No Password, system won't boot from disc

Question

Older Dimension 4600 running XP pro I've been reading through the posts since yesterday. I seem to have a compound problem compared to other posts I've read. Some History; The girl who was using this computer no longer works here. I tried several times to change the passwords for user accounts. The new passwords seemed to take but every time upon sign in I had to use the old password. I also changed the domain setting to workgroup since this computer is not networked and hasn't been for about a year. Well apparently we don't have the administrator password leaving it blank doesn't work. The guy who set the computer up on the previous network doesn't even work here anymore so no one knows what the admin password could be (we're talking early 2004). I had already cleaned up the files and folders and saved copies of everything I wanted to keep just in case. I couldn't do a system backup to CD or DVD for some reason so I just saved the individual files I wanted to a CD instead. The Problem: Since changing from domain to workgroup I am locked out I've tried every password combination our 2 previous girls have suggested. I am not worried about the data since I have it all on disc. I just figured if all else fails I'll reformat and re install XP and give the new guy a clean system. I can not get the system to boot off the XP disc though. I tested the disc on my desktop so I know it's not a disc problem. I set the boot order in the bios already so I know it's not that. I've tried the disc in the top drawer DVD and the bottom drawer CD with the same results. I ran the IDE disc diagnostic option, for the two disc drives (both Samsung) the result was 'diagnostics not supported'. Is the DVD drive my problem here or what? I don't have any issues replacing a drive but how can I tell what my problem is? Remember I can't open XP now so control panel and device manager are out of the question. Administrator log on is out of the question too. Also out of the question is a system recovery through ctrl+F11 since this computer was purchased early 2004. If it is a DVD drive problem can I just unplug the drive from the system? I have to have this thing running by next monday so anything I can try to restore XP for now would be greatly appreciated I can replace the DVD drive next week if need be.

Predator · Answer

Hi Adam,To rule out a bad drive, if you can, do try a different optical drive. Remove both existing drives; Dell uses Cable Select jumper setting or you can use Master, please though use the 'End' connection of the IDE cable. Then verify once more the boot sequence is set to the CD drive as first device.See now if you can boot from the XP disc.Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

Adam LAC · Answer

OK great! That's so what I needed. Got everything going again I'll take care of system updates & install other software tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

Predator · Answer

Best of luck with the reinstall Adam!! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

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