I did a dumb thing

From: Robert Schuldenfrei (schuldenfrei_at_comcast.net)
Date: 02/06/05 

Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 13:30:23 -0500

Dear NG,

I have been involved with computers for far too long (can anyone remember
the IBM 7094?) to have done something as stupid as this, but I did. I put a
computer in the trash without removing the hard drive or even erasing its
files. A few hours later I noticed that the trash had not been picked up,
but the computer was gone! OK, someone has an old Windows/98 system with my
stuff on it. I took a look at my most recent backup of that machine and it
did not appear to have anything critical on it, but... I have had a strange
incident today and I wonder if I have a real problem on my hands.

I got a message from MSN Messenger 6.2 that I signed on another machine. I
immediately call my daughter who I just gave an old laptop to and she
confirmed that she had signed in and she had Messenger running with my
PassPort. I told her to remove my PassPort and get one of her own. She
said she would, but just now I returned to my machine after being away from
it for about two hours and I saw the message again. It could be her, or it
could be the "new owner." Now I don't even remember if MSN Messenger even
was on the W/98 machine so here are my questions:

1/ Was MSN Messenger available for W/98?

2/ Assume that it was, how do I go about getting Microsoft to "kill" my old
PassPort and issue another one?

3/ What "normal" pieces of Microsoft software will be effected?

4/ I have an MSDN subscription, and I am sure that it will be effected. How
do I prove to MS that I am me?

5/ What are the ramifications that have not crossed my mind? Hopefully,
there are mind-readers in this newsgroup.

With a lot of egg on my face, I thank you all in advance.

Cheers,

Bob 

-- 
Robert Schuldenfrei
S. I. Inc.
32 Ridley Road
Dedham, MA  02026
bob@s-i-inc.com
781/329-4828

Relevant Pages

  • Re: I did a dumb thing
    ... cached login with or without use of passport may have ... Microsoft MVP ... > I got a message from MSN Messenger 6.2 that I signed on another machine. ... > was on the W/98 machine so here are my questions: ...
    (microsoft.public.security)
  • Re: mysteriously signing in MSN messenger on home desktop
    ... The catalog of use of the passport is on the MS server. ... > stating i've signeed out of MSN messenger on my friends PC because i've ... > and when i do all my contacts are offline or is caused by internet based ... > applications using the MSN messenger on my home desktop. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: I did a dumb thing
    ... "Robert Schuldenfrei" wrote in message ... > I got a message from MSN Messenger 6.2 that I signed on another machine. ... I told her to remove my PassPort and get one of her own. ... > 3/ What "normal" pieces of Microsoft software will be effected? ...
    (microsoft.public.security)
  • Re: I did a dumb thing
    ... Any idea how to start the probe of effected software? ... would be things that checked the stored at Microsoft Passport and password. ... I take it that if some software product queried if MSN Messenger was signed ... A few hours later I noticed that the trash had not been picked ...
    (microsoft.public.security)