Question for the computer experts

[MEC]

I recently picked up an Hewlet Packard notebook comp. It was used and has windoze 2000 pro on it. Cant get into it so I need to wipe out the hard drive ,I think. So I can reload windoze. Anyway how do I go about doing this without dmageing the computer?
Is there any other way arround the login in win2000 pro?
TIA........Mike

[schrocat]

If you have a copy of 2000, go for it.
The setup takes you through a reformat.

Never tried to fieldstrip 2k.
NT4 local accounts were easy... just required booting from a floppy, converting the NTFS parition to FAT, grabbing a particular file and brute forcing it with crack utility.

[Reefland]

If you can't get Windows to reformat the drive you can do it through DOS. As the computer starts during the memory check, hold down the F8 (I think, it will say may tell you which button to hold to enter setup). From here you should have the option to start up in DOS mode.

c: format

will take you through the steps at the c prompt.

Good luck,
Scott Z.

[MEC]

Sorry guys I tried that already. You cant axcess the DOS menu without going through the log on password. They changed things arround so you cant do it like we used to in win 95/98. ;; I was told by someone that all I could do was wipe the hard drive and reload windoze. Can I use a big magnet or something like that to wipe it , or will that skrew up the DOS system? ..Mike

[schrocat]

uhh...Yeah the magnet is an extremely bad idea.
Boot from a system floppy.
To make a bootable floppy look for a "make system" option when you format the floppy diskette.
That should get you going...I guess.

Do you have a copy of Windows...whatever? 98,NT,2k?

Without it...you're out of gas dude.

[MEC]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Someone else told me to make an F disc too .
They also said I could simply remove the battery for awhile and eventually the system will sort of dye ??.
I do have axcess to a win 2000 disc so hopfully I will be able to get it running.......Thanx..Mike