The Dink Network

Here I go again, I messed up my COMPUTER now. X_x but in order to use the windows XP CD to repair it, I need to insert the 'administrater password'. I inserted my user password(Its windows XP), and it refused. I didn't make any other passwords for the computer. Is there an already created password when you buy the PC? Or is it asking for a 'Certificate of whateveritwascalled' or something?

EDIT: No, I checked and I didn't have caps lock on at the time.

Take your computer and make-out with it as if it were your sister, if that doesn't fix the problem immediatly then send it back and buy a new one...

You set an Administrator password when you first installed the computer. You have 3 choices:

1) Remember it
2) Reinstall
3) Boot to Linux, copy over the registry SAMS file, create new LM- and NTHashes, save it, and reboot.

For #3 you can also remove the obfuscated 0100 0000 in front of each entry and xor the two hashes together. Then, run an RC4 brute forcer on the result. Voila.

#1 or #2 are easier.

I got the computer about half a year ago, Dell set up windows XP on it.

So either bug them, or look for your manual.... That's what I did, and now I have a fusion furnace in a semi-pseudo-working condition.

u could always boot up in command prompt (witch is dos) and wipe the hard disk and start over thats if u backed up your files cuz instaling an operating system isnt that HARD

Thats Easy! The Certificate of authanicty code will either be on the side of your computer box or on your Windows Xp Cd... I just installed Xp Yesterday

Why would you have to boot into DOS to wipe the hard disk? It's a part of the installer.

You used to have to do dos but now with windows xp being bootable from cd and what not you don't have too.

Okay, I installed another installation (I think windows XP is able to support multiple installations or something) and restored the files in my other windows directory. Now, does anyone know how to get rid of an operating system without formatting anything?

Shift + delete when you're not using it. though it won't be pretty...

Well, with win98, you could just re-install the os without format. Not sure if you can do that with xp.

I either want to:

1).Completely get rid of the second installation.
2).Get it to boot to the first installation.

All my files are still on the computer, exept for some in the WINDOWS directory, but I replaced those. I need a way to do either of the above without breaking anything.

I found the 'osuninst.EXE' file, but whenever I execute it, it displays: "Setup cannot uninstall Windows XP because the nessesary registration information is missing". I hate to bother you all, you probably have steam coming out of your ears but please help.

Now, does anyone know how to get rid of an operating system without formatting anything?

Sure. Take a sledge hammer to your hard drive. Tada.

@Scratcher: Windows protects "vital" "system" files, so shift+delete won't work.

I either want to...

For number 1, use Partition magic or a bootable linux disk and delete the partition. At least, I'm assuming it's a partition. If it's in another directory, you'll have to boot to linux and delete it from there (hopefully you're not using NTFS).

For number 2, modify your boot.ini file.

personaly i like the hitting it with a slege hammer because if it doesnt fix it at least you get the satisfaction of smashing it into a thousand pieces

YAAAAAAAAAAY! THANK YOU MERLIN!! (Ahh, the privacy of my own computer... that works )