W2K PRO NO ADMIN PASSWORD ... with a TWIST! - PC Help Forum - Free Computer Help, Windows, Hardware, Software and more!

Startovr70 · #1 02-21-2008

I have about 2 strands of hair left in my head ... but I'm not giving up!

I have searched and searched trying to find a resolution and I'm starting to think I might be the only moron with this problem.

So here's my situation:
(NOTE: You might want to grab a favorite beverage before you start reading ... I know I've had PLENTY over the past few nights trying to figure out a solution).

I have an IBM Thinkpad T20 that was given to me by father. The company he works for merged with another company which made the programs and servers used on his laptop obsolete. The new company gave everyone new laptops and let them keep the old ones.

It has Windows 2000 Professional on it and a bunch of software that was for his old company and is now useless. I wanted to remove W2K Pro and load XP ... simple right??? H-E-double-hockey-sticks NO! We couldn't log in as an “Administrator” because no one in his new company knows the old passwords and his user account didn't have “Authorization”.
(NOTE: The IT crew from the original company was “down-sized” during the merger ... meaning the company his company merged with brought their own IT crew. The new company's IT crew have no idea what the Admin Password on these laptops is ... so THAT resolution is out the proverbial window.)

I was able to access a program loaded on the laptop that gave me the ability to restore various recovery points but it wasn't the typical Windows Recovery program; it was a commercial program his original company had loaded. Among the many saved restore points offered (which my father had established) was “Restore to original factory settings” ... SWEET!!! Or at least that's what I thought ... then the restore completed, laptop rebooted and then the W2K Professional log-in window. This is the window that has Administrator in the user box, a blank password box, “connect via dial-up” check box and nothing else... no networks or drop down list like it did prior to me running “Restore to factory”. Now we can't even log in using his U/N & P/W ... and I've tried everything suggested in other posts about getting past this point with no success... but wait, it gets even better!
(NOTE: Yeah, you might want to grab another beverage!)

OK, so at this point I thought I still had one option ... there is no A:/ drive but I can always boot to CD and re-install ... off to BIOS set-up we go ... PROBLEM SOLVED!!! Well, not so much ... seems the IT crew who originally set up the laptops opted to utilize the “Supervisor Password” offered in BIOS! Did you know as “Supervisor” you can limit which boot options are available in BIOS? Well, I didn't ... but I do now! (I also found out that it is almost impossible to bypass, delete, re-set or even guess the supervisor password on an IBM Thinkpad ... but that wasn't until MANY hours later)

OK, so I DO have two boot options available and they are:
1: Boot from hdd
(which only makes the “No Admin P/W for W2K” problem that I created with my “restore to factory” decision come back to bite me in the @$$)

2: Boot from removable device
(This option seemed like my answer ... BUT, I think I am in the process of learning that not all BIOS recognize or even consider a USB A:\ drive a removable device)

So here's what I DO know:
-I can't boot to CD 'cause I ain't got no Sup. P/W for BIOS
-I can't log into W2K without the flippin' Admin P/W (which I ain't got neither)
-The stuck-up snobby BIOS baby won't even acknowledge the poor lonely USB port let alone consider it “boot-up” worthy.
-This thing has got it some other ports, plugs and even some kind of fancy-dancy device “garage” on the side ... but I ain't got no fancy-dancy device that fits in it! I'm pretty sure it's NOT for a NIC ... but as we have both learned thus far, I have been wrong before.
-Soon after I finish my 5th or 6th “favorite beverage” is when the laptop decides to add an additional keyboard and it's monitor becomes fuzzy ... probably a Windows update issue I'm guessing!

And what I DON'T know (but would like to find out soon):
-What other “removable device” could I use to boot from and then access CD drive??
-Is there any way I could access the laptop via another PC (Ethernet? Router?) and if so would it help me resolve anything?

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated!

When I first started this little project it was just for “S#!TS & GIGGLES”

but now ... NOW IT'S PERSONAL!

LOL

Thanks Again!

madmatt2006 · #2 02-21-2008

Hi welcome to PCHF

Use a standard XP cd to install and try this password for the Bios "AWARD_SW" with out the " set it to boot off the CD drive and install windows. If that won't work I have a little program the can wipe the password from the bios.

