I have a friend who received a used Dell desktop as a gift.<br>Unfortunately he can not log-in because Windows keeps asking for the administrator's password.<br>How can he override this?<br>Can he start up from the Windows CD and erase the hard drive and start over?<br>Thank you.<br><br><br><br>

Put the CD in and reboot, it should come to a screen asking what device you want to boot from, as long as the bios is set to look for the CD as a boot drive.<br><br>If not it's F2, F8, or F12 to get to the bios setup. It says what key to push in the upper right of the boot screen.<br><br>My Dell shares it's screen with the SO's Mac so I can't check now, she's busing it.<br><br>Man I love Windows, so user friendly. <br><br>Edit - I would recommend a wipe anyway since they have no idea what shape it may be in, viruses etc.<br><br>------> JD's Trivia game<br><br>------> MCF-MM Trivia game<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Reboot on 02/13/08 03:00 PM (server time).</EM></FONT></P>

Yep, I'd wipe it clean as well and start from scratch. And make sure there's at least an active firewall, preferably a virus scan also before going online to get all the updates. Otherwise it might be a second go on the wipe&install.<br><br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>How can he override this?<p><hr></blockquote><p>A phone call to the dude/dudette who gave it to them asking WTF?? would help ;)<br><br>What version of winders are we talking?<br><br>In XP you can reset the password without reinstalling the OS.<br><br>Look here for step by step instructions It's easy, you can easily do it -->linky<br><br>It also gives instructions on how to make a reset disk if they have a floppy.<br><br>Also there are some programs to do it -->Linky<br><br><br>Hey I'm an F'n Jerk!®

Thank you<br><br>

My response is usually, "I'm so sorry for you." <br><br><br>

Seven years ago I probably would have said that.<br>Now I just figure it's their loss.<br>I just thought of something...<br>I've convinced a lot of people to buy Macs but as far as I can remember I've never convinced a PC person to switch to a Mac.<br>Some of my friends have switched but I don't think it was because of me.<br><br><br><br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>I have a friend who received a used Dell desktop as a gift.<p><hr></blockquote><p><br>Now THAT is a depressing Valentine's tale <br><br>Granted, there are worse viruses one could get.<br><br>nagr[color:red]o</font color=red>mme<br><br>I require stroyent!<br>TeamMacOSX.com | MacClan.net

So what did your friend do to piss off the person that gave him the Dell ? <br><br>man someone giving you a PC is like getting the flu from a friend. "Thanks for NOTHIN' !! <br><br>David (OFI)

The main thing is it isn't me.<br>As a matter of fact, my 8800 GT Mac Pro should ship to me today.<br><br><br>