Thetownend.com

Anyone know how to do this please?

I've got a laptop here but can't get into it. Starting in Safe Mode only brings up the same password box because an admin password has been set too I think. I've also tried the obvious things, like clicking cancel, ctrl alt del twice, username and admin name with no password.

I don't necessarily need to retrieve any files or anything from it, just need to get in and format it really.

What version of windows? Only way to do it is to do it through a program on a bootable disc, usually linux/ubuntu based.

If you just want to format it though, you shouldn't need the password. A windows disc should let you do this before windows boots, or use a partition manager program (again bootable disc versions are available).

I'm assuming you do have another working computer.

It's an XP machine I'm trying to get into. What program will I need?

I don't have an original XP disc but did just download a version and burn it to CD from my Mac. Nothing happens when I turn the PC on with it in the disc drive, nor when I tell it to boot from the drive through BIOS.

Sounds a bit dodgy maybe but it's just an old work laptop that I've inherited btw.

Was it burnt as a bootable copy ?

I've got a boot disk ISO I forget the name of that is Linux based and is superb and a piece of piss. Takes a few seconds just following the on screen prompts. I'll upload it later when I find it.

You can always count on the TEF for some good old espionage advice.  ;D

Ah, no. Just opened the iso on my Mac, selected files and ctrl clicked, then chose burn files to disc. Is it possible to make bootable discs from a Mac?


Thanks, Barry.

I don't just burn the iso file to disc to create a 'bootable copy' do I?

This is a god send..

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

If you boot in safe mode and can see the 'admin' account, the default password is 'administrator'.

It's in classic display mode, so an empty dialogue box with username (blank) and password comes up, both in Safe and normal mode.

I thought I knew the u/n and password but no luck with a variety of combinations yet.

Of course, yes. Are you using Toast? In the case of my ISO, open with Toast, not Disk Utility or a decompression program and click burn. Nothing more to it.

Just burn this. I don't know what it's called or where I got it, but I know it's freely available online and I think it's a variation of what Sippo's posted.

http://www.mirrorcreator.com/files/1IA2NQEM/cd110511.iso_links

Boot this CD, then it gives you various options, it's like a dos prompt, most are set as default so you can click enter on each, but read the instructions as they come up, it's far more straight forward than it seems.

EDIT:

This appears to be the site the ISO is from. (Might be easier to download from here.)

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html

And here's YouTube video of someone using it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWnV5SM7iS0

I wasn't using Toast, am obtaining it now.

Okay, I can only get as far as downloading imgburn on those instructions Barry, because I'm working on a Mac and it's a .exe file that just brings up a notepad file of gobbledygook.

As you're on a Mac, you don't need imgburn at all, sorry should have clarified, that's just to burn it. Download this link:

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/cd110511.zip (Edit: you have to open this first, so you have the ISO file.)

Then burn it using toast. Right click, open with, Toast. (Not meaning to be patronising, apologies if seems that way. ;) )

(http://i.imgur.com/YlfaUL4.png)

Then insert the new burnt CD in the Windows Laptop and follow instructions. (YouTube vid from 4:10 or so onwards should help with instructions.)

Having read through that lot I'm now sending an email to my solicitors giving them permission to envoke my will. My wife and sons telling them as such and I love them and always will, my boss telling him what to do with his job. Jed, you can give my ST to any worthy charity etc, etc.

I think I'm good now - burnt my download of XP using Toast and the computer read it, so I'm now deleting the HD data and installing XP again.

Many thanks all!

Ach! No drivers installed, therefore no wi-fi, etc.

Guess I just download them from Dell and install? Shall I get the lot if possible?

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/latitude-e5500

Read the descriptions carefully. You don't need the BACS control centre for the wired NIC and there are 2 different WLAN drivers. Install one at a time. It's easiest to install the NIC driver first then you can download the drivers on the laptop.

A good trick is to rename each download to what it actually is and save them permanently on your drive in case you ever need to do it again.

Cheers Jay, I sorted all the rest of it last night.

I hope this teaches you a lesson not to steal a computer ever again.

Anyone want to buy a laptop?