Jelly Bean · #3 02-21-2008

Ok its a laptop?Now if you not familiar with the insides of one be carefull opening it up.Open one of the back panels and locate BIOS battery it is a large battery like a watch only bigger,however some BIOS batteries in a laptop are in a small plastic square case.Take out battery for one minute then replace.This should reset the BIOS and password should be gone.Or there maybe a jumper located there to use.Then you could possible reformat the laptop by setting boot from CD.

Sourced from Petri:Forgot the Administrator's Password? - Windows Password Recovery - Windows Password Reset

Startovr70 · #4 02-22-2008

MADMAT2006: AWARD_SW didn't work in BIOS which means I am still unable to boot from CD. I have a couple of programs that wipe passwords (even willing to try and flash it at this point) but the laptop doesn't have an A:\ drive installed. The only option I DO have through BIOS at this point is either the hard drive or a removable device. I tried using an A:\ drive connected via the USB port but BIOS didn't even recognize the USB port ... so I'm trying to figure out if there is another type of removable device I could use ... or maybe a serial port???

JELLY BEAN: I looked for the battery and I think I found it ... under the battery pack, round with a yellow plastic cover around it. It is connected with a red wire but I can't access the point to which the wire is attached to the motherboard ... maybe it's not the battery you speak of

?!?!?

On a side note: in my various search missions for a solution it has been mentioned that removing the battery doesn't work on IBM's ... I don't believe everything I read and I am more than willing to try it ... I just want to make sure I'm yanking out the right thing

Jelly Bean · #5 02-22-2008

Yes thats the battery,my laptop is the same in a little plastic bag.With a little wire.

PS do not yank it out lol.

Short story,my toshiba laptop had had its BIOS switched off (before I aquired it)and took it to pc shop to make sure I was buying the right RAM,guy says you cannot turn BIOS back on its a toshiba.I got home took battery out replaced it one min later.Oh BIOS was back on.Is it cause I am female?LOL.

arthur92710 · #6 02-23-2008

Right you can reset the bios by removing the battery.
I don't know why you could not just reboot with the winxp cd in the drive(you may have told but i could not read the whole thing!

) So after the bios resets you can set it up, and install xp.

Jelly Bean · #7 02-23-2008

The BIOS was passworded and could not set first boot device.Removing battery resets BIOS and removes password unless several passwords have been used over the years by the company.Then each time it is removed it resets password but also resets Bios setups.

So arthur he can not set to boot from cd rom as BIOS is passworded.There is also the upgrade and down grade paths can cause the problem

Also are you trying to install Xp home over pro?Here is a link to read on wich XPs can be formated over,its there upgrade paths.Say you have xp pro on a computer you cannot downgrade to home.Upgrade paths to Windows XP

Win 2000 can only be upgraded to XP Pro not downgraded to say XP Home.

Startovr70 · #8 02-23-2008

arthur92710: Can't boot to CD because that option is disabled in BIOS and I am unable to change it without the elusive supervisor P/W ... sorry for the long post, I guess I needed to vent

LOL

Jelly Bean: OK, so that IS the battery inside of the yellow ... uhm ... battery condom??? But HOW do I remove it? I'm not sure where the wire attached to it goes ... it runs back under the cover and I can't seem to get access to the other end. And as far as being a female ... not sure if that's why they told you that OR if that's why it worked ... but either way YOU WON!

Startovr70 · #9 02-23-2008

My plan is to wipe the drive and start from scratch ... loading XP Home but to be 100% honest with ya I'd load Win 3.1 at this point

LOL I'd just be happy to load SOMETHING!

Jelly Bean · #10 02-23-2008

Yes I belive it is the BIOS battery.look at the little bag and see if it has any type of flap that could be opend but i dont think it has.get a tourch and have a look were the wire goes as on myne its only a short wire with a tiny push in connector.
I do not recommend taking the laptop apart any more ive done it and they are a pain to put back together.

Ok you cannot install home over pro.but there is away out of it.you can bye external cases to turn inturnal laptop hard drives into a USB connected hard drive,if you do this you can format the hard drive as a slave while connected to another pc and wipe the win 2000 off it and replace in laptop and reformat.But try to get the battery out?