Laptop Questions?

Question

I'm separated from my husband for several months holding off on divorce until daughter finishes high school in May. He sleeps in another room and we barely interact. He is a highly technical computer engineer by profession who has us on a network at home. I use a laptop that he set up that connects via wireless. I don't have administrator rights to the laptop (he says so I don't infect the network - I feel like a 2-year-old - he's quite a control freak) so I can't even install a chat program to get support during this difficult time. Is there any way I can override that? I don't have any of the software disks myself to reinstall all the programs - he has everything. Another concern is if am able to download a chat program but am still connecting via wireless to the home Internet can he monitor my Internet activity? Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

You need to get out. There are ways but you would just be wasting you time. Your husband has probably locked either the local group policy down or the domain group policy down.

Do you have to log on to this laptop?
If you do what does the log on to section say when you initially log into the computer? If this does not reflect the name of the computer then you are logging on to the domain. You have more problems at that point then you realize.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I'd advise to stop using the home network all together if you don't trust him.

Um, why not just go to a local library (or Internet cafe, etc) and chat to your heart's content there? Though chat - like email - can be web-based and so not require a local program, you will not have privacy at home. While you're at it, establish a new HTML email account and use that for "outside" communications. Beats asking his permission for anything.

You might have success regaining control of your computer and excluding his control by booting a "Live CD" of Linux, obtained at http://pclinuxos.com. However, if he's any kind of network admin at all and considers security issues (sounds like he does), you would probably find the Linux system unable to establish an Internet connection via his router without his help or cooperation.

It still might be worth getting Linux, as it is free and will bypass all issues with him after you and your computer become independent. Though, another answerer points out one way to "crack" your own Windows system to assume control of it. There are other ways, not requiring knowledge of passwords your husband set up. Windows is notoriously insecure...

Good luck. Dying relationships and all the associated issues are the pits. I empathize with you (been there, done that, have the tee shirt).

Answer 3

Yes, if you feel up to it, get hold of a password cracker and you can re-set the Administrator password.

This is the one I use. YOu download the program, and run it. It will create a floppy boot disk. Slip the disk into the floppy drive and reboot. For the most part, simply follow the steps along. It will ask you which password needs to be reset. Using "*" will select the default, or admin account. (Each option gives you a default which is best to just take the defaults - hit enter at each one.)

When the loop begins again, type a Q to quit and reboot the machine. It will look kinda scarey as it goes through and does some file clean up and disk checking, but when it's done, you should be able to get into the Admin account.

Answer 4

Don't mean to intrude on your privacy here but if the 2 of you can still live under the same roof without killing each other then things don't sound too bad to me. Try asking him nicely to install a chat program for you.

If that does not work, or if you don't want him to know that you are net-chatting so *soon, try the following URL. You will be able to log in to MSN, Yahoo and ICQ from there. Its web based and doesn't require an installation. I am running it from my office cos the IT dept here won't let me use the usual net MSN etc.

*soon - If your husband is really monitoring your usage, for whatever reasons I cannot comprehend, I must warn you that he must have to ability to monitor your Internet usage. Meaning which he will know where on the net you have been to etc.

Answer 5

If the laptop is running Windows XP Home Edition, then reboot the computer in Safe Mode with F8 and log in as Administrator. From there, you will be able to take the password off of the admin account so you can install stuff, you can also make your account admin.

Answer 6

with your limited means there's not much you can do about the administrator privileges. he can monitor your chat program but only if he has monitoring software installed on a seperate computer. maybe you could ask him to install the program. might make him feel like a big man that he has to do that for you. you might need to eat a little crow but it could be worth it to get the program installed.

Answer 7

Yer if I were you I would just set up my own wireless network. He can do anything to that computer and at the moment he can see what your looking at and block you form using the internet.

Answer 8

Get a program called ERD. when you log on to windows, sign on as administrator or admin (or whatever he signs in as) and then put the cd into the disk drive. it will bypass the password and sign on as administrator for you. then go and change the administrator password or just remove it completely. you will then have administrator privleges.

Answer 9

if the laptop is yours, he has NO right to make himself administrator on YOUR computer - however, when you are on the home network, there are things he can do to monitor your traffic and restrict what his opinion says is not allowed - if I were you I would hurry and get out of that hoousehold as soon as you can possibly afford it and get on with renewing your life without him

Answer 10

Search phazeddl.com for a password cracker
i used it before.nice program
u can get the admin password

phazeddl.com
or
warez sites
and u can search on google
good luck