AboutMichael Troy Expertise I have lots of answers for problems with defrag, clock time, performance, system resources, problems with passwords, opening files, etc. I also probably know of a freeware/shareware application for anything you want to do: sharing Internet, firewalls, games, utilities, graphics, audio, etc.
Experience I am the Director of Information Systems for a large law firm. I handle all sorts of hardware and software problems for over 300 users who use Windows 95/98. I also have a home network of six computers.
Expert: Michael Troy Date: 6/28/2008 Subject: Win XP Password
Question I went out to fix a Dell Dimension 3100 that had a BIOS PW issue. I got passed that and then I found out that the woman who worked for the company left on bad terms. She was the only one who knew the PW for the PC that controlled the gates for the apartment complex. I spent over an hour on the phone with Dell to no avail. Unfortunately, when they purchased the apartment complex, the PC was already and they don't have any proof of ownership. They asked me to see if I can get passed the PW on Win XP. The label on the Dimension 3100 states that it is a Win XP Home, however, when I try to login it is a Win XP Pro login screen. Somewhere along the way someone overwrote the old XP Home and changed it to XP Pro.
I called my PC support group, Hal-PC here in Houston and they told me about a program called "hirensboot." I had never heard of it. I did a little research and it sounds like something that may work but they wanted to charge $4.95 AND $29.99 to join this club where I had unlimited downloads.
Incidentally, I have a Dell XP w/SP2 disk and I tried to install another copy of Win XP Pro, however, wheh I booted from the CD it did not ask me if I wanted to install it in another folder and when I was finished it asked me to login with the same User name & Password screen, no other users, just the one option. Is that because it is NOT another version of XP. I mean if I tried to install Win XP Home, would it ask me which O/S I wanted to use?
I suggested that I could reformat the HD but they would need to reinstall the gate controlling software and the over 800 residents would need to submit a new gate code...and then, of course, that would have to be programmed into the system.
Is there anyway to get around this? I have the PC for the weekend to try to figure it out.
They charge for immediate support, but the service is free if you are willing to wait a couple of days for an answer. I have used it in the past and found it useful.
