you can change the pass word from there.

Nope. Starting in safe mode still requires a Windows password to continue.

[dunamis]

Thank you. I have created a shortcut for your 2nd 2 options for further use. I will also try and obtain a CD as you suggest.
I have managed to access Windows now by typing in "administrator" for user name and leaving password blank but I fear this is only a temporary measure as I still can't change any passwords.

Hm? If you have access to the administrator account, you can change anything you want.

I'm not sure it works for Windows 2000, but in XP you can do the following (it probably will work for 2000, which is why I'm telling you.):

Open a command prompt (Click Start->Run and type "command", and then press enter.)
Do you know the username that you want access to? If so, enter this:

net user "user name here" "new password here"

and press enter.

If you want a new administrator account, enter this:

net user "new account name here" /add
net user "new account name here" "password for new account here"
net localgroup "Administrator" /add "new account name here"

That should do it. I don't remember how to do all of that from a GUI, but that should be simple enough.

[Pinkslit]

Hm? If you have access to the administrator account, you can change anything you want.

I don't have access to the administrator account...that is just the word I typed that let me access Windows. I still cannot change passwords and need to type in the word administrator everytime I start up Windows.

[Shade]

might be helpfull to give us a step by step what you do and where you get stuck. That way we can help alot easier. Also usually you have to reformat windows however if you get a bootable windows disk of some kind, or a bootable OS you should be able to access all the files and just overwrite alot of them. What i would do is buy an external hard drive or a zip drive, boot from there, or from a floppy, and access whatever you want that way. Save what you want, then reformat. If you have the equipment thats a easy way to do it, if your only after files and the like.

[Pinkslit]

I could help ya, sweetie, but not with the computer.

When I need my "patch" changing I'll be sure to let you know.

[mcsmc]

I don't have access to the administrator account...that is just the word I typed that let me access Windows. I still cannot change passwords and need to type in the word administrator everytime I start up Windows.

First of all, you're obviously completely illiterate in this area of computing. Sucks to be you, and any instructions I were to give you would pass right over your head. The fact is, the administrator account on that computer doesn't have a password... that's why you're able to logon using it. Windows 2000 doesn't have the no-logon prompt option that XP automatically assumes. And when you have a password protected Windows account, of course it's going to ask for your logon credentials (username and password) EVERY time you try to get into Windows.

So yeah, you have a non-password protected admin account you've already figured out how to log in with... but you obviously don't have a clue as to what you're doing using Windows 2000.

Personally, I have a myriad of options for bypassing almost any system or Windows password protection. Most of them don't even require much technical expertise. But as I just tried to explain in the simplest terms possible, you don't even need something to bypass anything.

[Pinkslit]

First of all, you're obviously completely illiterate in this area of computing. Sucks to be you, and any instructions I were to give you would pass right over your head. The fact is, the administrator account on that computer doesn't have a password... that's why you're able to logon using it. Windows 2000 doesn't have the no-logon prompt option that XP automatically assumes. And when you have a password protected Windows account, of course it's going to ask for your logon credentials (username and password) EVERY time you try to get into Windows.

So yeah, you have a non-password protected admin account you've already figured out how to log in with... but you obviously don't have a clue as to what you're doing using Windows 2000.

Personally, I have a myriad of options for bypassing almost any system or Windows password protection. Most of them don't even require much technical expertise. But as I just tried to explain in the simplest terms possible, you don't even need something to bypass anything.

Yes, I am completely illiterate about computers and lots of other things too.
All I know is when I try to change the Windows password it mentions the Admin account.
Somewhere on the mighty Internet a suggestion was made to type in "administrator" and it would bypass the windows password...which it does, but I need to do that everytime I use the damn machine.
It is a Windows 2000 Professional, maybe it has been jazzed up or something.
Regardless of what you say...it is giving me problems which I am endeavouring to right.

