windows nt

I just won a computer in a bingo game, it has windows nt on it and of course I do not have admin password, I would like to install another operating system over the nt, I dont want to format the drive, is this possible? Thanks in advance for your help

 

My first question is why you don't want to reformat the hard drive? A clean install is the best method and results in fewer problems in the future! As for the upgrade issue, I would say that it is an issue of what version of NT that is installed, and what OS that you want to put on it. It will have to register as a newer version of Windows before an update is allowed.

Easiest way would be to reset the administrator password, but I hesistate to give any advice on this.

 

I am afraid to format drive, dont have drivers. Nt is 4.0 cant reset admin password, cant log in, thanks for your advice

 

In this case, I would recommend downloading a Win98 boot disk from bootdisk.com. This will be a Winimage self extracting file, and you will need a blank floppy disk to complete it. Boot from the disk, and when it is finished, and the A:> prompt is visible, type " format C:, if C drive is the primary drive on the system. This should leave you with a blank formatted hard drive ready for any OS that you choose to install.

 

Yah, know, I have never tried to format a NTFS partition using a FAT32 command. Will it work?

But, there is a way to gain that password.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if posting the way to get into the system is legal here.

 

@theefool, you're right as usual. The Win98 boot floppy would delete the NTFS partition, and not format it. Pardon the reference to it, as although I asked a question the answer didn't sink in.

Win2000 and XP should register as new OSs and allow an upgrade depending on the version that you have. I'm not sure that would get rid of your password problem though, as the upgraded OS could possibly still have the same password.

If I had an NT password that I wanted to reset, I would do a Google search for "NT password reset" and look at the options. I'm not suggesting that you do this.

 

If you install a newer version of windows on it...then windows will have the necessary drivers to atleast get the system going to where you can download the drivers that it might not cover!!

What version of windows are you wanting to put on it??

Roger

 

you guys are the greatest!!! Thank you so much for all of the info I am going to do a little research into the "reset" issue, and then if all else fails, I will do a clean format, oh how I hate to think of that!! ah well, if I get stuck I will come back here an u guys will help I know!! Thank you
Matti

 

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

 

I was going to offer this exact same link, but wan't sure if it was proper!

 

I wasn't sure about the properness of offering a link or recommending an application either! That is why I worded my response as I did.