So I bought a used computer

[transplant99]

and its only a year old or so, want to clean it out and donate it to a family that's having some trouble.

Everything seems to work fine except that it is password protected when you first fire it up. That "user" password is what i mean.

Anyhow, i bought it at a yard sale and i went back there and the people have already moved...so anyone know how i can get into it and erase it so the new folks can use their own PW's?

[Rathji]

There are other ways, but there is a password reset disc for windows. Which version of windows is it?

edit: I have used this, or something like it before, but I am unsure if this was the exact one I used.

edit: Actually, I assume you are going to format it? Don't need a password for that. Just put disc in and reboot (might need to alter boot order in BIOS a bit)

[REDVAN]

did you try just clicking ok? I know sometimes there is no password/username... I assume you tried this, because it is very obvious.

[HotHotHeat]

Your easiest option is probably plugging the HD into your computer and formatting the drive. You're starting from scratch but you know there's no junk on it.

[OBCT]

Try the super-obvious passwords first.... "0", "1234", "admin", "password", "pass"

If those don't work, then format it as Rathji suggests. (Unless you lost the Windows disc and can't re-install, or want to keep some files or apps on the machine for some reason).

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by transplant99

and its only a year old or so, want to clean it out and donate it to a family that's having some trouble.

Everything seems to work fine except that it is password protected when you first fire it up. That "user" password is what i mean.

Anyhow, i bought it at a yard sale and i went back there and the people have already moved...so anyone know how i can get into it and erase it so the new folks can use their own PW's?

If you are actually donating this computer then I will donate a clean-up for it as well, seeing as its a good cause. As long as it has a windows sticker with a product key on the chassis somewhere.

PM if you're interested.

[Raekwon]

Anyone that knows anything or has watched Hackers a few to many times knows the most commonly used passwords are.

"sex"
"love"
"secret"
"god"

LOL, I still love that movie.

[transplant99]

Thanks for the replies all...will have a go at it tonight when i get home.

And yes i did the obvious stuff...but never thought to attempt passwords.

[Flamesguy_SJ]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

Anyone that knows anything or has watched Hackers a few to many times knows the most commonly used passwords are.

"sex"
"love"
"secret"
"god"

LOL, I still love that movie.

"And everyone on films are so swish, so smooth on computers… (mimes operating computer and data coming up on screen) So expert on their computers

'Breaking into the Pentagon computer… double click on "yes…" Oh, password protected! 20 billion possible chances… eh… JEFF… Hey!'

'How did you know?! How did you know it’d be "Jeff"?'

'Ah, I knew there’d be a back door.'

In films, there’s always a back door.

'The guy who made the software, you see? He left a back door, so that he could get back in when he wanted, and look around, and look at all the missiles, and go, (creepily) "Ooh!" and put one on his head. The guy who made the software was called Jeff Jeffty Jeff, born on the first of Jeff 19Jeffty Jeff, so I put in Jeff, and hey!'

--Eddie Izzard

[Hack&Lube]

Easiest thing is the load up a USB memory stick with some password reset software.

http://www.password-changer.com/tech...ow-install.htm

http://twit88.com/blog/2008/04/13/re...ing-usb-drive/

[photon]

I've also used the Ultimate Boot CD to reset admin passwords successfully before.