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Posted by Shenan Stanley on July 19, 2008, 11:27 pm
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Dee wrote:
> I got a computer from the goodwill and it has a password protected
> login. I tried putting admin and admin as the password but it didnt
> work. Can anyone tell me how to get pass the login so I can use the
> desk top?
Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Wipe everything that is on it and install your own operating system
> and software from scratch.
Dee wrote:
> How do i do that when it won't let me pass the login. I have a
> reinstall disk for dells which the computer is but it's not reading
> it. Can you advise how to do it with windows XP
Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Did the disks(s) come with this computer? If not - it is possible
> they will not work.
>
> What you need is an actual generic OEM installation CD for Windows
> XP.
>
> Is there a sticker on the computer with a 'product key' for Windows
> XP?
Dee wrote:
> no but it does have one for 2000
Then - technically - that is the only OS that you are licensed to utilize on
that computer at this time. You do not seem to have a license (at least not
one that came with it) for Windows XP if you do not have the product key nor
the installation media for said computer.
Just because it may have Windows XP installed does not mean you have a
license for it. Also - the Dell OEM disk is tied to the Dell it came
installed upon originally.
To be 100% legitimate (without question from anyone) you would have to
purchase a license (and probably a CD) for Windows XP in order to install
Windows XP onto that computer and be able to say definitively that nothing
was awry.
Or you could find a Windows 2000 CD and install that using the product key
sticker on the machine.
Or some version of Linux (Ubuntu maybe)?
In any case - you will need to change the BIOS so it boots from CD (or
Floppy diskette if needed) and boot from the installation media andwipe the
drive (perhaps re-partition it) and cleanly install the OS of your choice
onto it. I would highly suggest this no matter what because using that
computer as is - although possible - would expose you and anything you do to
it to who knows what. You have no way of knowing what things were left on
that computer or what its past was. ;-)
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
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