bought used computer
starts with administrator password
don't know password
do I have to wipe the hard drive clean and re-install everything or is there away around the password?
2006-12-04 16:47:45 · 12 answers · asked by labtech.carolyn 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
It sounds as if the computer has a password set in the BIOS, which, if that is the case, the other answer is wrong.
You will not even be able to format any drives or even boot to the operating system if there is a BIOS password set.
But there is a way to remove it.
You have to open the computer. Somewhere inside there is a small plastic thing called a jumper, its a small rectangular plastic piece with metal inside and it slides onto two small metal pins standing up from the main circuit board. There may be a quite a few of these jumpers. One of them (it may or may not be labeled) is a BIOS reset jumper. If that jumper is put on one set of pins it does nothing, but in another set of pins it erases the BIOS settings, including any password.
If you are not familiar with working on computer hardware, I would not recommend trying to do this yourself. Do you have any geek friends? Somebody who builds or modifies their own computer? If you know anyone like that, and you think you can trust them, ask them to do this for you, otherwise, try a local computer repair shop, they will know the proper proceedure.
2006-12-04 16:57:49 · answer #1 · answered by fraterchaos 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have the same version of Windows on a CD you can have it install right over the Windows that is already on there. You will have to get the updates and re-install the programs but your data will still be there. The only reason to re-install your programs is to get the registry entries back in. You don't need to wipe the Hard Drive unless you really want to.
2006-12-04 16:54:37 · answer #2 · answered by SF 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are ways around this, but it is probably best just to pop in a windows xp cd and wipe it out. You never know, it could have virus's in it, etc. Whatever the person before you had on there, probably isnt going to be of interest to you anyway. That way it will be fresh and new for you.
2006-12-04 17:43:57 · answer #3 · answered by redtiburon01 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow....you bought a laptop without even turning it on first??
with any 2nd hand pc eqipment its always a good idea to do a fresh load of Windows on the hard drive anyways as you never know what the previous user has downloaded or installed which may have messed up the windows registry
2006-12-04 16:53:09 · answer #4 · answered by panda64 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I remember when using Windows ME, I could just click on cancel and there was no problem going to windows. Now if it's with Windows XP, you might have to go to system restore. While the computer is booting up, hit F10
2006-12-04 16:57:33 · answer #5 · answered by †ღ†Jules†ღ† 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no way around it. You will have to format the hard-drive and reinstall your operating system. You will need a boot-disk to format the hard drive.
2006-12-04 16:50:34 · answer #6 · answered by Kilowatt 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try to get the adaministrator password from the first user. If you don't have it, I fear you have to reinstall the operatinfg system.
2006-12-04 16:50:47 · answer #7 · answered by Shaj 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you did not steal the computer, then ask the seller for the password.
2006-12-04 16:51:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If password is of BIOS u have to remove the CEMOS battery cell. and if its window then format the hard disk it will be removed
2006-12-04 17:08:30 · answer #9 · answered by Eccentric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try opening the bottom of the laptop and find the CMOS battery and remove it.
2006-12-04 16:58:41 · answer #10 · answered by lexkywildcats 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