Hi

I have recently been given a PC by work ( The PC was aquired when we bought out a competitor and their assests) The computer has not been cleaned, and still has windows 2000 and all passowrds intact. No one knows the user or administrator passwords for the machine.

Can I buy a new copy of windows 2000 and carry out a repir installation that will cancel out the old passwords or will I need to wipe the hard drive and completely reinstall windows?

You will need to reinstall Windows.

That being said which version you purchase is up to you.

Microsoft currently only actively supports XP SP2 and the soon to be released Vista (January '07).

Even if you found a 2K CD you would need to run a Clean Install which will wipe the hard drive.

Thanks Jephree,

This seems like the logical solution as it will clear all the info off the machine from the previous company

I like Windows 2000 as I have been running it at home for several years now with absolutely no problems, so I will try and get a new copy of 2000

When you say clean install does that mean I need to set the CD drive as by Boot drive in BIOS, and then follow the clean install info on the windows CD?

Once again many thanks

Yes to booting the CD.

Here is a detailed guide:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...ro_install.asp

And thanks for the thanks!