2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[The Dogmother]

I have the chance to have a 2 year old laptop from a friend - great news as our ancient PC is on its last legs - the only problem is that this laptop is passworded and no-one can remember the password My techie friend is on leave at the moment, so I can't ask him.

 

Anyone got any ideas?

[Geoid]

What operating system is it running?

[The Dogmother]

I understand that it runs on Vista (which I plan to replace with Windows 7 if I get it).

[majorbloodnock]

Is this the Windows password you're talking about (i.e. when you're prompted for a username and password) or is it before that (a BIOS password, for instance)?

 

Oh, and if it's a BIOS password, what make is the laptop?

[The Dogmother]

I understand that it's the Windows password as the friend says that they can start it up but can't log in. I haven't been able to look at it to see if it has the usual unpassworded (default) administrator account.

 

It would be a good deal if i can get into it. As I said, our PC has more or less packed up now, and although I have set Rosie up on my netbook to do her homework, she can't print as I can't currently start the PC to act as server for the printer The PC is pretty old now and has been playing up - I think it may have a loose memory card or summat inside but haven't had the time to check. It's all backed up, so no data loss, but we could really do with a reliable pooter.

[majorbloodnock]

Well, if you've a copy of Windows 7 to install, then it doesn't really matter. A brand new installation would allow you to wipe whatever's on the hard disc and start from fresh, which of course means being able to choose a new password for the administrative account (and then create further users, of course).

 

If it's utterly essential to log in, there are certainly ways to do it - usually by downloading and running recovery programs from a bootable CD - but if you don't have to do it then a new install would certainly be the easiest and cleanest option.

[The Dogmother]

Thanks Major. I don't have the W7 yet - I was going to order it IF I got the laptop. I guess the answer though is to look at it that way round and take the lappy, order the W7 and install it. I have never installed to a computer which I couldn't access though

[majorbloodnock]

In that case, get the make and model details, then check either through the manufacturer's support or through Microsoft's web site to make sure that laptop is fully compatible with running Windows 7. It'd be a pity to get so close, then find you're stymied on some minor compatibility issue. Chances are, though, that you'll be fine.

 

Another possibility, of course, is to stick with what the laptop came with, since you know full well it's compatible. If so, you may well be able to get a copy of the manufacturer's recovery CD, and that'd simplify things further. Basically, all you'd do is put the recovery CD in, power the laptop up so it boots from the CD, then follow the instructions on screen. This'll talk you through replacing what's on the hard disc with an image of what the manufacturer put on the hard disc before it left the factory. All you then need to do is ensure the Windows firewall is running (or install another personal firewall of your choice), slap on your antivirus, connect to t'Interweb and let Windows Update apply all the necessary patches. At that point, you're good to go and can get on with installing all the other applications you want.

[The Dogmother]

Thanks Major.

 

I think I'll get the lappy then. i was worried about it ending up being an energy and time drain. I'll load W7 onto it as I can't abide the glitches in Vista.