Images

[visualman]

I have been asked to reinstall XP onto surplus Dell Inspirons once used by the local authority. They have the local authority image and no admin account. I have tried but failed install XP. It blue screens. If I give them to county IT dept I will only get a "no" regarding a new image.

Does anyone know how to get around the image and install a basic XP?

[hotwired007]

Whats the blue screen error message?

 

Are the HDDs SATA or IDE?

 

If they are SATA are you istalling the SATA driver with the F6 message on the XP install? or can you set the controller to compatibility mode in BIOS?

[visualman]

The HDD are SATA.

I haven't got the lappy in front of me so can't confirm error msg. I had no idea about the sata driver. I simply ran the XP after changing the boot order and half way through the installing drivers etc page it goes to blue screen. I now know it has a county image installed and a hidden admin account to which I don't have pass word.

[hotwired007]

sounds like a pretty standard sata driver error... look at the bios and see if there is an option to change the SATA mode - you may have to update the bios and/or build a driver floppy disk.

 

although i have had installs crash due to faulty RAM.. try running memtest86 (Memtest86.com - Memory Diagnostic)

 

if its connected to your domain surely loggin on as the domain admin and accessing the users and passwords control in control panel willl allow you to change the passwords?

[visualman]

I will try the bios route, thanks.

It's not connected to a domain. These were laptops set up by the authority with their image. I am trying to save money by reusing them elsewhere but not using the county image. I have to install specialist software for blind kids. The software will only run on a clean XP install. County are saying "you can't do that, go buy new ones" Crazy when perfectly good machines are sitting here unused and unusable. My probl;em seems to be the lack of access to admin account to make significant changes. I need a backdoor entry here.

[ICT_GUY]

You need the XP admin pwd reset disk.

 

Pop in to see me and I will hook you up.

[visualman]

ha ha. I am coming over for tonights show. Can you leave it out, or a copy? Will it run from a limited account?

[hotwired007]

if its the same as the one i use it boots from CD... ... ...

[ICT_GUY]

As above, get here before 3:45 or leave it in my orifice.

[Brpilot99]

If your in poole Ive got one as well .... boots off of the cd and allows admin password reset

[p858snake]

Have a look at Offline NT Password & Registry Editor i believe its the one packaged in hiren.

[Brpilot99]

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor Thats the one I use ... It works very well !!

[visualman]

Thanks guys. I have now unlocked admin but this damn lappy still wont run my XP disc. Just blue screens. Frustrating.

[hotwired007]

have you tried running memtest?