bought used dell...locked out admin password...how do i put new os on?

[stuckonu]

just bought a used dell latitude laptop with windows 2000 and the administrator password was on and now the computer is telling me that it is protected by password authentication system and i cant access the data without correct password. WHAT DO I DO NOW??? computer newbie and i just want to install another os so that i can use it...can anyone please help me???please

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

Assuming you do not want to save the data on the hard drive, you would use a boot disk to wipe the drive and then install the OS that you want... If you want to save the data, you need to talk to whoever sold you the laptop...

[Sylvander]

The free "Emergency Boot CD" [EBCD] includes [on its 1st menu] a Linux-based "NT Password Editor".
This allows you to set a new password even if you don't know the existing password.

1. How to make a free “Smart Boot Manager” floppy
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41498
This makes it easier to boot a chosen drive [particularly the one holding the EBCD].

2. How to make a free EBCD bootable CD
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41485
This has a number of useful utilities included including "Image" [for DOS, by Terabyte], "File Manager" & NT Password Editor.

[Erik]

Are you talking about a Windows password or BIOS password? Windows is no problem, just go ahead and install over the existing copy and it will remove the password. If it is a BIOS password, or some other type of password that is needed before Windows starts you might have a problem. Talk to the previous owner to get the password, or have him reset it to blank.

[saphalline]

A BIOS password should be able to be reset by clearing the CMOS. But getting to the CMOS/battery is problematic in a laptop and there's also the possibility of increased security in a business model. I know that some IBM and Toshiba business laptop models offer increased security, including the ability to store boot-up system-level passwords on a non-volatile flash chip rather than the volatile CMOS chip.

Either way, if it's a BIOS password, contacting the previous owner would be my first and preferred choice. :p

[Budfred]

The free "Emergency Boot CD" [EBCD] includes [on its 1st menu] a Linux-based "NT Password Editor".
This allows you to set a new password even if you don't know the existing password.

1. How to make a free “Smart Boot Manager” floppy
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41498
This makes it easier to boot a chosen drive [particularly the one holding the EBCD].

2. How to make a free EBCD bootable CD
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41485
This has a number of useful utilities included including "Image" [for DOS, by Terabyte], "File Manager" & NT Password Editor.
And if the laptop contains confidential business information, it is a major breach of security and illegal to do this...