[mcsmc]

Yes, I am completely illiterate about computers and lots of other things too.
All I know is when I try to change the Windows password it mentions the Admin account.
Somewhere on the mighty Internet a suggestion was made to type in "administrator" and it would bypass the windows password...which it does, but I need to do that everytime I use the damn machine.
It is a Windows 2000 Professional, maybe it has been jazzed up or something.
Regardless of what you say...it is giving me problems which I am endeavouring to right.

Obviously, instead of actually reading what I said, you just assumed I was attacking you and responded accordingly (as you always do).

If you'd actually read what I told you, it MIGHT help your issue. Not that I'm counting on you actually reading this post, either.

[dunamis]

Did you try the commands I presented above?

After you type in "administrator" and login, if they don't work, the only thing I can think of is that the administrator account may be a dummy account, but I don't even know if that's possible.

Actually, hang on a minute.

[dunamis]

I wrote a program to help you.

It's here.

Just follow the instructions exactly. If it doesn't work, I guess that the administrator account is the dummy account.

Here's the source, if anyone wants to confirm that it's not a virus, etc (pink, you can ignore this part).

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <string>

//I forgot how fucking much I hate strongly typed languages
//Uh, don't know what the forum did to my newlines.
//Properly formatted source here.
using namespace std;

int main()
{
	int select;
	string account;
	string new_password;
	string query;
	cout<<\"What do you want to do?n\"
		<<\"1: Create a new accountn\"
		<<\"2: Modify an Existing accountn\"
		<<\"(press 1 or 2 to select one of the above options, and press ENTER): \";
	select=(getchar()-'0');
	switch(select)
	{
		case 1:
		{
			cout<<\"nEnter the new account name and press ENTER: \";
			cin>>account;
			cout<<\"Enter the desired password and press ENTER: \";
			cin>>new_password;
			query=\"net user \" + account + \" /add > NULL\";
            system(query.c_str());
			query=\"net user \"+account+\" \"+new_password+\" > NULL\";
            system(query.c_str());
			cout<<\"nUser \"<<account<<\" added with password \"<<new_password<<\".n\";
			system(\"pause\");
			break;
		}
		case 2:
		{
			cout<<\"nEnter account name and press ENTER: \";
			cin>>account;
			cout<<\"Enter the desired password and press ENTER: \";
			cin>>new_password;
			query=\"net user \"+account+\" \"+new_password+\" > NULL\";
            system(query.c_str());
			cout<<\"nUser \"<<account<<\" now has password \"<<new_password<<\".n\";
			system(\"pause\");
			break;
		}
	}
	return 0;
}

[Pinkslit]

Obviously, instead of actually reading what I said, you just assumed I was attacking you and responded accordingly (as you always do).

If you'd actually read what I told you, it MIGHT help your issue. Not that I'm counting on you actually reading this post, either.

I didn't think you were attacking me and I certainly didn't attack you in response.
Basically you said I shouldn't have a problem because the laptop I am talking about doesn't have those functions I mentioned. Unfortunately it does, so your post wasn't able to assist me...but I do appreciate you taking the time to help me.

[Pinkslit]

Did you try the commands I presented above?

After you type in "administrator" and login, if they don't work, the only thing I can think of is that the administrator account may be a dummy account, but I don't even know if that's possible.

Actually, hang on a minute.

I couldn't try it because I cannot access the Adminstrator account...it tells me how to delete this account IF I have the user name and password...which I don't.
I will try your link when I get the laptop hooked up to the Internet. Thanks.

[JackBlack]

Can't you just sign in as a guest? I do it all the time.

[Pinkslit]

Can't you just sign in as a guest? I do it all the time.

How do I sign in as a guest?

[mcsmc]

Can't you just sign in as a guest? I do it all the time.

You can't do that on Windows 2000 if the guest account is disabled, and even if you can, the guest account won't have any rights to change anything on the computer, thus defeating pinkslit's purpose.

[Jenn]

Okay, tell the truth...

Who's computer did you steal?