Author Topic: Windows NT question!!! (Read 763 times)

parker00 · « **on:** February 20, 2006, 05:35:54 PM »

I have a neighbor who just had a computer given to him from his work and it has Windows NT 4.0 installed on it. When he first got it he changed the password and username on it to his name and now the old password and username doesn't work. He doesn't know enough about computers to tell me what he did to change it so I don't know what exactly he got into. Anyways to sum it up he has no rights on the computer now and when we tried to install something it says he needs to be admin. He called his boss who gave him the old passwords and none of them work now. I don't see how he would of changed this without being admin but he did. So what I'm needing is some trustworthy software that will reset this for me. I have found a couple sites that has this software for free but I don't want to install something that is junk or if it can't be removed after being installed. Does anyone know a good way to reset this without reloading the OS and losing everything that's on the computer? I hope I didn't make this too confusing as all I need is a way to reset the admin password. Thanks!!!

xrtoronto · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2006, 05:47:06 PM »

who does NT recognize as the administrator on this machine?

does he have the passwords for this person?

can he delete this person from the list of users?

parker00 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2006, 05:55:11 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by xrtoronto
who does NT recognize as the administrator on this machine?

does he have the passwords for this person?

can he delete this person from the list of users?

Nope, all the old passwords no longer work. He doesn't know what he did or how he even created his account. I know this doesn't help but it's all the info I have.

Edit: He was more than likely high when he did it and now can't remember what he did. Dang pothead messed with something he shouldn't have.

eagl · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2006, 06:18:18 PM »

If he can buy pot, why can't he buy a winXP cd? Or is that being insensitive?

dmf · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2006, 07:18:43 PM »

Windows xp home $149 at Wal-Mart.

eagl · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2006, 07:24:42 PM »

winXP OEM $89 almost anywhere online.

parker00 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2006, 09:13:40 PM »

That's what seems to be the general opinion with some other people I asked. Thanks guys I think that will be the best thing for him.

deSelys · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2006, 04:28:53 AM »

Even better, Linux is free...

An easy free distribution to install: http://www.mepis.org (based on the Debian distro)

x0847Marine · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2006, 05:57:29 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by deSelys
Even better, Linux is free...

An easy free distribution to install: http://www.mepis.org (based on the Debian distro)

Have you tried Xandros or Mandrake?

I've used Mandrake before, but I downloaded xandros yesterday, maybe Ill install it tomarrow. Isnt Xandros the one that runs (some) Windows apps (via WINE) out the box?

bj229r · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2006, 06:20:05 AM »

Is the computer a domain member? (can NT even DO that?) Might be looking for net password confirmation

dmf · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2006, 08:16:35 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by deSelys
Even better, Linux is free...

An easy free distribution to install: http://www.mepis.org (based on the Debian distro)

Ok I went there and went to the downloads section, under North American mirrors I clicked on the bottom one ( wustl.deu/pub) do I need all of those files on that page or is there one certain file that does it all?

If you reply please remember I'm a having a blonde moment

deSelys · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2006, 09:29:06 AM »

x0847Marine, I've never used Mandrake. I have mostly worked with Debian and that's why I feel more comfortable with distros like Mepis (or Knoppix for live CDs).

Debian runs now on all my machines at home or at work, but is much more intimidating than Mepis for the beginner. Plus Mepis has an excellent wireless support.

I haven't used WINE yet

. I prefer to dual boot into windows to get the best perf out of the games...

DMF, you just have to choose one of the .iso files. Normally, each .iso is a different version and you can see the version number in the name of the file.

i.e., in http://ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/mepis/released/, SimplyMEPIS-3.3.1-1.iso is the iso image of the Mepis 3.3.1 installation CD. If there had been other CDs needed for this version, they would have been named: SimplyMEPIS-3.3.1-2.iso, SimplyMEPIS-3.3.1-3.iso,... SimplyMEPIS-3.3.1-x.iso
The md5sum files are hashing (with md5 algorithm) results to prove that the .iso file hasn't been corrupted during download.

'Released' are the official version of Mepis. 'Testing' are the beta-test versions (if you want cutting edge at the expense of some bugs...that you're invited to submit when discovered).

Hope that helps.

Trell · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2006, 11:15:15 AM »

Could try resetting the password for the admin account.
There are a number of live linux security cds that can do this.
Can look one up for you after lunch.

parker00 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2006, 05:07:22 PM »

well i'm thinking this guy needs to give the computer back to his boss because he left a message on my phone this morning stating that after last night he is not able to get to his home page anymore(google.com) but he can still get to msn and check his e-mail. I'm thinking if you can get to msn.com you should be able to get to google. I have no clue what he did and not really looking forward going over to his house tonight to see what he is talking about. Thanks for the replies but I think this guy just needs to stay away from computers.

eagl · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2006, 05:30:33 PM »

Dude probably got a computer virus or adbot already.