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Solve : formatting C: with xp professional?

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I received a dell laptop from the school DEPARTMENT a while ago that they ended up letting me keep. However, since I don't have an administrator's password I can't do anything with it. I want to format the hard drive and start over, but I don't have "sufficient privileges." Contacting the administrator is out of the question seeing as they were LAID off. I also don't have the XP professional cd, but I do have the product key.

In short, how do I format the hard drive without an administrator's password? And, is there any way I can re-install windows without the original cd?try the following steps to get in as administrator :
1) from start go to run
2) type in cmd.exe
3) in the comand prompt type in net user administrator *
4) if it doesnt give you an error code (e.g access denied) it will prompt you for a new administrator password.
5) you can access the admins account by pressing ctrl alt delete at the logon screen, then once you enter change your original account type and add it to admiinistrator group.

you cannot install windows without an installation cd , also if you dont have an installation cd dont format. Quote

try the following steps to get in as administrator :
1) from start go to run
2) type in cmd.exe
3) in the comand prompt type in net user administrator *
4) if it doesnt give you an error code (e.g access denied) it will prompt you for a new administrator password.
5) you can access the admins account by pressing ctrl alt delete at the logon screen, then once you enter change your original account type and add it to admiinistrator group.

you cannot install windows without an installation cd , also if you dont have an installation cd dont format.

I'm getting an error message, after it asks me for the new password it says "SYSTEM Error 5 has occurred, Access is denied."Is this a laptop password or a Windows password? Quote
Is this a laptop password or a Windows password?

Pretty sure it's a windows passwordIf it is a laptop password, you are PROBABLY SOL.

If it is a Windows password, you would need a real XP CD to load Windows again. Quote
If it is a laptop password, you are probably SOL.

If it is a Windows password, you would need a real XP CD to load Windows again.

SOL?

Well even if I can't re-install windows I still want to be able to format the hard drive and maybe get another copy or a different OS.Please post the service tag of the machine (it is on the outside of the case) so we can advise further.

System error 5 indicates the  computer can not log on to the original domain server (at the school).

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555644Once you get an OS disc, just get a big magnet near the harddrive....;-) Quote
Please post the service tag of the machine (it is on the outside of the case) so we can advise further.

System error 5 indicates the  computer can not log on to the original domain server (at the school).

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555644

Here it is: BCZ8741 Quote
Once you get an OS disc, just get a big magnet near the harddrive....;-)

Not particularly sound advice as magnets can throw other components out of whack...

Try and stick to known working methods for advice on other people's equipment. Quote
Once you get an OS disc, just get a big magnet near the harddrive....;-)

Please read the rules about replies not worsening a user's situation.

To original poster - No magnets. Bad advice.

That's a fairly new machine. They just gave that to you? Here is some info about it. Just input your service tag number:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/product_support/en/product_support_central?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~ck=ln&lnki=0
the wink didn't tip you GUYS off?

Of course a magnet's a bad idea.But if someone isn't very computer savvy, they might not realize this.


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