Lost Admin Password and so can install software

Ok, I forgot to mention that I have lost the admin password on a Laptop that does not have a floppy drive but only has a CD/DVD ROM drive (not writable).

I've briefly gone through some of those links given but have noticed that a floppy boot disk is needed.

I will no doubt go through these links, but is it still possible to retrieve/reset the password considering the state of my laptop??

Tryst

No problem:0)

download the boot FLOPPY then use that boot floppy to make a bootable CDROM any major CD burning package Nero, Roxio etc will do that for you - though obviously you will need to do this on another PC

Pete

To B honest, I am confused now.

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With the following link I am not sure what I am to download, there is so much info with so many link, that I just dont know what to do.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html

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With the following link, I have downloaded the file, but it attempts to copy the program to A: drive when run. My laptop doesnt have a disk drive (neither doesnt my other lap-top). There is no way that I can get the program to save to my CD drive.

http://www.pc-pipeline.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=getit&lid=6

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With the following link I have downloaded both the image writer and the boot disk image, but i'm confused about what I am meant to to as there is no instructions telling me what i'm meant to be doing.

http://www.thomasmathiesen.com/itak/html/software.html

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The following sites are not free and so I am not able (well, dont what to pap :-)) to use them.

http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/product.cfm?id=265
http://www.winternals.com/products/repairandrecovery/erdcommander2002.asp

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Everything just seems to be confusing and I dont really know where to start.

Thanks for you patients and help.

Tryst

Ok Tryst

You need to do this on another PC one with a working and accesable floppy drive.

Pete

But isnt there a simply way I can just burn an image/file to CD and then use that as the boot CD with a set of instructions to follow??

Tryst

What kind of laptop is it?    Most of the ones I have worked with have a swapable CD Drive /Floppy Drive  where you can have either the floppy drive or the CD Drive but not both at same time.
If you can get a floppy drive for your laptop, I would do it as they are a very needed device in my opionion.
For those manufacturers not including Floppy drives or Standard Serial ports on thier PC's now,  I will NOT support them or recommend them!

The Laptop brand/model that I have lost the admin password for is a, Compaq Evo182.

The situation is that its a friends Laptop, and was given it through a company that he worked for. That company has since gone under (Accident Group), and has been left the laptop, without an OS or recovery disk. (this obviously makes things alot more complicated)

Cheers for input

Tryst

Theres maybe an easier way

#1) When was the last time you changed the admin password, an or the user password?
#2) Can you view the c:\WINNT\repair directory?
#3) How often do you get security updates?

Uhm, not sure when my friend last changed the user password or how often he gets security updates. Being logged in as a user did allow for connection to the Internet, but only the company's old Intranet site.

Yes, I can view the c:\WINNT\repair directory.

Tryst

PeteLong,

Its states on the site within the following link...

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

"1) Take the harddrive and mount it on a linux-box"

Is this what U done to retrieve UR NT password?

Tryst

But isnt there a simply way I can just burn an image/file to CD and then use that as the boot CD with a set of instructions to follow??


Yes Thats why I said

>>download the boot FLOPPY then use that boot floppy to make a bootable CDROM any major CD burning package Nero, Roxio etc will do that for you - though obviously you will need to do this on another PC

and

>>You need to do this on another PC one with a working and accesable floppy drive.


Taking tha hard drive out is a bit extreme! but would work, youd have to go to the expense of buying a laptop to desktop IDE converter cable, burning a CD on another PC is a MUCH easier option

PetEL

ThanQ

I finally got it sorted :-)

I've been bogged down with work for a while, and so had to put it on the back burner.

I solved it through using the first link U sent. I burned the image to CD and booted with it. It was quite straight forward, and is a great tool.

I might even try it down the Uni computers ;-)

Tryst