Workgroup/domain issues

[nerdyrcdriver]

Hi,

 

So my boss tasked me with taking an old computer and setting it up as a storage location for a workgroup. That all went fine, but I decided to test it with an old laptop that was still on our main domain. I thought I was taking it off of the domain and put on the workgroup. So now it still boots up with the login screen asking for a username and password but does not have any additional options like domain info. No usernames or passwords that we know of work including the only admin account. So I am guessing it wants the account that had to be created when the computer was set up like 10 years ago. But nobody knows that info and it isn't written down anywhere that we know of.

 

So is my only option left to pull the HDD and back up its contents to some external source then reinstall windows? I tried pressing F8 and then selecting the last known good configuration but that didn't do anything. 

 

I don't think it is a huge deal to copy the hdd to an external source since anything important should be stored on the server anyway. 

[Zimon]

There are some tools out there that can help you as long as there is at least one local account on the machine. I don´t want to link to anything specific, as this might be considered hacking and against the CoC (?)

With Windows 7 you should be able to do a password reset from the command line, when you boot from an installation disk and go for the repair options.

[tbroadwater2010]

Hi,

 

So my boss tasked me with taking an old computer and setting it up as a storage location for a workgroup. That all went fine, but I decided to test it with an old laptop that was still on our main domain. I thought I was taking it off of the domain and put on the workgroup. So now it still boots up with the login screen asking for a username and password but does not have any additional options like domain info. No usernames or passwords that we know of work including the only admin account. So I am guessing it wants the account that had to be created when the computer was set up like 10 years ago. But nobody knows that info and it isn't written down anywhere that we know of.

 

So is my only option left to pull the HDD and back up its contents to some external source then reinstall windows? I tried pressing F8 and then selecting the last known good configuration but that didn't do anything. 

 

I don't think it is a huge deal to copy the hdd to an external source since anything important should be stored on the server anyway. 

I agree with @Zimon, you can find lots of ways to get into an old PC you forgot the Username and PW to. Thats the only way to get into it unless you get really lucky and figure it out. Google search helped me out with that a few times. 

[nerdyrcdriver]

There are some tools out there that can help you as long as there is at least one local account on the machine. I don´t want to link to anything specific, as this might be considered hacking and against the CoC (?)

With Windows 7 you should be able to do a password reset from the command line, when you boot from an installation disk and go for the repair options.

 

I guess I should have specified that it is still running windows XP. I was trying everything under the sun except for typing administrator out fully. 

 

Once the backup of the HDD is done Ill try using administrator. 

 

I am basically the IT guy here because it is cheaper to have me screw around for a few hours than to call in the actual IT support person we have on an on call basis. Working to get admin rights, I swear I waste so much time waiting for someone to come type in the admin password for me.