If you don't need any of the data I would suggest that you reinstall the os.
There could be viruses or other such problems on the laptop that you would not
want to expose to a clean network.
I am not that familiar with 2000 but you should be able to boot from the cd and
then format the drive. After that you can install clean again.
- Nick Edens
Checker Distributors
Barzda, A (9/21/01 8:51 AM):
>Hi folks, hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction.
>The wife of one of my co-workers was given a laptop that used to belong
>to a fired employee of a now defunct company. Because the guy was
>fired, he refused to give them his password, so now no one can access
>the computer. (Probably why they gave it away.) My co-worker asked if
>I could help get into the computer so they can use it. It's running
>Windows 2000. Other than guessing at the administrator or guest account
>passwords, any other ideas for getting into the box so it can become a
>useful, productive member of society again? If I plug it into my Win2k
>network will that be safe to try? Otherwise, am I correct in assuming
>the next step is reinstalling the OS?
>
>I am not necessarily interested in getting any "secret hacker stuff"
>unless that is the best way to go. I assume my co-worker and his wife
>don't need any data or programs on the hard drive, so wiping the disk is
>an option.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Ann Barzda
>Interior Environments, Inc.
>444 North 2nd Street, C-2
>Philadelphia, PA 19123
>
>215-545-0600 voice
>215-545-6555 fax
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> email
>
