Re: How to overcome an unknown password

From: Bruce Chambers (bchambers_at_cable0ne.n3t)
Date: 10/22/05 

Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 12:53:20 -0600

rose wrote:
> I recently bought a second-hand computer, for my grand-daughter, from a
> company gone into liquidation. Windows XP Professional is installed but I
> was not given any systems disks.

          Because you didn't receive an installation disk or any other
documentation with that computer, you really didn't get a license to use
the software that's currently installed on the computer, anyway. (I'm
surprised that the former owner of the computer didn't have the good
sense to protect his personal information by wiping the hard drive
before disposing of the computer.) Shop around for the best deals and
purchase the OS and applications that you want to use on that computer.

> (For info: I do have systems disks for my
> own computer which uses XP Home and Office 2003).
>

        Not really relevant, unless these are retail licenses and you're
planning to remove them from your PC to place them on the second-hand
computer.

> A Windows password has been set on the 'second-hand' computer and I'm
> required to enter UserID and Password - neither of which I know. The Company
> has now gone and there's no way for me to find this information out. What
> can I do??
>

        That's just as well. With second-hand computers, especially if
acquired from strangers but perhaps even if acquired from a family
member or friend, your wisest course of action would probably be to
format the hard drives and start fresh. You don't want to get in
trouble because the original owner may have filled the hard drive with
kiddie porn, or have problems because the original owner
downloaded/installed viruses or other malware. 

--
Bruce Chambers
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both at once. - RAH

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