re-loading windows when you don't know the old password?

Question

My ex-wife's boss donated a computer for my daughter... now I'm trying to get it set up... it's an old "corporate" computer with Windows 2000 installed.

He said Windows would need to be re-loaded, he doesn't know the password. It does have some company's inventory tags, etc, so I know it's not stolen.

it's an IBM tower, 350 Mhz, 128MB RAM

I've got a copy of Windows 98SE, and the XP Home that came with my PC (upgraded to Pro)

Do I need to buy Windows? Full version? Upgrade version?

If I can't get any further than the login screen, how would I get new Windows loaded?

My PC doesn't have a floppy, so I can't make a boot disk, I tried to make a system disk from my daughter's Win98 machine, but it doesn't have the format command on it, and when I use it, how to I get to the CD drive to install Windows?

I used to know all this stuff, but I haven't "played" with computers at this level for 6 years or so, seem to have forgotten everything.

Help!

Also, can I install a LinkSys wireless network card, if the computer is 350 MHz, and the card's box says minimum 500 MHz?

The card says it will work with Win98SE, and that's the install CD I can find without too much digging.

I suppose I could take the wireless networking stuff back and just get a 50 ft patch cord to go from the DSL modem straight to the computer, but a wireless network would be nice : )

okay, this is going to be tough to choose a "best" answer, because I used part of all three answers that attempted useful advice, and they all "worked". i'll choose the best answer as the one that had the most specific answer to the original question, but all three were helpful. sorry, guys.

or, rather...

thanks, guys.

Answer 1

I would suggest buying XP in the upgrade version. Then boot off the XP upgrade disk and completely re-format the drive. Before it installs, it will ask you for the previous version of Windows, which qualifies you to use an upgrade disk. You insert the 98SE disk and wait for it to prompt you for the XP disk again.

The wireless technology ought to work, but a common problem is that the card might require PCI version 2.2 and an old computer like this will have PCI 2.1. A safer bet is the wire or a USB wireless adapter.

All that said, the first thing I'd try is boot off the 98SE disk. If that works, you can format with that and install 98SE.

Answer 2

I suggest buying a full version of windows 2000. Microsoft anounced that it would no longer support WIndows 98 and Me.

to install a new operating system you'll have to boot from the CD. Press either F2, F12 or esc the second the computer logs on and look through the BIOS to find an option to change the boot order so that CD comes before Hard Drive.

Be warned that you'll have to install all the drivers again so if you're not a techie that may be a dificult process.

At 350mhz don't bother trying to install XP. linux might be a good option if you think you're up to the job of getting it working with your hardware.

About the add-in card:
I dont' suggest installing the Card because 350Mhz isn't enough to do most tasks in todays technologically advanced world

Answer 3

copy the format command onto the disk. The location of the format command is C:\windows\command on Windows 98. You might just be able to use a restore disk, if one came with it. BE CAREFUL! If you do not know how to load a CD in DOS, you may have a hard time installing Windows. You could also use a password disk. Search for "password" on www.download.com

Answer 4

What about asking for recovery disks from your bosses wife and reformat, then reload!

Answer 5

You're screwed.