Help with Dell Desktop Gx260

[Black87GT]

Ok, well my father bought a new computer from his work and brought it home and im trying to get it setup, but the problem is when i turn it on it goes to a "Log On to Windows" screen with a username and password, (windows xp professional) well i dont know the password for it, and it didnt come with any cds to reformat the harddrive or anything like that.. so what should i do to get on this computer?

i have no idea what else to do, there has gotta be a way to reformat it, and i need on it..

[tim]

If he bought it from his work then tell him to ask for the password.

[Black87GT]

He already did, they said its been there for awhile since they are shutting down and have no idea of what the pass is...

[00Formula]

You might be able to press F1 when it first starts to boot up and in the master set up screens there may be an option to reformat windows XP; however, this will highly depend on how good/ tight IT at your dad's company was and if they blocked that feature.

[Fernanernie]

I bet one could Google "XP Password Reset" and get a bunch of results

[Joe M]

I bet one could Google "XP Password Reset" and get a bunch of results

pffft...


try using Administrator? Without a password. It MIGHT work. Otherwise have him bring it back in, and have the IT guys wipe the PW.

[sc0tty8]

http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

[Fernanernie]

pffft...


try using Administrator? Without a password. It MIGHT work. Otherwise have him bring it back in, and have the IT guys wipe the PW.

They don't know the password.


Also make sure you're just logging onto the machine itself, not a domain.

[OrangeCrush 86]

Download XP off the internets, and reinstall XP.

[HELLFYR]

All optiplex machines come with a system restore CD (for the OS) and a System Drivers CD from Dell.
Pops should be able to get one from work.
Make sure it is for the GX260, as older model restore CDs may not work with the newer machine.

If not, you will need
1) Download all the drivers for the machine from the Dell site
- MOST Optiplex machines NIC cards will NOT work with a generic NIC driver
- You will be gawking along in 640x480 video mode until the video drivers are loaded
- The chipset drivers can make a world of difference in performance

2) Acquire either XP or Vista... then...

Put your OS CD in the CD-drive
Setup the BIOS to boot from the CD-drive
Reboot the system
Go through the setup...
New setup, not a repair
Delete all existing partitions
Create a new partition
FULL FORMAT (not the quick option)
Let the install complete.

Sounds complicated, but is really very simple

[Nasssty]

Just crack the SAM file and be done with it.

[Fernanernie]

See post #5 and #7

[SicLinc98]

Or throw in a XP disc, who doesnt have one laying around and reinstall it.

[Joe M]

asdf

[Stormwalker]

The password is locked down inside of the computer. Just remove the side of the case and look for a cube looking metal thing, should have a fan attached to it at the top. Just rip that whole sucker out. Should solve all of your problems.