computer experts.....need help!

[MFMan]

I got this laptop from a guy at work that was thrown out. The problem is how do I access the operating system without the password. It prompts me for the password at the start up page and I hit the cancel button but it needs a password. How do I get passed this? Also I heard that you can put a magnet on the hard drive and that would erase it. Or would I just have to reinstall the operating system from scratch? I think its running either windows 98 or 2000. Thanks for the help.

 

[thx9000]

If it's 98 you can get past the passwd prompt. If NT/2K/XP you are probably screwed and will need to re-install...

 

[p0ink]

something tells me this laptop is hot.

 

[MFMan]

It is hot.

 

[big_bad_buff]

I got this laptop from a guy at work that was thrown out. The problem is how do I access the operating system without the password. It prompts me for the password at the start up page and I hit the cancel button but it needs a password. How do I get passed this? Also I heard that you can put a magnet on the hard drive and that would erase it. Or would I just have to reinstall the operating system from scratch? I think its running either windows 98 or 2000. Thanks for the help.

no magnet buddy, that might destroy your harddrive.. if you take the bios battery out, wait 5 seconds then put it back in, it will erase the bios memory(password), then you can get in it....what kind of laptop is it? let me know

 

[hhajdo]

Which password - BIOS or OS password.
If it's BIOS password you have to reset CMOS on the mainboard (by shorting it with a jumper).
If it's WIN98 password just delete .PWL file from Windows directory and create your own account.

 

[AAP]

something tells me this laptop is hot.

yep

 

[The Whole F/N Show]

Who throws out at laptop? Even if it's super slow most people know someone who can use a laptop.

 

[Canuck4]

Sounds like you might need to reinstall the OS.