Can't work means can't get paid

September 16, 2007 2:33 PM

Help! I'm locked out of my work laptop!

Yesterday, I was trying to set up printer sharing on my home network. I plugged my printer into my desktop, and set it up to share (see here and here). I couldn't get it to show up on my laptop, which is still set up for the office network I used to use, even though I no longer go to the office and am now just a weekend telecommuter. So in the process of poking around to get it working, I changed the Network ID. I changed Option 1: "This computer is part of a business network, and I use it to connect to other computers at work." to Option 2: "This computer is for home use and is not part of a business network." However, unlike what the MS support page I linked to says, it did NOT prompt me for a username/password. It just told me to restart the computer, which I did. Now it is not recognizing my password. This is very bad. I cannot get into the laptop at all.

1. Is there any way for me to get back in and change that setting? I don't have the password for 'Administrator' (though my account was originally set up with computer administrator access). I don't have an XP Pro CD. I have a full-time job during the week that will make it difficult to bring the laptop in to the office to be reset by the IT manager.

2. Can anyone help me with the printer sharing? Why was my printer not showing up even when I searched "HOMENETWORK" not "OFFICENETWORK"? Does it have anything to do with the fact my desktop is running XP Home, not Pro?

posted by Eideteker to computers & internet (13 comments total)

First, try the obvious stuff, like logging in as the local Administrator with a blank password.

Next, use another computer to make this bootable CD, and use it to boot your laptop. Follow the on-screen directions to reset the local Administrator password.
posted by odinsdream at 2:35 PM on September 16, 2007

"like logging in as the local Administrator with a blank password."

Did that.

Next, use another computer to make this bootable CD, and use it to boot your laptop. Follow the on-screen directions to reset the local Administrator password.

The laptop is a loaner from work. I'm a bit worried about the "DANGER WILL ROBINSON" notices on that page. I don't want to do anything that might mess up the Admin account on the laptop. If nothing else comes up, I'll certainly try it; thanks.
posted by Eideteker at 2:38 PM on September 16, 2007

If you don't want them to know that you did this, save a cipy of the old SAM and put it back after you have fixed things.
posted by caddis at 2:56 PM on September 16, 2007

Are you sure you have XP Home? Home version can't join domains. Changing the work group shouldn't lock you out of your machine.

1) If you were on a domain you're boned. You can't rejoin the domain unless a) you have connectivity to a domain controller and b) you have domain admin rights on the domain (or the domain administrator allows anyone to join computers) c) you have local admin rights on the machine.

This happens all the time BTW so don't feel embarrassed, just tell your support guys what you did and they'll fix it for you.

Eideteker's procedure will let you log in locally but it won't get you back on the domain. Also if your files are encrypted with windows builtin encryption you won't be able to access them until you are back on the domain.
posted by Mitheral at 3:03 PM on September 16, 2007

The laptop is XP Pro. Desktop is Home.

just tell your support guys what you did and they'll fix it for you.

Can the IT manager reset it over a network connection, or do I have to take a day off my regular job to bring it in to the office (this is what I'd like to avoid)?
posted by Eideteker at 3:08 PM on September 16, 2007

No. You have unjoined your domain. You need to be on your domain and have someone with rights to do this rejoin you. At least if I am reading your question correctly. Call your IT department in the morning.
posted by damn dirty ape at 3:10 PM on September 16, 2007

This is a five minute fix in the hands of an IT guy, but unfortunately the IT guy will need to have it in his hands.
posted by parallax7d at 3:58 PM on September 16, 2007

I've used the NT password reset tool dozens of times on various machines without having a problem. Just don't try to get fancy with it - reset only the local Administrator password, and take the suggestion to set it to blank, rather than something you create with the tool, and you really ought to be okay.
posted by odinsdream at 6:16 PM on September 16, 2007

ophcrack will tell you what the password is.
posted by gregschoen at 7:21 PM on September 16, 2007

Seconding the OPHcrack. It's non-destructive. It'll just tell you what the admin password is (Disclaimer: there's a chance it might not read the password, but even if it can't, it won't break anything).

With the admin password, you'll be able to get access to any files and probably any program on the PC that you need, but as everyone has said, you're screwed in terms of rejoining the domain by yourself. Get the PC over to your IT department. Bring cookies and Bawls.
posted by mysterious1der at 5:12 AM on September 17, 2007

Great, except I can't boot from CD on this laptop, apparently. In the BIOS, there's a ! next to CD ROM as a startup device.
posted by Eideteker at 3:43 AM on September 18, 2007

n/m, I figured a way around it. Will update once I'm in.
posted by Eideteker at 4:40 AM on September 18, 2007

Ended up sending it in to the office. Thanks to everyone who helped!
posted by Eideteker at 7:00 PM on October 18, 2007