How to go about wiping a hard drive

[SpiritualGorila]

I was given a computer that was owned by someone else and hes gone now, and it is windows xp and password protected. How would i go about getting around the password, because we cant get it from him now. Or should i just wipe it and reinstall windows?

Thanks for the help

SpiritualGorila

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

What I would try first is to login as 'Administrator' with an empty password. Most people I know leave their Administrator account unprotected with a password.

If this fails you may have no other choice than to install XP from scratch. In a way this is preferable, as you may not want a cluttered Windows system from someone else.

Boot into the XP install CD-ROM, then follow the instructions on how to format the HD and install Windows XP.

If the CD-ROM does not boot, you may have to configure the BIOS boot sequence, so that the CD-ROM comes in first.

Let us know if you have further questions.

[djohn]

I would follow Pat's advice and format the drive, start off with a nice clean hard drive. You don't know what rubbish may be on there. :)

[Geek-Squad]

What I would try first is to login as 'Administrator' with an empty password. Most people I know leave their Administrator account unprotected with a password.

I think what pat is saying (I might be wrong) IS that when you boot your computer keep pressing F8 Then choose safemode from there you go to admin account then you go to control pannel user accounts you select the login that is password protected and remove password.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

You do not need Safe Mode to login to the Administrator account. But then there may not even be an account named 'Administrator', so best to start from scratch.

[andsome]

I wouldn't even consider bothering with messing about with all the rubbish that may have accumulated. As the others have said, I would go for a fresh install.